The Banks Family Papers, 1798-1973, consists of personal and legal papers, correspondence, and photographs of Robert Lenox Banks and his family. Although the collection spans the years 1798 to 1973, the majority of the papers date from the 1860's. The collection is divided up into three series: Robert Lenox Banks Papers, Mary deCamp Banks Moore Papers, and Banks Family Papers. Mary deCamp Banks Moore provides background information on some of the photographs and letters in the collection.

The bulk of the Robert Lenox Banks Papers, 1836-1895, are letters from his mother, Isabella Lenox Banks, his sister, Maria, and brother, James Lenox, and from personal friends. These primarily discuss family and social activities. Only a few letters contain references to politics, the use of railroad passes, and travel arrangements for his visit to Lebanon Springs. The folder of Robert Lenox Banks' personal papers contains papers relating to his memberships and appointments, as well as receipts for personal business and legal papers for property transactions.

The Mary DeCamp Banks Moore Papers, 1885-1938, consists of correspondence and personal papers. Most of the correspondence, especially from James Lenox Banks, reflects her strong interest in genealogy and provides factual information on family members. Correspondence regarding her donation to the Paulist Fathers' archives, letters written to her father by Fr. Young, are included. Also in this series are pencil drawings made for her by her father, the engraved announcement of her wedding to Maurice Moore in 190l, and a copy in her own writing of a fairy tale as told by Fr. Young.

The Banks Family Papers, 1798-1973, consists mainly of estate and personal papers. Included in the estate papers are wills of several family members: Robert Lenox Banks, William Banks, Isabella Henderson Lenox Banks, and Robert Lenox Banks, Jr. There are also documents pertaining to the administration of the wills, the receipt and deed for the Banks family plot at Albany Rural Cemetery, estate estimates, undertaker's bills, correspondence, and photographs. The personal papers consist of personal correspondence. William Banks' papers include his citizenship papers, legal documents regarding his property, and a letter. In the folder of Robert Lenox's papers is a letter and a dinner invitation. The folder of biographical and genealogical information contains designs of the Banks coat of arms, including some drawn by Robert Lenox Banks. A few examples of stationery and stamps featuring it are included. It also contains a memorial written by James Ten Eyck for Robert Lenox Banks. There are genealogical charts, one of the Lenox-Banks Family, the other of descendants of the Banks-Ogden family. This series also contains Isabella Henderson Lenox Banks' diaries of traveling in primarily Great Britain and Scotland, circa l865. There is an ivory covered prayer book owned by Mary deCamp Corning Banks, Robert Lenox Banks' Bible and book of Psalms and Hymns, Isabella L. Banks' copy of Imitation of Christ and another prayer book. Photographs of family members include Robert Lenox Banks, Mary deCamp Banks Moore and Isabella Mozier Banks. Other notable photographs are of the homes of James Lenox Banks and his wife Isabella Mozier, of the memorial on the Banks' family plot, their house on State Street in Albany, and the family at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George. The black and white postcards contain views of Albany spanning the years 1605-l924. A leather-encased coat-of-arms used by William and James Banks is also included in this series.