The material in the Barnes collection encompasses the period 1846 to 1899. Barnes graduated from the University of Michigan in 1850 and settled in Lansing to practice law. After establishing his reputation, he became attorney for the Jackson, Lansing, and Saginaw Railroad. He also assumed a promotional position with the Railroad, and eventually became its secretary and general manager.

Barnes was philosophically minded and frequently wrote on various social matters. The bulk of this collection consists of these undated narratives, particularly on slavery and utopianism. The remainder of the collection is composed of newspaper clippings pertinent to the subject of his writings, several orations by Barnes, and a few letters addressed to him. These letters are largely personal in nature. They include a letter of introduction dated August 5, 1872 from Zachariah Chandler.