This collection consists of correspondence, papers, and books of Joseph and Richard M. Hoar. The Mssrs. Hoar were brothers, born in England in the early nineteenth century. Joseph emigrated to the United States first (the exact date is unknown), and entered the general merchandise business in Houghton (Houghton County), Michigan. Richard M. Hoar emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1854 and in 1859 moved to Houghton where he and Joseph formed a dry goods business under the name of J. Hoar and Bro. Joseph died in 1885 and Richard took over the business, changing its name to Richard M. Hoar, Dealer in General Merchandise. Besides this, Richard M. Hoar also involved himself in other business enterprises, including railroads (he was the largest stockholder in the Mineral Range Railroad Company), stage-lines (Houghton-L'anse Overland Transit Company, later called Houghton L'anse Transportation Line), the Houghton Copper Rolling Mills, and the Atlantic Copper Mine.

Richard M. Hoar was furthermore an active politician. Although Hoar was a Republican, he frequently had support of both parties in elections. He had held every elective office (except that of Supervisor) in Houghton County, was a State Representative for 1873-1874 (ninth district, Republican), and Mayor of the town of Houghton (1893-1897). He was also vice-president of the Mineral Range Railroad Company; director of the Houghton Copper Rolling Mills; treasurer and managing owner of the Ivanhoe, a steamer that ran between Houghton and L'anse; chief engineer and organizer of the Houghton fire department; and member and director of the Houghton School Board.

The bulk of the correspondence deals with business matters but also small amounts of personal and political correspondence. Correspondents include Aaron T. Bliss, Chase S. Osborn, David D. Aitken, and Dennis E. Alward.

The thirty one volumes of the collection consist of the ledgers, blotters, invoices, drafts, cash books, order books, and check books of J. Hoar and Brother; a volume of business letters regarding railroad enterprises; and two freight books.