The collection consists of letters written to Mr. Colles by authors concerning the possible sale of their stories and books. Correspondents include Herbert George Wells.

The William Moy Thomas Papers are comprised of one box containing letters written to Moy Thomas concerning drama, the copyright laws, and frequently contain requests for favors from him in his position as theatre critic. The greatest concentration of letters falls in the years between 1880-1893.

The papers include Mr. Sage's correspondence, manuscripts dealing with the founding of the University of Rochester, and early University financial and legal papers. The correspondence of Oren Sage, John N. Wilder, and Smith Sheldon are also contained in the collection.

Family papers and correspondence to and from the William Perkins Cross family members and friends, chiefly personal in nature. Included is some information about the Daniel E. Cross Company Boot & Shoe Patterns, Rochester, N.Y. Also in the collection are family and business financial papers, bills, statements, wills, diaries, account books, notebooks.

The papers, related to Vallance's career in the State Department, consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, proposals, documents, pamphlets, publications, other printed material, and memorabilia. Where not otherwise specified, the material is classified in two categories: correspondence and printed material. Much of the correspondence, especially letters from prominent government officials, exists as carbon copies. "Printed material" is a term used loosely to refer not only to the products of the printing press, but also to typewritten reports, directives, speeches, articles, and anything else that cannot properly be classified as correspondence. Where no type of material is specified in the description, it is understood that both types are included.

The collection consists of letters written by Moncrieff, with 3 receipts for money received from R. W. Elliston and C. R. Elliston. The principal correspondents are Robert William Elliston, James Winston, a business associate of Elliston's, and Charles Molloy Westmacott, proprietor and editor of The Age. The letters concern the writing and production of Moncrieff's plays, especially Giovanni in Ireland and an adaptation of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, the selling of Moncrieff's copyrights to plays, publicity for the plays, Moncrieff's litigation with Joseph Glossop, his monetary troubles, and his relations with Elliston and Winston, the managers of Drury Lane.

The Chapin Family Papers consist of 117 letters and 4 items of memorabilia. It is primarily correspondence to Harrison Lyon Chapin (1878-1955) and/or his younger brother Louis Chapin from their immediate family, including their father William Wisner Chapin (1851-1928), mother Elizabeth Gale (Lyon) Chapin (1852-1937, brother, sisters and grandmother.

The Willis Britton Papers contains two series: Personal Papers and Business Materials. Personal Papers include photographs, maps, legal documents, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and genealogical material relating to his business affairs and family. Business Materials documents the developing of W.N. Britton Reality Company.

The Willson H. Coates Papers include materials from Coates's time as a professor at the University of Rochester and as a consultant and visiting professor at other institutions. The collection also contains materials relating to his civic and political activities, including his work with the National War Labor Board and the Police Advisory Board. Also included are personal papers, items relating to his work with various learned societies and journals, scholarly projects, notebooks, and assorted publications.

This collection includes approximately 1,200 postcards written to the journal, including 14 written and signed by Alice Stone Blackwell. The postcards include the names and addresses of those who subscribed or contacted the Journal. The postcards also include comments about the suffrage and women's rights movement.