This collection consists of manuscripts from a variety of sources. Included are correspondence, legal documents, printed documents, and other formats. In addition to original documents, some folders also contain transcriptions, translations, or preliminary research notes.

Where possible, documents clustered around particular themes or collecting areas have been grouped into series. Within the first four series, items are arranged alphabetically by author or signatory name when possible, otherwise alphabetically by title or description.

Further accessions to the collection have been assigned their own accession numbers and are described in the fifth series. These materials are arranged according to date of acquisition.