The manuscript collection begins with personal papers of
Henderson Yoakum, who wrote the first comprehensive history of
Texas. They include a muster roll from his Cherokee campaign,
discharge orders and payment authorizations for his troops, as
well as Yoakum's license to practice law. A collection of papers
letters related to early Texas, primarily annexation issues,
ranges from 1842-1845. The Thornton letters describe daily life
and events in East Texas, especially Walker County and
Huntsville, as interpreted by a recent immigrant from England.
Among her descriptions are the yellow fever epidemic of 1867, a
fire and fire control (a bucket brigade), and martial law after
the Civil War. In the correspondence section, Governor E. M.
Pease discusses politics and family life, David G. Burnet,
Secretary of State , orders surveys for the public lands
assigned to the establishment of an education system, and
William S. Peters solicits investment from Robert Owen, the
English socialist, for the Peters Colony. From t