Papers of the Williamsburg City Council, including a manuscript draft of the first ordinance regulating automobile traffic, contract for city gas lighting system, duties of city scavenger, papers regarding bond issue for city water works and sewage disposal, 1889-1891. Doctor bills for small-pox vaccinations, 1899.

Papers of Williamsburg Post Office while Cole served as Postmaster.

Includes fire insurance contract, Eastern State Hospital letter from the engineer, Colonial Hotel emphemera, arrest warrant and letters from local citizens about local matters, North Carolina Coupon Bond, 1861. Programs for "The Unveiling of a Monument of the site of the Old Capitol...1904," "Celebration of the Ter-Centennial at Jamestown Island...1907, First Peninsula School Fair, 1913, Farmers' Institute 1905;" flyer for Educational and Civic Association 'Trip Around the World,'and inventation to luncheon at the Colonial Inn, 1910.

Three 1873 letters from Benjamin S. Ewell. Legal papers with William & Mary, sealed and signed by Robert Saunders, 1847. Receipt to Gustavus Lobby for philosophy course, signed by Silas Totten, 1851. Open letter from W. T. Roberts, Rector of Bruton Parish Church, criticizing the college, President Tyler, and the Vice President of the Board of Visitors as a "moral leper," 1901 November 20.

Correspondence, receipts, and personnel papers concerning the Williamsburg School Board. Includes a 1897 indenture/deed between John and Menirva Dahn and Moses Harrell of the School Board to sell land for a school; 1919 letter from the APVA (Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) protesting the decision to erect a school on the Palace Green; money pledges by citizens for building the new school; correspondence about firing and keeping Mrs. Jones as a teacher; re-application letter by John S. Charles to be principal of the Nicholson School (1899) and his resignation letter (1900) (the 1899 re-application includes petitions in support of Charles by parents and children. Mr. Charles was principal for 15 years); note on envelope states that The Nicholson School was built in 1897 and gives cost of school; and correspondence, receipts and supply orders for schools (1917-1918). In 1897, one school is called "White School #1." In 1918, one school called "Model SChool."

Bound volume of minutes of meetings of Trustees of the Williamsburg Free School, 1870-1907. Miscellaneous loose papers pertaining to the school. Bound volume of Williamsburg school accounts and funds, both state and local, 1911-1920. Bound volume of accounts of state school funds, 1894-1911. Bound volume of accounts of city school funds, 1919-1924. Miscellaneous papers and letters to the school board.

Bound volume of minutes of Democratic Committee in Williamsburg. In this volume, laid-in, is a Poll Tax poster for Williamsburg, ca. late 1800's-early 1900's. Registered voters in the city white and colored lists, 1889-1896. In the back of the volume there is a collection of ballots. Three bound volumes with lists of registered voters in the city, 1902-1925. Minutes of the Williamsburg Democratic Committee during the presidential campaign, 1900-1904.

Minute book of the Wise Light Infantry Company of Williamsburg, 1881-1882. Printed copy of agreement between the City of Williamsburg and Williamsburg Holding Company, now Colonial Williamsburg, 1928. Newspaper clippings, primarily of Yorktown Centennial Celebration, including 1881 October 18 edition of Army and Navy Register listing events, people, military units and their officers.

Includes rent and sale contracts for his Williamsburg property. Sale for standing lumber, tax returns, fire insurance policies, four certificates from governors appointing Cole to board of trustees of Eastern State Hospital, lawsuit judgments (1907), Richmond and York River Railroad Company share, January-October 1857 store account for Catherine Maupin, contract between C. Burress and John C. Tilford for property in Williamsburg, 1871.

Concerning property of H. D. Cole, his father Robert F. Cole, his grandfather Jesse Cole.

Bound property sales account book, undated; newspaper clipping scrapbook with notes, divided by subjects such as asylum, weddings, deaths, receptions, William & Mary, Williamsburg and others; personal bank account book with deposits and withdrawals from Peninsula, Derickson and Williamsburg banks, 1897-1909; and an account books with blacksmith accounts (1836-1838) and Richneck Farm accounts with include slave purchases with names, home remedies and farm accounts.

Assorted newspaper clippings,including page about legal proceedings, 1990 and account of burning of Williamsburg Courthouse, 6 April 1911.

Letter from Paris describing his balloon ascent from E. W. Blodgett, 1899 October 9. Public reaction to Dreyfus case. Letter on growth and development around Lynchburg, 1911 April 16. Letters political and personal, 1888-1936. Letter regarding C. H. Fine, 1911. Letter from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. 1934 March 2. Letter from Abby A. Rockefeller. Letter from John Clofton to Cole about death of Cole's father, 1887.