Family and business correspondence, chiefly of George Hairston of Pittsylvania County, Va., plus about 30 letters for Peter and Louisa Watkins of Henry County, Va. Many letters are between George and his brother Peter. He also received letters from his mother, wife, several Wilson, Hairston, and Stuart relatives, and various friends. Business correspondence is chiefly with merchants and lawyers. Letters relating to the Watkinses are from Hairston and Barrow relatives and business associates. The first Watkins item appears in 1851; most are in 1858. Topics include family and plantation affairs, land acquisitions, politics, and the estate of Robert Hairston. There is one letter that describes the public execution of a Black man for murdering another Black man in August 1844.

Peter W. Hairston wrote George frequently between 1846 and 1860. Early letters from White Sulphur Springs, Philadelphia, New York, and Oak Hill, discuss family activities, his travels, and the Mexican War (see 8 April 1847). Of particular interest is a letter from Philadelphia in April 1847, relating the story of Peter's attendance at the dedication of a new Black church in the city at the invitation of a Black barber.

After 1849, Peter wrote most often from his home, Cooleemee Hill, in Davie County, N.C., and from Columbus in Lowndes County, Miss. Between 1850 and 1852, his letters focus on land purchases; crops; affairs at Cooleemee Hill, Shoe Buckle, Old Town, and Home House plantations; and internal improvements. Between 1852 and 1856, he wrote from Columbus about his efforts to challenge and settle the last will and testament of their step-grandfather, Robert Hairston, who left his estate to a girl he fathered by Elizabeth, an enslaved woman who worked as a house servant, probably in Lowndes County, Miss. Letters from Robert A. Hairston in Lowndes County, Miss. (13 April 1852), from lawyer James M. Whittle in Pittsylvania County (17 December 1852), and from Jesse Wootton (14 December 1853) in 1852 and 1853 also discuss the disposition of Robert Hairston's will. Peter's letters after 1858 describe a trip abroad he took with his wife, Fanny.

Letters to George from his mother, Agnes Hairston at Oak Hill, and his wife, Lizzie, discuss family events, illnesses, crops, church affairs, an operation George underwent in Philadelphia in 1859, and Lizzie's deep unhappiness at Berry Hill (see 4 February 1859). Of note is a letter, dated 28 February 1846, in which George's mother revealed her displeasure with Southern girls being educated in the North and discussed how the death of a young son had affected her attitudes toward child rearing.

George received a number of letters from other relatives and friends. Of interest among these is one from his cousin Sammie of Wytheville, in August 1844, that concerns the execution described above. The letter also mentions a phrenologist and a costumed Scottish Highlander playing the bagpipes. Also of note is a letter from his cousin, Robert A. Hairston, a student at the University of North Carolina, in 1848, who wrote concerning his studies and the upcoming commencement. A distant relative, Nicholas P. Scales of Taladega, Ala., wrote in 1854 explaining how they were related and requesting financial assistance from Hairston. A friend, J. O. Leary of Cascade, Va., wrote in July 1859 concerning plantation affairs and his desire to marry a wealthy older woman.

The bulk of the letters of the Watkins family are addressed to Louisa Watkins at Shawnee in Henry County from her husband, Peter; her father, George Hairston (d. 1863); and other relatives. Peter wrote Louisa several times in 1858 from Rome, Ga., and Taladega, Ala., where he seems to have had plantation business, discussing the illness and death of his sister Letitia, the cotton market, money affairs, and his return travel plans. George Hairston wrote Louisa between 1855 and 1858 from Hordsville, mentioning internal improvements, banking, and other issues before the legislature in Richmond (see 29 January 1856) and Lou's taking care of Letitia's children (see 1 December 1858). Lou also received letters from her nieces Lizzie and Joe Hairston, her aunt Ann Hairston, and others concerning family news and housekeeping. Peter Watkins received two letters from his brother T. H. (probably Thomas), discussing tobacco prices and family illnesses. He also received a number of miscellaneous business letters.

About half of the undated letters were received by Louisa H. Watkins from relatives, with the bulk of the remainder addressed to her cousin George Hairston. Scattered items appear for Peter Watkins, Lizzie Hairston, and others. The letters focus on family and neighborhood news, including discussion of illnesses, weddings, visits, deaths, and gardening. A few business letters to George Hairston discuss the operation of his mill and his financial arrangements.

