The collection contains letterpress books containing correspondence concerning business and legal transactions of the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad Company.

The first volume contains copies of letters written between January 15 and May 16, 1885. At that time, J. B. Mulliken was general manager of the railroad. The second volume contains copies of correspondence written from April 27 to August 27, 1896. Charles H. Heald was the railroad's general manager at the time.