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Papers, chiefly 1783-1846, of Archibald Woods of Ohio County, West Virginia. The papers concern his family, the Poage family, and the Houston family, as well as his business dealings. Correspondents include Levi Barber, Daniel Call, Philip Doddridge, Chapman Johnson, Henry Lee, James Pindall, Benjamin Ruggles, Daniel Sheffey and John Tyler, Edgar Campbell Wilson, George Washington Wilson and Thomas Wilson. Subjects dealt with in the collection include banking, cholera, the Cumberland Road, land speculation, pioneer life near Wheeling, West Virginia and in Kentucky and Indiana, formation of and early days in Belmont and Monroe counties, Ohio (including the founding of Woodsfield, Ohio), the Northwest Territory, Indians of North America, family life, marriage and courtship, Virginia militia during peacetime and in the War of 1812, Ohio politics, sale of slaves and the Whiskey Rebellion. There are also letters of members of the Baker and Morgan families of Fauquier County, Virginia and Wheeling, West Virginia which concern life in St. Louis, Missouri during the 1840's.

Court documents, 1817-1821, relating to Harry, a free black man living in Clark County, Indiana. In the first suit, John H. Thompson brought charges against Isaac Shelby on behalf of Harry, stating that Shelby had illegally detained him. This case was dismissed in March 1817. In April 1817, a suit is brought against Thomas Pile, William Pile, David Smith, and William P. Lee for "manstealing," or the abduction of Harry. This case is eventually dismissed in 1821 due to the fact that Harry cannot appear.

Court documents, 1820, relating to a case between Matilda Baker and William Lewis, who is described as "a man of color." Baker alledged that Lewis tried to rape her and the court documents are primarily bonds to ensure the appearance of the defendant, plantiff, and witnesses in the case. Lewis was convicted and setenced to a fine of one cent and 39 lashes. He appealed on the basis of a new witness, but the result of that appeal is not known.