Original manuscripts, 1771-1821, principally pertaining to Indian affairs. More than a dozen letters, most of which were addressed to Edward Hand in October-November, 1778, discuss Indian threats arid the massacre at Cherry Valley. Writers included Samuel Campbell, Samuel Clyde, Frederick Fisher, Jelles and John Fonda, James Gordon, Jacob Klock, John Nukerk, and Daniel Whiting. Written in German is a list detailing Henry Eckler's war losses on his house and farm. A petition (1790) to Congress set forth John Wood's claims for compensation for his Indian captivity in 1779. A small section of correspondence of Philip R. Frey contains a few personal and business letters after 1800; of these an 1807 item (20 F, 61) gives an Englishman's view of President Thomas Jefferson's policy toward Great Britain.

Joseph Brant's correspondence, 1784-1799, primarily with government officials and his copies of proceedings and speeches at Indian councils within this period comprise the majority of the papers. Most of the material concerns the problems involved in the Mohawk title to the Grand River land grant and to Brant's policies for its management and sale, but there are also references to other topics: Brant's peace negotiations in 1792-1793, provisions for a resident clergyman for the Mohawk, a smallpox outbreak and subsequent inoculation of the Indians (1796-1797), and land problems of the Chippewa and Missisauga tribes in Canada. Among the many Indian council papers are a speech (1785) signed by the Mohawk John Deserontyou, and a transcript of a meeting in Detroit (1794) with pictographic signatures of the chiefs present. A few items concern descendants of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant, including a petition (1793) on their New York land claims and a marriage certificate (1798) for Ann Johnson and Hugh Earl signed by the Anglican clergyman John Stuart. One of Joseph Chew's letters to Brant (1794) commented on the excesses of the French Revolution and the execution of the French king and queen.

Among the writers of letters in this volume who have not yet been mentioned are John Askin (1795), Richard Butler (1787), Israel Chapin (1792), A.S. De Peyster (1784), Henry Du Vernet (1781?), Peter Gansevoort (1782), Frederick Haldimand (1783), John Hathorn (1779), Jehu Hay (1785), Guy Johnson (1772, 1774), John Johnson (1787, 1791, 1796), Henry Knox (1793), Abraham Ten Broeck (1779), and Marinus Willett (1777, 1779). Among the recipients in addition to Brant, Frey, and Hand were Butler, Chapin, [William] Claus, George Clinton, William Croghan, Baron Friedrich A. Riedesel, Peter Russell, and John Graves Simcoe.