This collection consists of 43 letters from William Randolph Hackley to his wife and family in Illinois written from 1863-1866. During this time, Hackley worked as a local special agent and cotton agent with the United States Department of the Treasury in West Tennessee and Mississippi. The correspondence describes Hackley's efforts to make money to send home to his family, the low salary paid to treasury employees, the corrupt nature of the Treasury Department, and the cynicism of government workers. The letters also demonstrate Hackley's homesickness and love for his family.

Interested researchers may also wish to consult MS.1275 for transcriptions of these letters.