The majority of the papers consist of six diaries (1888-1937) written by Eben Pearson Dorr. The diaries from 1888 to 1892 describe life in the Buffalo, New York area. The Manistee County, Michigan area is described in the 1936 to 1937 diaries. The 1888-1891 diary contains descriptions of Chicago; Kansas City, Kansas; St. Louis and Washington, D.C. Also among the papers are a Horace Greeley autograph (February 9, 1871); and a passport, issued August 13, 1861, to George P. Dorr by Charles Francis Adams, United States Ambassador to Great Britain. There are also several papers concerning Dorr family genealogy, correspondence, newspaper clippings, a speech entitled "The Out-Dorr Life is a Reality", and a published prose poem entitled "Christmas Back There" by Byron R. Newton.