Draper correspondence, 1844-1861. Filling the first half of the volume are letters, 1846-1860, written by James W. Biddle, Pittsburgh newspaper editor, who was actively interested in Draper's career. The first husband of Biddle's mother had been John Boone (1745-1773), a first cousin of Daniel, and as a much younger man Biddle had been in Green Bay in the period 1816-1819 as a contractor to supply provisions for the troops at Fort Howard.

Not only did Biddle aid Draper in his collecting projects; he also enjoyed discussing a wide spectrum of topics. His historical comments dealt not only with Brady but with such other men and events as Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, HarMarch Denny, the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Iroquois Indian Logan and his charge against Michael Cresap, the excavations of Forts Duquesne and Pitt (1854), Judge Charles Reaume in Green Bay, the Black Hawk War, and the writings of Brantz Mayer. Biddle also made numerous allusions to current affairs, including Pennsylvania and national politics, education, literature, and spiritualism (1851), and gave a humorous account of a journey by railroad (1854). Several letters pertain to his role in Draper's purchase of the Rea papers. Miscellaneous letters, 1844-1861, in chronological arrangement fill the Susan Wetzel to Nathan Goodrich and of Christica Wetzel to Jacob Wolf are found in miscellaneous notes by Draper at the close of this volume.