The Van Pelt family collection contains surveys, legal documents and certificates, legal notes, correspondence, receipts, bills, reports, calling cards, and pamphlets.

The first series is comprised of real estate records including legal documents, bills, correspondence, and receipts of John Greenwood and the estate and relatvies of John V. Van Pelt. The majority of the materials date from the 1920s to the 1940s, with a small amount from the mid to late 1800s. The documents provide insight into the tenants, and the structures and repairs made on individual buildings owned by the Van Pelt estate. While a small amount of papers from Joseph Greenwood are represented, the majority of the series contains information about the John V. Van Pelt estate, and the Van Pelt relatives associated with the estate. The property holdings represented in this collection include many Brooklyn neighborhoods from Bensonhurst to Williamsburgh, as well as properties in Jamaica, Queens. The locations of properties may not be immediately clear from street names.

The second series is comprised of family papers and contains two 1845 certificates given to Joseph Greenwood, 1881-1889 letters from Lola De La Mesa Greenwood to her family members, a photograph of the Old Van Pelt house, and books and pamphlets from the Crescent Club, Brooklyn Heights Seminary, Clinton Ave. Congregational Church, Fort Greene Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as two photograph cards. The collection also contains one mock up of an issue of "About Town" from July 1906, and the calling cards of Lola De La Mesa Greenwood and Charles Greenwood. The calling cards given by arts and social organizations document civic engagement in Brooklyn, representing many organizations including Plymouth Church, Clinton Ave. Congregational Church, church benefits, the Civitas Club, the Fort Greene D.A.R., and the Long Island College Hospital board.

The third series is comprised of calling cards, representing individuals, organizations, and weddings.