This series consists mainly of handwritten letters to and from Thomas (Tho), Ann, and Marie (Minnie) Messenger. Other papers consist of writings of prose, poetry, and biblical verse done by unspecified members of the Messenger family. Various pieces of ephemera are also included, such as newspaper clippings, brochures, and advertisements. A large portion of the personal papers is also comprised of receipts from the Messengers' travels abroad, letters of introduction written on behalf of the Messenger family for their travels, and receipts for purchases from local merchants throughout the New York area circa 1834 to 1885. Documents associated with the Messenger family's ties to St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn in the form of invitations, donation receipts, and correspondence between Thomas Messenger and the Parish are also included. The Visual Materials folder contains a drawn map of the corner of Front and Fulton Streets from 1880, a printed map of the Diocese of New York based on census figures from 1870, and an architectural rendering of a house located in Rome, Italy. Photographs, mostly of unknown subjects, are also included in this folder.