The Ripley Family Papers, 1811-1930, contain correspondence, legal papers, bill and receipts, and other papers of the members of a Greene County, Tenn., family.

The bulk of the collection consists of legal papers, primarily those regarding the sale of plots of land. Many belonged to David Ripley and involve other members of the Ripley family who had hired David to handle their legal matters. Some of the earlier legal papers, however, are summons to appear in judicial court in Greeneville. These papers are signed by Valentine Sevier, the county clerk.

A small amount of correspondence is included in the collection. The majority of these letters deals with business transactions, such as land deals. A number of are between David Ripley and W. R. Ripley of Jackson, Tenn., David's cousin. A small amount of personal correspondence can be found.

The remainder of the collection contains bills, receipts, and other papers of members of the Ripley family. The bills and receipts consist mostly of records of sales made or taxes paid by Samuel or David Ripley. Included in David Ripley's other papers are a daybook recording his expenses during the 1840s, loyalty papers from 1866, and handwritten notes from geographic surveying work. Adie Ripley's papers contain a stock certificate for the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad and a social invitation. Dana S. Ripley's papers contain his military discharge records and a certificate noting his election as Justice of the Peace for Greene County.