This collection consists primarily of letters written by members of the Foster and Cheatham families. The majority of these letters are addressed to Ellen (Foster) Cheatham. Many were written by her father, Senator Ephraim H. Foster, and discuss such family matters as weddings and deaths of interest. Other letters were written from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Nashville, Tennessee.

This collection consists of two Washington National Monument Society Membership Certificates that contain facsimile signatures of President Zachary Taylor, John Quincy Adams, and James K. Polk and several other Washington dignitaries.