The papers of James W. Skeels are divided into two series: Papers and Still Images.
Papers (1838-1885) consist mostly of letters written by Skeels during his service with the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry to his parents and sister in Rosendale, Wisconsin. All of the letters include typewritten transcriptions. The letters describe his service from training at Camp Harvey through his time as a prisoner of war. Early letters detail the conditions at camp, relate the condition of other company members from the Rosendale area, and describe the activities that he undertook as his unit saw light action in the western states. One letter, written to his parents while he was being held prisoner in Florence, South Carolina, is very brief and asks for numerous clothing and food supplies. It was the last letter the family received from Skeels. Other correspondence documents the family's quest to find out what happened to Skeels after the war ended. Letters from a Union hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina revealed that while there were records of Skeels being a patient there, no records of his death or release could be found. A journal written by Skeels in 1862 contains brief statements for many days in which he often comments about the weather or amount of travel done by his unit. There is also a financial ledger dating back to 1838 that most likely belonged to Martin, Skeels' father. Newspapers, dating after Skeels' disappearance, were probably those of his sister or nephew. A family genealogy provides extra information about Skeels and his relatives.
Still Images (circa 1861) contain various shots of Skeels and his family members around the time of the Civil War. There are two tintypes of Skeels in Union cavalry uniform, one with him holding an artillery saber; the other shows him in civilian dress. There are also tintypes of his parents, Martin and Sophia, sister Lucia, and her husband, Henry Porter. Other photographs include a shot of Skeels' nephew, Loyal Porter.
