The collection is divided into two series: Wells-Howard Family series (f.1-7) and the Gordon-Hutchinson Family series (f.8-13). Each series is arranged chronologically within each family name. The Wells-Howard Family series contains letters and documents relating to Rolla Wells (1856-1944), his wife, Jane Howard Parker (1857-1917), and to her parents and siblings. The Gordon-Hutchinson Family series, contains letters, deeds, and other documents pertaining to Lindell Gordon, Jr., who married Rolla Wells’ granddaughter, Maud Miller Streett, and his ancestors. The first folders in each series contain genealogical information. The files include: Wells-Howard families (f.1), the Gordon-Randolph-Hutchinson family (f.8), and the Streett-Miller family (f.9). There are no documents relating to the Streetts or to the Millers in the collection only a 1904 photograph Maud Wells Streett holding her oldest son (f.7). Charles Guggenheim’s 2015 obituary explains that he married the great-granddaughter of Rolla Wells, Marion Wells Streett (1924-2002) (f.1). The earliest documents in the Wells-Howard series pertain to Jane Howard’s family (f.2). There is a verse on paper dated 10 Aug 1843, “Lady, the name of Howard” with a partial signature at the bottom, “Jane.” This is most likely Jane Russel Parker, Jennie Wells’ mother, at about age fourteen. There are two letters from the Howards. The first is dated 28 Feb 1846, and is written to R. J. Howard in St. Louis by his father Thomas Howard, who lived in Lewes Delaware. In the letter he mentions Richard’s wife, Eliza. On the last page of the letter is another letter written to Richard and Eliza by Richard’s younger sister, Margaret West Howard. The second Howard letter was written during the 1849 cholera epidemic. On 4 July 1849, J. T. McJilton wrote to his wife, Comfort H. McJilton in Lewes, Delaware, informing her of his arrival in St. Louis. Comfort was Jane and Richard’s sister. On two pages of McJilton’s letter is a detailed letter from Eliza Howard to her sister in-law, Comfort, about the conditions in the city due to the widespread illness. Eliza explained that “all the Courts have adjourned, they have turned the public school houses into hospitals… Lime is strewn through every street in the city and large Bonfires of tar and sulphur are burned every night, the Physicians are worn out, have to hide to get rest.” The final Howard family documents deal with legal matters (f.3). There is a final account for the administration of the Thomas Howard estate dated 1855. There are two deeds relating to city block no.210 in which Henry L. Parker and Jane Russell (Howard) Parker owned lots. The Wells family folders contain primarily correspondence received by Rolla Wells from his mother while he was away at school in Vermont dating from 1867 to 1869 (f.4-6). Isabella mentions several of his childhood friends visiting and asking after him while he was away (Gaston Soulard, Jack Lionberger, Charbonier, and Filley). The first letters in 1867 describe the Wells’ new home, “Grandview,” at 1518 Olive Street. Isabella also mentions upgrades being overseen by Rolla’s grandparents at their farm, where they planned to move during the summer months. There is only one letter from Rolla to his parents (26 Nov 1869) in which he mentions Jack Lionberger being at school with him. There are three letters from Jennie Howard Parker to Rolla, one written on 18 Feb 1878, before their marriage on 2 October 1878. Two others while she is away with the children visiting her family in Delaware in August 1882. There is a small note dated 1870 with signatures pledging funds to build the Methodist Orphans Home on Laclede Avenue; Mrs. Rolla Wells’ name is among the signatures. There are three photographs at the end of this series (f.7). The first is a trimmed photograph of Jane Russel Howard Parker, Jennie Well’s mother. The second is an unidentified young soldier, “A volunteer who is always at your command.” The photograph was taken by Studio Grand (Grand Ave., F. R. Parsons proprietor). The final photograph shows Mrs. James Clark Streett holding her son, Rolla Wells Streett, on 15 August 1904. The earliest documents in the Gordon-Hutchinson Family series pertain to the Gordon family (f.10). There are two promissory notes signed by William R. Gordon in 1825 and 1829. William R. Gordon’s relationship to Robert C. Gordon, the grandfather of Lindell Gordon, Jr., is not clear. There is also a contract dated 6 November 1835, obliging George Inge to produce lead mineral on a certain track of land in St. Louis, half of which he deeded to George Patch. It is also unclear how this contract is related to the Gordon family. The earliest document relating to Robert Randolph Hutchinson, Lindell Gordon, Jr.’s maternal grandfather, is an 1847 letter written by William T. Hutchinson (1830-1848) to a girl named Betty. William was the older brother of Robert Randolph Hutchinson. He served in U.S. Navy and died aboard the Cumberland in the Mexican-American War (f.11). There is an application for membership in the Society of the Sons of the Revolution submitted in 1894, by Cary Talcott Hutchinson (1866-1939), son of Robert Randolph Hutchinson. The application traces his lineage to Lieutenant William Talcott, his great-great grandfather. The final items concerning the Hutchinson family is a clipping about Robert and two photographs. A sign hanging from one of the homes reads “Fern Dell” and the other residence is unidentified. There are four deeds in which Robert C. Gordon and Anna Elizabeth (Lindell) Gordon, the grandparents of Lindell Gordon, Jr., sell property assigned to Mrs. Gordon as an heir to wealthy St. Louis businessman Peter Lindell’s estate. The deeds are dated 17 June 1865, 25 May 1867, 22 Feb 1868, and 23 Dec 1868. Five city lots in February 1868 sold for $20,000 (f.12). There are three letters from John Moncure of Stafford, Virginia, to Robert C. Gordon. The first letter deals with business matters and well wishes for the recovery of Ann E. Gordon from a recent illness. The two later letters, dated 1867 and 1869, thank Gordon for his generosity in helping to rebuild after the Civil War and relate general family news. In 1867, Moncure mentions a donation from the city of St. Louis that aided the widows and orphans of his area in Virginia. The last item in the Gordon documents is a list of heirs for Lyman W. Patchin. Patchin married Mary Lindell, the sister of Ann E. (Lindell) Gordon. The 1880 census records show that Ann and her two sons (Robert C. and Lindell) lived with the Lyman Patchin family on Lucas Place. The Lindell Gordon, Jr., file (f.13) contains the marriage certificate of Gordon and Maud M. Streett dated 28 March 1927, an undated fable by Gordon entitled “How Prince Zebra Won his Stripes,” and correspondence. There are three letters from “Lina,” who lives in Germany, to Gordon and his family dated from 1937 to 1940. From the letters, it can be inferred that Lina met the Gordons and some of their friends when they vacationed in Karlsruhe. She mentions difficulty in obtaining a travel pass and Gordon’s attempt to help her via the German Consulat. A letter dated 11 January 1939 received from his cousin Beatrice Lindell who lived in Harrogate. She discusses her impressions of President Roosevelt, England’s pursuit of disarmament, and her air raid shelters. This letter provides a glimpse into the events leading up to the Second World War from an English perspective. There is another letter from Beatrice dated 23 November 1951 relating to her accounts in America and news of family and friends.