This collection consists of two publications of the Historical Society of Grand Rapids (Michigan), which contain biographical sketches of John Ball by his daughter, Lucy Ball. John Ball, born in New Hampshire in 1794, was an early Michigan pioneer and one of the first to settle in Grand Rapids. The first publication, "John Ball and Early Grand Rapids," recounts Ball's early life, the settlement of the town, and the development of education, one of Ball's lifelong concerns.

The second publication, "The Overland Journey to Oregon of John Ball in 1832," is an account of Ball's experiences as a member of Captain Nathaniel Wyeth's expedition to the Pacific Northwest. Wyeth's party was only the third American party to cross the Rocky Mountains. The second publication also contains the minutes of the Historical Society's Annual Meetings for 1910 and 1911.