Original manuscripts, 1738-1803, accompanied by Draper notes. The earliest pieces are indentures for sales of lands in Pennsylvania by George Boone to his son James in 1738 and by Squire Boone and his wife Sarah in 1750. Three of Daniel Boone's land survey notebooks, one for 1776, and two for the period 1780-1787, and additional land entries and surveys signed by William Bailey Smith [circa 1775] and by Thomas Marshall and George May (1780) contain the names of many Kentucky pioneers.

Other original Boone pieces include a memorandum of agreement (1781) signed by Boone and Geddes Winston and two letters (October, 1782) written by Boone to Robert Patterson during the retaliatory campaign against the Shawnee following the disaster at Blue Licks. Several letters relating either to business or military affairs were written by others: William Russell to Daniel Smith (1774); Smith to an unknown correspondent (fragment, 1774); John Samuel La Rue (signed by mark) to Boone (1776); William Christian to Robert Montgomery (1776); John Donelson [to William Fleming] (1777); Israel Christian to Daniel Boone (1781); Samuel Boone to Benjamin Netherland (1782); John Dickinson to Thomas Madison (1789); and Walter Crockett to Madison (1793). Among authors and signers of other documents were Daniel, Mary (by her mark), and Samuel Bryan; William Byrd; William Hays; Gilbert Imlay; and Thomas Walker.

Found in this volume is a chronological summary of Boone's activities and financial transactions, 1781-1791, compiled by Draper from Boone's own records. Numerous clipped signatures, a few sketch maps, and many other annotations by Draper clearly indicate his plan for copious visual illustration of his intended biography of Boone.