Mainly correspondence of Cameron, Missouri resident Oliver Perry Newberry, 1860-1867, primarily relating to his Civil War service in the Union army; and cabinet, carte-de-visite and a few tintype photographs of Newberry family and friends dating primarily from the 1880's.

Gilbert Mer’s over 900 page unpublished manuscript, entitled "One Step at a Time - Some Backward," an autobiographical account of Mer’s years on the Texas waterfront as a longshoreman and radical union activist. Portions of the manuscript were published in 1988 by University of Texas Press under the title "Working on the Waterfront."

Writings and correspondence of Chicago journalist and foreign correspondent Paul Randall Wright, particularly newspaper stories reported from Siberia in 1918-1919, and Manchuria, China, Japan, and the Philippines from 1926-1930. The collection also includes diaries and a number of photographs relating to the periods in which Wright was stationed abroad.

Correspondence and papers of Milwaukee and Chicago bookseller and bon vivant Paul Romaine. Also photographs, memorabilia, diaries, clippings, writings (of Romaine and others), plus items relating to theater, music, political events and persons who interested Romaine.

Fourteen letters and drafts of letters between Paul Shorey, Professor of Greek at the University of Chicago, and various members of the German academic world, relating to the outbreak of the First World War, 1914-1915. Also, one printed German poem “An England”. Letters have attached explanatory notes written by Fritz Caspari, once a Newberry staff member.

Three volumes containing typewritten indexes to articles in the Pullman News, the Pullman Company’s employee magazine, together with article transcripts, 1922-1947. Also index to conductors and porters who were mainly listed in the Pullman News monthly honor roll, 1922-1924.

Correspondence, mostly incoming, of Ralph W. Cram, editor and publisher of the Davenport (Iowa) Democrat and Leader; also, a complete run of his seventy-eight columns for that paper, 1937-1939, and his photograph.

Business records of the Rand McNally Company, established in 1856 in Chicago. The firm became well known for its cartographic publishing, but also produced a variety of trade books, textbooks, periodicals, and printing jobs such as railroad tickets and coupons. Includes records of financial, marketing, and production activities, including correspondence; visual materials, including photographs, artwork, and scrapbooks; printing artifacts and samples, etc.

Material relating to the genealogy of Richard Colles Johnson’s family, especially his Colles ancestors and relations, including correspondence, clippings, copies of documents and publications, memorabilia, and photographs.

Twenty-two letters of Richard Realf to Laura B. Merritt and her sister Marian Merritt Cramer of Chicago, written while in active service in the Illinois Eighty-eighth Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, 1864-1865. Also, two poems of Realf’s and a poem written by Marian Cramer.

Articles, essays, and field notebooks, mostly about the Franco era in Spain, by freelance journalist Richard S. Mowrer.

Correspondence and writings of journalist and humorist author Ring Lardner. Also estate papers, including royalty records through 2003, biographical materials, publicity and reviews, adaptations of writings, and a few photographs.

Growing collection of printed road maps and travel ephemera issued to promote local tourism. Scattered worldwide geographic coverage, but most extensive for the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Primarily of photocopies of printed and archival material relating to the U. S. Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (1869-1884), its director, George M. Wheeler, other staff of the survey, and to the use of the electric telegraph for longitude determination in the 19th century. Also seminar papers and notes, 1986-1988.

Photocopies of articles, correspondence, and other material assembled by rare book collector and Cowley completist Ruth Nuzum.

Correspondence, writing, photographs, and mementos of a Chicago working woman and poet, Selma Walden. Also writings by family members, including extensive biographical writings by and about those family members.