Collection contains records relating to Alton, Illinois, including the following: correspondence of Edward Bliss and his father Elijah Bliss, dated February 11, 1833-September 26, 1834; legal correspondence of William Martin, attorney, dated October 27, 1839-March 10, 1854; Drury, Hayner and Co. correspondence (Nelson and Hayner 1865-1868); Jackel, Kuhn correspondence 1865-1870; letter of John J. Hogan to Rev. James Ryan dated April 11, 1888; notes on Col. Stephen H. Long family and Chouteau family; Alton Catholic Cemetery, 1912-1953; Programs-Independence Day at Portage des Sioux-1927; letter of Norma Lemp to Ruth Ferris dated November 5, 1965; and centennial of St. Joseph Hospital, 1965. Also contains three volumes of account books from unidentified general store(s), 1831-1832, 1838-1840, and 1860-1861; and an unidentified volume of contract labor accounts for carpentry and masonry, 1843-1868.