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James P. Elam Journal, 1835-1836, records the financial activities of Elam's general store on an almost daily basis. The volume was primarily used as a daybook to document customer purchases. Information found in those entries includes customer name, name and quantity of items purchased, and monies debited or credited to the customer's account. The account book was also used to record business expenses such as merchandise purchases, freighting fees, and the costs of building a new store. Occasionally family expenses were noted in the volume for travel expenses and purchases of items such as food, clothing, and furniture.

Julius Meyer and Sons Ledger, 1888-1890, documents the dry-goods company's financial activities. The ledger records both the accounts of individual customers and the company's working accounts for things such as bank transactions, expenses, freight, and merchandise. Entries are organized in chronological order under the individual account name. Each entry includes date, type of transaction, and monies debited or credited.

Lisburn Land Company Minute Book, 1890-1901, records meetings of the company's Board of Directors and stockholders. Early entries document the formation of the company, creation of by-laws, and the purchase of land to be divided into lots and improved upon. The drafting of deeds and sales of stock were among the topics recorded in later entries.

Manchester Supply Company Daybooks, 1901-1902, record the business transactions of the grocers on an almost daily basis as they occurred. Information found in each entry includes the name of customer, name and quantity of goods purchased, price owed, and amounts paid. Manchester Supply Company sold a variety of vegetables and meat along with sugar, flour, and tobacco.

Manchester (Va.) City Council Minute Books, 1875-1909, are comprised of four volumes covering the administrative functions of one of the city's two governing bodies. According to the February 15, 1901 Acts of the Assembly (p. 241), "the administration and government of the city shall be vested in one principal officer, to be styled the mayor; the City Council to be composed of the Board of Alderman, consisting of two members from each ward, and the City Assembly, consisting of three members from each ward." Furthermore, "each board composing the city council shall have one regular meeting during each month and as many special or called meetings as the interests of the city shall require. A majority of the members elected to each board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No ordinances or resolutions shall become a law of the city until adopted by a majority of each board present and voting." The first volume of City Council Minutes is found with the last volume of the Board of Trustee Minutes Books, 1870-1875, on pages 436-563. The second volume dates from 1875-1880 and numbers 452 pages. On page 232, the minutes reveal the proposal to incorporate the city of Manchester with the city of Richmond. The third volume dates from 1881-1890 and numbers 623 pages. The fourth volume dates from 1890-1897 and numbers 639 pages. The fifth volume dates from 1897-1909 and numbers 510 pages. Volumes 2-4 contain an internal index alphabetically arranged from A-W. The last volume contains an internal index alphabetically arranged from A-Z. All volumes deal with similar subjects such as bonds, committees, communications, election of city officials, finance reports, ordinances, petitions, committee reports and the formation of special committees.

Manchester (Va.) Delinquent Tax Book, 1895-1913, contains information on specific individuals, businesses, estates related to the city's collection of delinquent taxes from 1877-1909. In 1874, the city charter provided for the collection of these taxes. The collection of these taxes relate to personal and real property with the implementation of city, school, paving and sewer taxes. Essentially, the collector filled out a printed form which included the year, tax, penalty and interest. The month, the date and the specific party were added by the collector. When the City of Manchester was annexed to the City of Richmond in 1910, this volume became part of the Richmond's Department of Finance records.

Mechanics Building Company Journal No. 3, 1877-1886, records the accounts of individual stockholders on a monthly basis. Information found for each stockholder include the number of shares owned and any monies owed for dues,interest fees, and fines. The inside of the volume cover notes that the journal was entered as an exhibit with a deposition of John A. Kratz given 8 July 1889 for an unidentified court case.

National Auto Schools Corporation Stock Book, 1911, includes blank stock certificates and certificate stubs for purchased shares. Each stock certificate stub includes a certificate number, date, name of buyer, and the number of shares purchased.

Old Dominion Electrical Construction Company Ledger, 1895-1896, records the company's financial activities. The first part of the ledger documents the company's controlling accounts such as cash, stock, merchandise, expenses, and bills payable and receivable. The remainder of the ledger was used to record the accounts with the company's customers and creditors. Information found in each account includes date and type of transaction and monies debited or credited to the accounts.

Richmond (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1783-1942, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.