This collection consists materials compiled and collected by Matthew "Matt" White Paxton, Jr. The primary subject matter of the collection is Paxton family genealogy, the history of the Rockbridge County, Virginia, and related families including Houston, Walker, White, Brockenbrough, Hopkins, Bowyer, Owen, and Braxton. The collection includes original manuscripts, photographs, and secondary source materials such as notes, articles, clippings, pamphlets, and published materials. The photographs are predominately Paxton family members from the late 19th-mid 20th century. There is one photograph of Matthew Paxton, Sr. taken while a student at Washington and Lee University (1873-1874) as well as photographs of his son, Matthew Paxton, Jr. at Fancy Dress and dressed in military uniform in 1918. There are also cased ambrotypes and daguerreotypes of members of the White and Hopkins families. The collection includes a number of photographs from the Michael Miley Studio.