Mainly correspondence, articles, and newspaper clippings on the Revolution in New York state, which Draper obtained from two New York antiquarians, Charles P. Avery (d. 1872) and Martial R. Hulce.

A group of letters from Mary A. Avery details the negotiations for Draper's purchase of her brother's collection in 1875-1876. Avery's papers, gathered in the 1850s, include recollections (1850) of her Indian captivity in 1773 by Mrs. Jane Strope Whitaker, brief reminiscences of Revolutionary events by Betsy Douglas (whose Indian name was Way-Way), Elisha Forsyth, John Gee, Mrs. Caty McMaster Harris, Abel Hart, Jesse McQuigg, Lawrence Mesereau, Nicholas Slighter, and Jonathan Terry.

Draper exchanged many letters with Hulce and also obtained copies and clippings of Hulce's series of newspaper articles. Among the few papers from other sources is a long contemporary poem on the captivity (1779-1780) of John Hilborn.

In this volume biographical references may also be found on many others, including: Benjamin, Cornelius, and Daniel Cole; Jasper Edwards; John Hilborn; Tom Hill; Cyrus Hotchkiss; the Reverend William Johnston; Bryant Kane; William Lyman; John Montour; Josiah Parks; Tom Quick; Joseph Ross; Sebastian Strope; Parshall Terry Sr. and Jr.; Bezaleel Tyler; and Benjamin, John, and Squire Whitaker.