This collection contains the papers of J. D. Kingsbury, a missionary of the American Sunday-School Union of Philadelphia, working in Marion and Monongalia counties, Virginia (now West Virginia) and living in Fairmont. Included in the collection are two letters from American Sunday-School Union officers Geo. [George Starr] Scofield and W. E. [William E.] Boardman, apparently responding to a discouraging letter from Kingsbury, in which he had requested to be assigned to a different area. Both writers advise Kingsbury that the outlook in his area will improve. "Now you are on the ground," writes Boardman, strike a good blow[.] Make your mark for all coming time, as I have no doubt you will." Another letter, written in Clarksburg by "Ray," a missionary assigned to counties adjacent to Kingsbury's, discusses Kingsbury's plan to finish work and leave the area and Ray's own failure to accomplish much in the field. Also included are two letters from J. S. McKinney [likely John Spencer McKinney] of Palatine (Marion County). In the first, McKinney offers to purchase book sets ("The Cheap Sunday School and Family Library" and "The Very Cheap Library") from Kingsbury and notes that a new Sunday school is to be established at nearby Winfield. In the second letter, McKinney describes the activities of his Sunday school, then notes a recent mishap that befell his church: "[A] huricain past over our place and unrooft our church ..." Together with these letters is a printed form letter, signed by W. E. Boardman, appointing Kingsbury a missionary and describing in detail his duties.