The collection consists of deeds, mortgages, contracts, bonds, and other documents representing at least three generations of the Pierson family of Orange, in Essex County, in New Jersey. Included is material of Isaac Pierson (Princeton Class of 1789), a physician; his son William (Princeton Class of 1816), also a physician and first mayor of Orange; William's sons Edward (Princeton Class of 1854), another lawyer; and William, Jr., a physician. A few other Piersons and other family members are also represented. Included are deeds of property and pews of the Presbyterian churches in Orange, two documents (1823) regarding Isaac Pierson's slave, Betty Jordan, and a contract of marriage (1744) between John Morison and Margaret Wilson of Dunfermline, Scotland.

Material of Edward Pierson includes receipts for tuition and other expenses from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), a copy of the "Sophomore Commencement Exercises" dated June 29, 1853, statements of accounts, and receipts for travel on the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company and the Morris and Essex Rail Road Company. There is also a typescript genealogy of the Pierson family compiled by Arthur N. Pierson in 1946.