Papers consist mainly of correspondence of Oliver D. and Giles F. Filley to their family in Connecticut, relating to early ventures in the tin and stove manufacturing business. Giles F. Filley's firm, the Excelsior Manufacturing Company, made the famous "Charter Oak" cooking stove. Also includes records pertaining to affairs and public service of Chauncey Ives Filley. These include Chauncey I. Filley's letterbook, 1862, containing only two letters, one of which discusses railway routes between St. Louis and Little Rock and Bismarck and Little Rock, and map of Berkshire Hills, Massachusetts. Also includes personal record book of Augustus Filley, 1874-1818, with information on the Filley family in Windsor, Connecticut, and other genealogical information. This collection contains much of political interest as well as social sidelights on St. Louis history, including data on James O. Broadhead, the Chartrand family, the Civil War, Gen. John B. Clark, the constitutional convention of 1865, the Eads Bridge, James A. Garfield, Samuel T. Glover, Judge Louis Gottschalk, William S. Harney, the growth of the post office in St. Louis, early railroads, Gen. Rosecrans, the early days of St. Louis, St. Louis Gas Company, the Sanitary Fair Commission, Carl Schurz, and transportation, waterways, etc.