The Banks Family Papers collection consists of personal and legal papers of Robert Lenox Banks and his family, primarily his daughter, Mary Decamp Banks Moore. These include correspondence to and from the Banks Family by local businessmen, politicians, such as New York Governor, John T. Hoffman, and William Vanderbilt, President of the Hudson River Railroad. The documents are mostly personal in nature, describing the private life of a prominent local family of the 19th Century. Also in this collection are photographs, genealogical information, and other items relating to the Banks, Lenox, and Corning families.

Erastus Corning I (1794-1872) was born in Norwich, Connecticut to Bliss Corning. He moved to Troy, New York at age 13 to work with an uncle, and moved to Albany at age 19 for a job in the mercantile business with James Spencer. Corning had multiple business interests during his life, including Erastus Corning & Co., which bought and sold iron products, involvement in numerous railroad companies, served as Mayor of Albany, a member of the New York Senate, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He married Harriet Weld in 1819, and together, they had five children. This collection contains account books, business records, correspondence, financial records, and other materials.

Frederick Joseph Lawrence (1825-1904) was a prominent decorator and coach painter who resided in Albany, New York. This collection contains business papers, personal papers, Edward Tallmadge Papers, daguerreotypes, and newspapers.

Harold Ross (1915-2003), was born in Harlem, New York City, and later worked on the New York Central Railroad as a brakeman.

This consists of several collections consisting primarily or wholly of scrapbooks.

Robert J. Shillinglaw was a public relations officer for the New York State Public Service Commission for approximately twenty years until his retirement in 1971. The Shillinglaw Photograph Collection primarily contains photographs made in and near Albany.