This collection contains business, legal, and personal correspondence of Charles D. Hamilton and his wife, Lizzie, of Grand Gulf, Mississippi. Hamilton also had extensive planting interests in Louisiana and was a business associate of Henry W. Allen.

Two hundred and eighty-four of the letters are from the Hamilton cotton factor in New Orleans—Richard Nugent and Company, and later McDowell and Nugent—and cover the period from March 18, 1858, to October 20, 1870. Twenty letters (May 30, 1858–July 30, 1865) are from Henry W. Allen; 27 (May 9, 1861–June 26, 1870) are from B. Stevens who was connected with "Allendale," and 38 (March 17, 1869–October 24, 1870) are from William Phillips who rented the "Conner Farm" in Louisiana.

The Hamilton legal affairs were handled by such men as James O. Fuqua, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 7 pieces (April 4, 1868–July 17, 1869); E. D. Farrar, Vicksburg, 14 pieces (April 15, 1869–August 25, 1870); and J. B. Thrasher, Port Gibson, 10 pieces (October 15, 1869–September 14, 1870).

The collection contains letters from Mrs. Hamilton's brothers as follows:

• Charles W. Belknap, St. Charles, Arkansas, 1 piece (February 9, 1869)
• James T. Belknap, New Orleans, Louisiana, 122 pieces (July 31, 1858–October 8, 1870)
• Morris L. Belknap, Louisiana, Kentucky, 1 piece (April 10, 1870)
• William B. Belknap, Louisville, Kentucky, 33 pieces (November 1, 1859–October 20, 1870).