When this collection was processed in 2007-2008, the original arrangement was largely retained. It’s unclear whether this arrangement reflected the order imposed by William V. Byars, the donor of the collection, or a previous Missouri Historical Society archivist. The collection is arranged in the following series: The William V. Byars’ Correspondence Series (1878-1919) is the largest series and consists primarily of correspondence to William V. Byars from numerous correspondents. Among the topics discussed in the correspondence are politics; Byars’ literary work and literary issues in general; the newspaper business; and affairs in Kirkwood, Missouri. The series includes some copies of Byars’ outgoing correspondence. The series is arranged chronologically. The Newspaper Men Correspondence Series (1881-1938) consists primarily of correspondence from newspaper men to William V. Byars. The bulk of the correspondence is with Arthur Brisbane. The series also includes some copies of Byars’ outgoing correspondence. The series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the correspondence; each correspondent’s letters are, in turn, arranged chronologically. The William Marion Reedy Correspondence Series (1895-1917) consists primarily of correspondence between William V. Byars and William Marion Reedy, editor of Reedy’s Mirror. The series includes letters of Reedy to Byars and copies of letters of Byars to Reedy. Much of the correspondence relates to payment for articles Byars wrote for Reedy’s Mirror. The series is arranged chronologically. The General Correspondence Series (1915-1937) consists primarily of correspondence to William V. Byars from numerous correspondents and copies of Byars’ outgoing correspondence. Several letters discuss World War I. The series is arranged chronologically. The Historical Societies Correspondence Series (1937-1938) consists primarily of correspondence of William V. Byars with historical societies. The series is arranged chronologically. The Postmortem Correspondence Series (1938-1942) consists primarily of correspondence to William V. Byars’ children from several correspondents. The William V. Byars’ Writings Series (1895-1949) consists primarily of poems and other writings of William V. Byars. The James Byars’ Correspondence Series (1876-1900) consists primarily of correspondence of James Byars to his son William V. Byars and letters of William V. Byars to his father. The series is arranged chronologically.