The collection contains the following documents and letters:

1860 June 24. Appointments of John A. Harman, William G. Sterrett, J. Wayt Bell; and S.B. Brown as Justices of the Peace for the 1st District of Augusta County, Virginia. Signed by John Letcher, Governor, and George W. Munford, Secretary.

1864 November 3. John Letcher, Lexington, Virginia, to J. Hierholzer, Richmond, Virginia. Expresses concern about his Richmond friends and the city from vandals, but has learned that Richmond is safe, and "while Richmond is safe, the State is safe, and with the State safe, the Confederacy is safe"; comments that "Virginia is the backbone of the Confederacy, and when she falls, all is gone"; reports that Congress is to meet soon and expresses confidence in the new Confederate Secretary of the Treasury (G.A. Trenholm); tells of difficulty in buying supplies with Confederate money since the people have no confidence in the paper currency; no fighting in the valley since the 19th at Cedar Creek.

1864 December 3. John Letcher, Lexington, Virginia, to J. Hierholzer, Richmond, Virginia. Was involved in several habeas corpus cases tried by Judge Brockenbrough; reports news that the Confederate Army will retreat soon to a safer, more secure position near Mount Crawford, and that conditions have greatly improved since the "Cedar Creek disaster"; considers General Early a good officer; comments on the "puzzling" state of things in Georgia and Tennessee brought about by Hood and Sherman; praises General Lee and his leadership qualities.

1865 May 15. John Letcher, Lexington, Virginia, to J. Hierholzer, Richmond, Virginia. Has had no mail since the evacuation of Richmond, but hopes since the war has ended matters will resume to normal; feels anxiety because he does not know whether or not Virginia will fall under the authority of the new state of West Virginia; wheat crops are being ravaged by "the fly"; rye, oats, and grass crops are promising, as well as corn; predicts years of hard labor to restore the country and business.

1865 September 3. John Letcher, Lexington, Virginia, to J. Hierholzer, Richmond, Virginia. Comments on events of the past year, including the destruction of Richmond, the abolition of slavery, the passing of the Confederacy, and his imprisonment by military order; feels that they should accept what has happened and make the best of it; expresses confidence in President Andrew Johnson, stating that "his feelings toward the South are kind, and he wishes to bring about a re-organization as soon as practicable"; the wheat crop throughout the state has been, for the most part, a failure, but the rye, oats, and grass crops were good; business is slowly reviving; reports General Robert E. Lee has accepted the Presidency of Washington and Lee, and will arrive soon.

1875 June 11. John Letcher, Lexington, Virginia, to "cousin". Apologizes for his lack of correspondence, but has been very busy with his law practice; received the family sketches, including that of the Houston family; family is all in good health, though there have been several cases of scarlet fever reported in town; comments on the dry weather since April, and the planting of their tobacco crop; the wheat crop will be fair, the oats and grass crops failed, and the corn looks poor; expresses desire to visit the "Great West," but lack of money and age will not allow it; mentions the beginning of exams at "the University and the Institute" (Washington and Lee and Virginia Military Institute).