Collection is primarily the incoming family correspondence of Thomas Farmer Dukes and his children, especially son Thomas William Dukes. Incoming correspondence to Thomas William from a friend discusses women suitable for courtship in the area. Other topics discussed are family and household issues, illness, unemployment, and finances. There are several childhood letters to Thomas Farmer Dukes from grandchildren, and letters to William Dukes, the chemist, from men seeking employment and loans. Correspondence was pasted into three volumes of Shropshire County census books which have been disbound and foldered. Commonplace book contains poems, quotations, and watercolor illustrations signed E.R.D., presumably Edward Rowland Dukes. An additional bound volume contains food and wine recipes, medical remedies, and instructions for making inks, and other ephemera belonging to Thomas F. Dukes.