Letters, diaries, genealogical research and other documents and items primarily related to Wright Howes' family, the Howes and the Wrights; and Zoe Howes' family, the Heflins. Much of the material is original, with some photocopies, and much of the original material was also photocopied, and includes notes and observations by John Blew. There are also some research notes from John Blew intermingled with the family materials. Blew did extensive research on Wright Howes' maternal great grandfather, Ambrose Ransom Wright, a Georgia militiaman whose silhouette was the source of the Howes' book business logo. Wright Howes' family has deep southern roots. His maternal grandfather, Henry Gregory Wright, was a Confederate colonel and brother of Confederate General Ambrose R. Wright. Wright Howes' uncle Silas Orrin Howes, who significantly influenced him to take up the antiquarian book business, was a close friend of the writer Ambrose Bierce, and edited Bierce's book of essays The Shadow on the Dial. The series includes some photocopies of correspondence between Bierce and S.O. Howes.

Also of note are photocopied journals kept by Wright Howes' maternal grandmother, Mary Humphrey Howes, during the Civil War; two travel diaries from Wright Howes' aunts, Emily and Mary Howes, who traveled to Europe in 1909 and 1913; and a photocopied diary kept by the Howes' niece, Suzelle Howes Tunnicliff. Tunnicliff visited Wright and Zoe Howes in 1933 to attend Chicago's Century of Progress International Exhibition. There are also stories and original sketches by Zoe Howes' brother, Reuben Heflin Jr.