Draper's notes and correspondence, 1854-1886, on various subjects involving southern Indian tribes, particularly the Creek, the Chickasaw, and the Catawba. The major Creek-related topic is the Creek War in 1813, including discussion of the attack on Fort Mims (Alabama) and biographical material on a few participants, Samuel Dale, William Weatherford, and George S. Woodward. Tecumseh's association with the Creek Indians, possibly through his mother, is more briefly considered. There is also a biographical sketch about Edward Hanrick, pioneer Montgomery (Alabama) merchant, who had business transactions with the tribe. The Chickasaw papers are extensive and include: detailed recollections from Malcolm McGee (b. 1760); other correspondence, much of which pertains to the Colbert family, especially James (d. circa 1784) and his four sons William (circa 1760-1823), George (circa 1764-1839), James, and Levi; material on Tecumseh's visit to the Chickasaw in 1811; and biographical data on Alexander McGillivray, Piomingo, and a longtime missionary to the tribe, Thomas C. Stuart (Stewart). An original letter in 1813 by James Robertson to John Sevier, and an early copy of a letter by James Colbert to Andrew Jackson in 1818, both on Chickasaw affairs, are the only contemporary manuscripts in this volume. A lengthy manuscript (nearly one hundred pages in length) by A. Whyte contains an account of the Catawba Indians and their lands in South Carolina, with copies or excerpts from treaties, reports, correspondence, legislative and gubernatorial documents. Fewer and briefer references relate to the Choctaw leader Pushmataha and to the Cherokee chiefs Big Bear, Junaluska, Nantihala John, and Yonaguska.

On a few non-Indian topics there are scattered or incidental interesting references. Letters of John T. Donald and R.A. Springs comment on Reconstruction and Democratic party politics. Donald also gave anecdotes about Patrick Ferguson, Andrew Jackson, and Thomas Sumter. A personal tribute to sculptor Vinnie Ream was written by Albert Rive.