Folder 1: 1802, January 8 -- letter from Susanna Smith Madison [Peyton] to her uncle James McDowell.

Folder 2:

• 1795, April 15 -- letter from J. Preston at Smithfield to James McDowell
• 1799, July 21 -- letter from J. Preston at Smithfield to James McDowell

Folder 3: 1823, January 16 -- letter from Francis Preston in Greenfield to James McDowell

Folder 4: 1801, December 5 -- letter from William Preston from home to James McDowell

Folder 8:

• 1838, July 3 -- letter from Thomas Lewis Preston to William Campbell Preston
• 1838, October 20 -- letter from Thomas Lewis Preston to Susanna Preston
• 1838, November 29 -- letter from Thomas Lewis Preston to William Campbell Preston
• 1843, January 30 -- letter from Thomas Lewis Preston to Susanna Preston
• 1845, June 23 -- letter from Thomas Lewis Preston to William Campbell Preston
• 1847, October 4 -- letter from Thomas Lewis Preston to Susanna Preston

Folder 9:

• 1816, August 9 -- letters from William Campbell Preston to Susanna Smith Preston McDowell
• 1819, April 23 -- letters from William Campbell Preston to Susanna Smith Preston McDowell
• n.d. -- letters from William Campbell Preston to Susanna Smith Preston McDowell

Folder 10: 1816-1858--Eight legal letters and documents of the McDowell and Preston families

Folder 11: 1819-1845, n.d.--Seven letters from William Campbell Preston to James McDowell

Folder 12: 1819-1847, n.d.--Ten letters from William Campbell Preston to Susanna S. McDowell

Folder 13: 1819-1833--Nine letters from Francis Preston to Susanna McDowell

Folder 14: 1820-1846--Eight letters from E.M. Preston to James McDowell (1795- 1851), Sarah McDowell and Susanna Smith Preston McDowell (1800-47)

Folder 15: 1821--Two letters from Susanna Preston Hart to Sarah McDowell

Folder 16: 1821-1844--Twelve letters from Sarah Ballard Preston to Susanna S. McDowell and Thomas L. Preston

Folder 17: 1821-1854, n.d.--Nine letters from William Campbell Preston to Sally (Sarah B. Preston)

Folder 18: 1822-1859--Sixteen miscellaneous letters to and from the Preston and McDowell families

Folder 19: 1824-1825--Four letters from Eliza Preston Carrington to Susanna S. McDowell

Folder 20: 1826-1833--Thirteen letters from Francis Preston to James McDowell

Folder 21: 1829--One letter to Susanna McDowell from Ed. William Johnston

Folder 22: 1829, 1846--Two letters from Isaac T. Preston to James McDowell

Folder 23: 1830-1844--Six letters from John T. L. Preston to James McDowell

Folder 24: 1833-1847--Two letters from William B. Preston to James McDowell

Folder 25: 1834-1836, n.d.--Thirteen letters from Francis Preston to James McDowell

Folder 26: 1840-1843--Thirteen letters to William C. Preston from Alexander McCall

Folder 27: 1840-1843--Three letters to William C. Preston from James Dellets(?)

Folder 28: 1841-1859--Eleven letters from William C. Preston to unidentified persons

Folder 29: 1843--One letter from Rev. B.R. Smith to James McDowell

Folder 30: 1847-1851--Three letters from Wade and Margaret Hampton to James McDowell

Folder 31: 1848--One letter from Robert Jefferson Breckinridge to "my dear Sally."

Folder 32: 1853, n.d.--Two letters from John Smith Preston to "my dear Sally"

Folder 33: 1859--Manuscript will of William C. Preston

Folder 34: 1881--Obituary of John Smith Preston with photograph

Folder 35: n.d.--Circular about John Smith Preston.

Folder 36: n.d.--One letter from Mary Preston Lewis to James McDowell.

Folder 37: n.d.--One letter from Ann Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge to Sarah Preston McDowell

Folder 1:

• 1798, June 17 -- letter from Francis Preston to James McDowell
• 1798, October 5 -- letter from Francis Preston to James McDowell
• 1804, May 27 -- letter from Francis Preston to James McDowell
• 1821, January 16 -- letter from Francis Preston in Abington to James McDowell
• 1821, January 30 -- letter from Francis Preston to James McDowell
• 1821, June 5 -- letter from Francis Preston to James McDowell
• 1821, December 1 -- letter from Francis Preston to James McDowell
• 1822, March 10 -- letter from Francis Preston in Abington to James McDowell
• 1824, June 20 -- letter(not dated) from Francis Preston to James McDowell

Folder 2:

• 1804, May 5 -- letter from James Patton Preston in Richmond, Virginia to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1827, July 11 -- letter from James Patton Preston in Richmond, Virginia to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1831, February 12 -- letter from James Patton Preston at Smithfield to Susanna McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1831, July 16 -- letter from James Patton Preston in Richmond, Virginia to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1831, September 12 -- letter from James Patton Preston in Richmond, Virginia to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1831, October 16 -- letter from James Patton Preston at Smithfield to Susanna McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1832, June 8 -- letter from James Patton Preston in Richmond, Virginia to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia
• 1835, March 9 -- letter from James Patton Preston at Smithfield to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia

Folder 3: 1784, January 10 -- letter from Eliza Preston Madison in Stafford, Virginia to her sister Sarah Preston McDowell in Lexington, Virginia

Folder 4: 1813, May 30 -- letter from Edmonia M. Preston in Stafford, Virginia to Sarah Preston McDowell in Lexington, Virginia

Folder 5: 1833, June 28 -- letter from George C. Thompson in Shawnee Springs, Kentucky to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia

Folder 6:

• 1799, January 12 -- letter from William Preston from Fincastle to James McDowell
• 1802, January 29 -- letter from William Preston from Fincastle to James McDowell

Folder 7:

• 1805, June 15 -- letter from Nathaniel Hart in Franklin, Kentucky to James McDowell in Fairfield, Virginia
• 1834, November 23 -- letter from Nathaniel Hart in Spring Hill, Kentucky to James McDowell in Lexington, Virginia

Folder 8: 1804, August 5 -- letter from John Lewis in Covington to James McDowell in Rockbridge County, Virginia

Folder 9:

• 1794, August 29 -- letter from John Preston to James McDowell
• 1822, March 23 -- letter from John Preston at Greenfield to James McDowell