This collection houses three letters written by U.S. Congressman Pryor Lea from Washington, D.C. to his brother Harmon Graves (H. G.) Lea (1805-1887) in Grainger County, Tennessee. The first brief letter, dated February 21, 1829, was written after a quarrel Lea had with Col. Davy Crockett regarding an unflattering letter Lea wrote describing Crockett’s character; this quarrel almost led to a duel between the two congressmen. The letter is intended to assure Lea’s family that he is no danger and that he means to provide proof for his accusations against Crockett. A second brief letter dated January 30 (no year listed, but from 1830) celebrates Lea’s triumph over Thomas D. Arnold, who contested Lea’s reelection to Congress in 1829 on the grounds of perjury and bribery; the committee overseeing the debate unanimously voted to allow Lea to keep his seat. A third letter, dated March 17, 1830, provides his brother with some information regarding bids that his brother had requested and describes some of the issues being argued in the House of Representatives at the time. Lea mentions the Great Road meetings (referring to the controversy in the House over building a road connecting Buffalo, New York to New Orleans, Louisiana) and the Indian Removal Act.

The collection also contains an obituary, an article, and a journal article documenting Lea and his life in addition to a postcard depicting Presidio de la Bahia, the former military fort where Lea lived after retiring from Congress. Nancy G. Miller has annotated the postcard.