Included in this series is a variety of letters pertaining broadly to relations between American Indians and whites. The earlier material relates largely to relations in New York and New England, with the bulk of the later documents concerning the plight of the Indian tribes, including the Cherokee, in relation to their removal westward.

More specific topics covered in the letters include: the return of French captives ransomed by New Englanders; discouraging Indians from joining an expedition with the French; Maquas Indian complaints regarding settlement of Indian land; the care of a young Mohawk who contracted smallpox; a petition from the Narragansett regarding land; a letter from chiefs of the Seven Nations to George Washington; pleas for relief efforts and the addressing of grievances; a letter to the Spanish Governor of Pensacola found on a Creek Indian chief killed in the War of 1812; the murder of an Indian in Kansas and a description of Indians in Kansas.

There are also several letters of sub-agent and interpreter, Jasper Parrish, regarding his work with the Indian tribes of New York, specifically dealing with payment of annuities, potential disposal of reservation land, and data on tribal populations and size of reservations. With these letters is also a contemporary facsimile, apparently of an Indian manuscript discovered in Labrador. It includes a dated note about its provenance on the address leaf.

Of particular note are letters of introduction for John D. Lang and Samuel Taylor on their trip to visit Indians living west of the Mississippi River in 1842. The letter directed toward Indians themselves is an excellent summary of contemporary white stereotypes of Indian culture and religion.

This series contains various legal and financial documents relating to negotiations and sales of land with Indians. Geographically, the documents include New York and its vicinity, as well as Canada and Georgia. The first folder of the series is composed of a conveyance, order for payment, receipt, deed, mortgage, boundary agreement, two lists of expenses and disbursements, and a fragment of a deed.

The remaining material is a small collection of papers relating to the interests of speculators who purchased pre-emptive rights to Indian Reservation land in New York, through the Ogden Land Company. The rights involved property on the Buffalo Creek, Cannadea, Cattaraugus, Tonnewanda, Tuscarora and Seneca reservations. The documents specifically relate to the share held by the Murray family, including John R. Murray, Mary Murray, Hannah Murray and Susan Ogden.

The papers are composed of various types of documents; among them are accounts, a plan of division, a list of lots, a report of a meeting of proprietors, an agreement of exchange of lots, a certificate of redemption of land, and estimates. Additionally, there are copies of documents concerning the disputed Treaty of 1838 between the United States government and Indian tribes of New York. Many of the items contain information concerning property, including taxes, township location, lot number and acreage.

Within this series are a variety of documents relating to New York State Indians, including those moved west following the Treaty of 1838. The items comprise a draft, speeches, a set of notes, and reports and abstracts of minutes of Yearly Meetings of Friends.

The documents cover diverse topics such as 1689 hostilities with Maques Indians; assistance and refuge for Oneida Indians during the American Revolution; the removal of whites in violation of a treaty by residing in the Cannajohary-Fort Hunter region; suggestions to Seneca chiefs on the Cattaraugus Reservation on managing and improving land, proper conduct of a family and an exhortation against the use of alcohol; and a request for compensation for Indians displaced under the Treaty of 1838.

Other material relates to the Society of Friends' efforts on behalf of Indian tribes moved west of the Mississippi. Included in this are a printed report from the Committee on Indian Concern at the 1839 Yearly Meeting with a handwritten abstract of minutes of Yearly Meetings, 1837-1841, and finally a document regarding the decision of John D. Lang and Samuel Taylor to visit those Indian tribes residing west of the Mississippi, 1842.

The earliest material is a later, true copy of a translation entitled "The Indian Interpreter" extracted from the "Book of Town records of the Salem Colony"(NJ), with a newspaper and associated documents. The series also includes an undated collection of documents relating to Indian translations of prayers and psalms.

This sketch notes that it depicts Black Hawk, with an accompanying note attributing it to "Dr. DeCamp". This may be Dr. William H. DeCamp of Grand Rapids Michigan who served as a surgeon in the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics during the Civil War. He also participated in the excavation of Indian mounds in Michigan. Its style and focus on Black Hawk's facial features suggest an ethnological influence.