Original manuscripts, 1774-1841, primarily papers of Arthur Campbell. Major topics include military campaigns and Indian problems, 1774-1782, politics in Kentucky; the rise and fall of the State of Franklin; and reactions to federal power and policies affecting the western states from the 1780s to early 1800s. A letter (1785) by Virginia legislator Andrew Stuart mentioned George Washington's connection with companies to improve navigation of the Potomac and James rivers. Several letters, 1788-1789, by Campbell and others discussed the new federal constitution. In 1791 Samuel McDowell in recognition of “the unhappy People we have as Property” outlined his plan for ending the institution of slavery. A letter (1792) by John D. Campbell concerned religious conditions in Virginia and Kentucky. William Christian, writer of eight letters (1776-1786), and William Edmiston (Edmondson), recipient of six (1780-1782) from Arthur Campbell and of one (1780) from William Campbell, are the correspondents noted most frequently. Other writers represented by one or two letters are John Adair, Maccartan Campbell, John Crittenden, John Donelson, Benjamin Harrison, Henry Knox, James Martin, George Maxwell, Samuel Newell, Edmund Randolph, Evan Shelby, John Steele, John Strother, John Tipton, and James White. Others addressed, usually by Arthur Campbell, include William Blount, David Campbell, Charles Cummings, Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Randolph, Jacob Read, Isaac Shelby, Daniel Smith, Oliver Spencer, John Cleves Symmes, and Daniel Trigg.

Other documents found in the volume are a call (1773) to Charles Cummings to be minister to Ebbing and Sinking Spring Presbyterian congregations in Fincastle County, Virginia, bearing the names of 139 members; Arthur Campbell's report on the 1781 expedition against the Cherokee; a speech [1786] by Governor Randolph to the Cherokee to express regret for Indian murders by whites and to promise retribution; a few Campbell family obituaries; a newspaper clipping involving the Shelby-Campbell controversy. One letter of later date (1841) and variant topic was written by artist Thomas Buchanan Read to Edwin R. Campbell concerning an exhibition of Read's painting. In addition to original papers, Draper included a few selected copies of letters (1777-1778) to Edward Hand.