Collection consists of personal, business, financial, and family papers of Robert A. Barnes, who was a grocer, commission merchant, bank president, stockholder, property owner, and philanthropist. Includes correspondence, bills, receipts, legal papers, property and income tax documents, insurance policies, personal and business accounts, and papers relating to the Barnes estate and the estate of John W. Reel, of which Barnes was the administrator. Also includes numerous bills of lading and shipping papers associated with Barnes' grocery and commission merchant business, as well as papers regarding the Bank of the State of Missouri, St. Louis Railroad Company, Belcher's Sugar Refining Company, and other local companies in which Barnes either held executive positions or was a stockholder. Related family papers include those of Barnes' brother William Barnes, or of the Chenie family, who were relatives by marriage. Also includes papers from the estate of John W. Reel.