Contains letters sent or received by members of the Chester Cook family. Topics include sin and temptation, a request for a loan, a cabin, information about the village of Orleans (N.Y.), a lyceum meeting, a baptism, views on marriage and recipes, a wedding and local and family news. Correspondents include Sally Wicks, J.W. Sheriff, Samuel Sheriff, William Cook, Sarah Cook, Chester Cook, Caroline Cook, M.J. Edgerton and Elisabeth Paris.

Indentures, bonds, mortgage notes, farm survey maps, stock and financial reports, wills, newspapers, and family photographs of various members of the Cook family of Kirkland, Oneida County, N.Y. Other documents are Chauncy Cook's army appointment and discharge papers and other personal papers including his mss. will; Constable Curtiss' expense list for serving warrants and subpoenas; political items; Cook family genealogical items; and obituaries for Cook and Hart family members.

Mortgages and deeds for lands in Genesee County, for David Cook, Elias Cook, and Irving D. Cook. Also, reminiscences by Irving Cook recalling pioneer days in western New York, including living conditions, farming practices, the coming of the railroad, potash manufacture, the Erie Canal, the country school, and other matters.