Letters dealing with the New York State Supreme Court of Herkimer County, including bills of judgment, letters of discharge, orders of transportation, and inventories of Supreme Court furnishings; an account book for Spinner when he was sheriff of Herkimer County; also letters of a military content dealing with the 5th Brigade of the New York State Militia, including bills from Aylesworth and Holmes of Utica; also, letters dealing with construction and personnel matters of the New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, on whose planning commission Spinner served. Also, correspondence with Edwin D. Morgan, Thurlow Weed, William P. Fessenden, and with Benson J. Lossing concerning the origin of the United States Treasury seal.

Also, correspondence with Morgan discussing Horace Greeley, and the Grant administration; and a letter from H. Bostwick concerning the Auburn State Prison. Includes family correspondence, particularly of John Peter Spinner, and material on Spinner's change from the Democratic to the Whig Party.

Collection of letters and documents pertaining to the professional career of Francis E. Spinner, Congressman (NY, 1854-1861) and Treasurer of the United States (1861-1874). The material provides a detailed picture of the life of an active politician on the state and national scene, especially on the fiscal operation of the country including the Civil War period.

Also includes diary by John Peter Spinner, father of Francis E. Spinner.