This collection consists of various materials concerning stock breeding and related interests of the Clapp family in southeastern Michigan. Materials in the collection relating to the stock breeding activities of Nathan A. Clapp on his farm near Wixom in Oakland County reflect the early development in Michigan of an interest in purebred stock during the last two decades of the nineteenth century. Of particular interest is a handwritten draft of a speech delivered by Mr. Clapp in 1886 or 1888 to the Michigan Shorthorn Cattle Breeders' Association, in which he traces the history of stock breeding and makes certain conjectures about its development in the future. Nathan Clapp's papers also include published catalogs listing his stock of cattle and hogs for sale in 1883 and 1888, along with a few pieces of correspondence for the years 1878 and 1887.

The remainder of the collection consists of the papers of James W. Clapp, including correspondence with stockbreeders around the world. Materials relating directly to stock breeding include catalogs and advertising brochures from different farms around the country; pedigree certificates; newspaper and magazine articles; and correspondence for the years 1897-1953. The bulk of the remaining material in the collection consists of catalogs and newsclippings relating to farming, horse racing, fairs exhibitions, live stock shows and expositions, Michigan Agricultural College, 4-H Junior livestock shows, and the Michigan State Fair. One interesting group of publications in the collection are lessons from farmer's correspondence schools. The folder titled "Farms of Famous People" includes a series of articles published in The Breeder's Gazette in 1927-1928 which feature the agricultural activities of well-known persons including George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Sen. William A. Harris (Kansas), and Major-General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

The collection also includes photographs of E. J. Barker farm in Indiana and the Brooks Stock Farm in Wixom, Michigan. There are also postcards of drawings of the Jamestown Exhibition from 1907.