This collection consists of four letters between members of the Hanchett family of New York, which discuss family and personal matters, as well as their respective travels in the west (Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin) and Louisiana. The first letter from Mary Ann Hanchett to Elijah Hanchett in 1826, describes her travels in Michigan and Ohio. The next letter from Josiah and Nancy Hanchett and their son Lewis, who moved to Detroit in 1829, gives descriptions of people and life in Detroit. This letter addressed to Elijah Hanchett, encourages him to move out "west" with the family. The third letter, sent in 1833, also from Lewis to Elijah, describes his visit down south to Louisiana. The final letter from Jeremiah Drake, who moved from Salisbury, New York to Columbus, Wisconsin in 1842, was written to Elizabeth Hanchett in 1853, and talks about relatives and his travels.

Included are transcriptions of two of the letters, and an article written by the donor, entitled "The Lure of the West a Century Ago," which contains further transcription of one of the letters.