The Porter family papers consist of correspondence and printed materials relating to members of the Porter, Prindle, and Pierce families, primarily to Grace Porter Pierce of Grand Ledge, Michigan. The daughter of Henry and Emma Prindle Porter, she married William Pierce in 1898.

The collection contains letters between family members primarily dealing with family concerns. It also includes a series of letters from Bert Porter, Grace Porter Pierce's brother, who served with the 8th U.S. Cavalry. Porter was stationed on garrison duty at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, but he was later sent to the Philippine Islands as part of the American occupation forces. His letters, which express his dissatisfaction with army life, describe his experiences in the Philippines and the army's attempts to quell native uprisings (1910-1912).

Grace Porter Pierce was an active member of the Ladies of the Modern Maccabees, and the collection contains correspondence and printed materials relating to that organization. It includes materials on the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which Mrs. Pierce was also a member. Her application for membership in the D.A.R., which traces her genealogy, is included.

Four letters from Horace Greeley (1860-1861) are included in the collection. Greeley was connected by marriage with the Porter family and the letters are concerned with family matters. Also included is a letter of thanks to Mrs. Pierce from Vice-President Richard Nixon (1957).

Other materials in the collection include marriage and school certificates; Civil War pension applications for Henry Porter, and for his daughter, Grace Pierce, as a veteran's widow; a genealogy of the Prindle and Howe families; horoscopes drawn up for Mrs. Pierce (1914-1919); materials dealing with the history of Grand Ledge, Michigan (1935-1936); and a certificate commending Mrs. Pierce for her work with Selective Service Registration (1940). Also included are Carte de Visite and tintype photographs of members of the Porter, Pierce, Prindle, and Tripp families.