Civil War letters, mostly 1864, exchanged by members and relatives of the Watkins family at Horse Pasture in Henry County, Va. The bulk of the correspondence is addressed to Louisa Watkins from her nephew, Orren Wilson Barrow, a company commander in the 24th Virginia Infantry Regiment, and to her son, Hairston Watkins, while he served in the Virginia Cavalry and was held prisoner at Point Lookout, Md. Private Watkins's mother, father, sister Nannie, cousin Orren, and aunt Louisa R. Smith wrote him often during his stay at Point Lookout. Scattered correspondence appears for Nannie Watkins, Peter Watkins, George Hairston, and a Colonel George Wortham of the North Carolina Brigade's 9th Regiment.

Orren Barrow's letters, written from near Taylorsville and Hanover Junction, Va., and from his regiment's headquarters on the Appomattox and James rivers, are informative and detailed, describing camp life, troop morale, skirmishes, the treatment of Confederate prisoners, and news of family members. He frequently reported on the whereabouts and activities of Hairston Watkins; Wat Barrow (his brother); and John Armstead, a friend who was being held prisoner in Elmira, N.Y. Barrow wrote from near Taylorsville on 22 December 1863 concerning strong abolitionist sentiment in Henry County, and from "the Trenches"on 26 August 1864 concerning engaging Black soldiers in battle and racist sentiments of Confederate soldiers.

A few letters from Hairston Watkins to his family discuss camp life near Richmond, visitors to Point Lookout, and relatives held there, including Hairston Seawell. Letters from home and from his aunt Louisa Smith of Baltimore give mostly family and neighborhood news and often express anxiety over his well-being.

Two additional letters appear from soldiers. One, dated 4 February 1862, is from P. F. Shelton of Co. A, 42nd Regiment, Virginia Volunteers, to his cousin, complaining of how the volunteers fight while members of the militia stay home. The other, dated 29 September 1864, is from Wat W. Barrow at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond to Louisa Watkins, describing his injuries, expressing his worries about brother Orren, and giving news of Hairston Watkins at Point Lookout.

Letters to Nannie Watkins from her cousins Louly and M. S. Seawell at "The Shelter" appear in 1863 and 1864 and discuss news of fighting near them, their brother Hairston's capture, and the enrollment of Black soldiers by Yankee forces (see 10 February 1864). Also of note is a letter, probably 1863, describing the startling explosion of two powder magazines.

Scattered letters to Peter Watkins and George Hairston discuss mostly the war and business affairs. In February 1865, several items appear for a Colonel George Wortham, including orders and a letter. H. M. Corbet of Rutherfordton, N.C., wrote to the colonel on 7 February about his brother William's death and complaining of the manner in which his body was returned. Orders Wortham received from Colonel William Hardy concern monthly reports and troop movements.

Chiefly correspondence of George Hairston's widow Anne Elizabeth ("Lizzie," "Sister" Lash Hairston and, after she remarried, Mrs. Forney George) with various members of the Lash and Hairston families and with her sons William and Samuel. A few items also appear for Louisa Watkins of Ridgeway, Va.

In the fall of 1876, Elizabeth's father, William A. Lash, wrote of a social competition among the Black men and women at the mill and politics in Stokes County, N.C. (17 September 1876). Letters from Lash at Walnut Cove, N.C., and J. P. Dillard at Leaksville, N.C., in 1877 and 1878 offer their comments on the economic distress of their areas, tobacco crop losses, and the increasing costs of labor. A letter of note is one to Elizabeth from her brother, Powell (Powie) Lash in Walnut Cove, dated 20 April 1870, in which he discussed their brother's nomination to the Senate and his opening a new store. Other letters concern Elizabeth's finances, the settlement of her husband's estate, the education of her sons, and family news. Letters in 1884 appear from Elizabeth, now Mrs. George, at Oak Hill, Va., to Samuel Hairston, who was away at school, giving family and neighborhood news and advising him to use his time wisely. In November 1884, she wrote about Black voting in the area, the murder trial of a George Hairston (relationship unknown), and talk of lynching the latter.

Letters to Louisa Watkins in 1866, 1870, and 1872 are from Susie B. Bockins of Richmond, Orren W. Barrow in Baltimore, aunt Harriet in Martinsville, and others. The letters discuss plans for teaching the Watkins children, news of family and neighborhood illnesses and weddings, and recipes. Of interest is a letter written in February 1866 from Martha A. Zenliniger of Mayo Forge to Louisa, begging her to prevail upon Mr. Watkins to pay a debt owed the Zenlinigers to prevent their financial ruin.

Scattered letters after 1892 are primarily those of Samuel Hairston and discuss his business and land affairs and family. Of interest is an 1896 letter to William Lash from H. R. Semly of Key West, Fla., concerning the free silver movement and Semly's request for advice on what to do with gold-based mortgages and railroad bonds.