Mainly courtship letters between Gideon W. Allen and Annie Cox prior to their marriage in 1865, containing detailed descriptions of life and their political beliefs during the Civil War.

Gideon W. Allen lived in Ann Arbor while attending law school. and described the conflicts he faced in school because of his political beliefs as a "Copperhead Democrat," as well as his financial struggle to finish his law studies. Later he discussed the machinations of avoiding the draft, and wrote from Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, as he traveled looking for a suitable position and living place for his soon-to-be new wife. In the course of his job seeking, he encountered a corrupt statesman and observed the changes taking place in these frontier towns. After their marriage, Allen wrote while traveling by boat south through Illinois to Georgia looking for a more suitable climate for their growing family. He described the towns of Rock Island, Rome, and Atlanta. Annie Cox resided in Madison, Wisconsin during their courtship. She wrote of her financial hardships, and conveys a notable dissatisfaction at the limitations of her status as a woman. Together, they share an ongoing, spirited debate on politics and religious beliefs in which Gideon Allen showed a great respect for his future wife's intelligence. There are also a few letters from other family members, including most notably one to Gideon W. Allen from his sister Martha who wrote of a rebel uprising that displaced her family in southern Missouri. Also of interest are letters of Michael Poad, father of Annie Cox, and letters from Elizabeth J. Cox, Annie's mother.

Ruth F. Allen materials consist primarily of letters collected by Mabel Nebel for her unfinished biography of Allen, together with the incomplete manuscript. Letters are from several of Allen's close friends whom she met while in college, and colleagues from her professional scientific career. The manuscript is useful for its descriptions of the lives of Ruth F. Allen's parents and their family history. There are also photographs of Gideon W. and Annie Cox Allen, Ruth F. Allen, and friends of Ruth F. Allen, and a few personal items.