The Averell Family Papers consist primarily of the personal, business, and legal papers of William Holt Averell of Cooperstown, New York. The collection also includes a substantial number of papers relating to or written by James Averell, Jr., William Holt Averell's father. In addition, the collection includes papers relating to other members of the Averell family and genealogical information regarding the Averell, Carter, Slayton, and Waldby families. The date range is mostly from 1790 to 1880.

Contains letters from Maria Campbell Smith written to her son, Charles Evelyn Smith, while she lived in Europe, New York State, and Washington, DC. Letters discuss health, activities, marriages, and deaths of family members and friends, and social activities and gossip of the place she happens to be staying. She also comments on Charles’ attempts at business, his love affair, and his marriage to “Sue” and their eventual troubles. But the most consistent topic throughout is Charles’ gross mis-management of the money she has entrusted to him, her desperate need for him to send her money to live on, and real estate dealings he is supposed to be managing for her. Despite these difficulties, her letters are always addressed, “My dear Charley.”