The William Greenleaf Eliot Papers consist of sermons, addresses, family papers, correspondence, Civil War documents, and documents regarding Eliot's church and other organizations. The Sermons Series contains 35 sermons, dated 1835-1885, regarding topics such as suffrage, emancipation, and philanthropy. The sermons are arranged by date first delivered. The Addresses Series consists of 10 addresses dated 1832-1876. Topics discussed include Bible societies, Europe, “Old Guard,” suffrage, Washington University, St. Louis public schools, and women’s education. The Archer Alexander Series consists of correspondence and other documents regarding Archer Alexander, a former slave whom Eliot purchased and emancipated. The Bills and Receipts Series consists of the Eliot family’s annual tax, dental, water, retail, and subscription bills and receipts. The Centennial Facsimile of the Declaration of Independence Series contains a facsimile issued by the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway. The Church of the Messiah Series consists of service programs, prayers, and documents regarding the 1866 Missouri State Sunday School Convention. The Civil War Series includes a list of those in the charge at Springfield, Missouri, October 25, 1861; documents concerning Thomas Lamb Eliot’s service in the Halleck Guard; and a circular soliciting funds from New England citizens to aid in the enlistment of colored troops in the Union army, dated Boston, August 4, 1863. The Clippings Series includes poetry and articles regarding the St. Louis fire of 1849 and General John C. Fremont. The Correspondence Series consists of letters dated 1857-1871. It includes correspondence between William Greenleaf Eliot and Edward Everett, J.M. Schofield, J.M. Forbes, Massachusetts governor John Andrew, and the U.S. Senate regarding the Union, emancipation, Washington University, and Divinity College. Of particular interest is a petition draft to President Lincoln. The Eliot Family Series consists of documents dated 1887-1961, which include pages from Christopher R. Eliot’s journal regarding Eliot’s death, clippings, dedications, addresses, bulletins, a memoir of William Greenleaf Eliot, Jr., and correspondence regarding publications and the donation of the collection. The First Congregational Church Series consists of a notebook outlining the order of services and sermons preached from 1839 to 1842. The Genealogy Series consists of genealogy charts, correspondence, a Washington University lecture calendar, service program, and a historical subscription request. The General William T. Sherman Correspondence Series consists of letters dated 1863-1886 regarding the Civil War, Congress, and Sherman's disinterest in running for the presidency. The Washington University Series consists of various lecture and exhibition programs, finance notes, and a poster for an 1871 exhibition of the Ugly Club. The Western Sanitary Commission Series consists of documents regarding the formation and activities of the Western Sanitary Commission and range in date from 1861 to 1864.