The papers of Jacob W. Roby are divided into four series, Administrative Records, Biographical Background, Correspondence, and Miscellaneous Documents.
Administrative Records (1861-1867) comprises the bulk of the collection, and is divided into two sub-series, Personnel Records and Property Records. The Personnel Records includes registers, descriptive books, muster rolls, inspection and morning reports, pay records, and a casualty list from the Battle of Perryville. A highlight of the Personnel Records is the case file for a 10th Wisconsin desertion case, which includes two poignant letters to President Lincoln from the soldier charged and his mother and sister pleading for clemency. Also included are personal effects inventories from deceased soldiers and an 1862 officer's manual on how to position soldiers for outpost and patrol duty. The Property Records include a large number of quartermaster reports such as clothing, equipage, and ordnance stores reports, as well as correspondence relating to supply issues. Of particular interest in this series are a quartermaster receipt book with a notation about Libby Prison Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, and the sutler's account book for Company B, which includes a note from the sutler to Roby about settling accounts with him after his representative in the 10th Wisconsin was killed.
Biographical Background (1861-1907) consists of a small number of photocopied documents and articles about Roby. Included are documents relating to Roby's marriage and pension disability claims. There are also pages from a 10th Wisconsin reunion booklet and an article detailing the breach of promise to marry lawsuit brought against him.
Correspondence (1862-1866) comprises correspondence to and from Roby on a variety of personnel and administrative matters. Highlights include correspondence from Roby to the Governor of Wisconsin about a perceived slight in officer promotion, a 'resolution of thanks' sent to Roby from the State of Wisconsin and signed by Governor James Lewis and Secretary of State Lucius Fairchild, and an interesting 1863 letter about the company drummer who was absent without leave.
Miscellaneous Documents (1861-1907) comprises a small number of other documents collected by Roby. Included are documents sent to Roby by the state of Wisconsin relating to pay and other issues; a newspaper article written by a former prisoner at Andersonville Prison; a bit of doggerel about a man who gets robbed by a woman on the train; an 1862 broadside to the citizens of Jackson, Missouri instructing them to turn over the persons who murdered a soldier or face the consequences, which may have been issued by either the Union or Confederate army; and an October 3, 1862 Arkansas newspaper with an article about counterfeit Confederate money and a war report by General Robert E. Lee.
