Series I. Personal Papers is comprised of various writings by John Patch and is divided into five subseries. Subseries A contains Patch's Lectures, the content of which is divided between whole compositions and fragments of lectures. Their subject matter is diverse; topics span music, literature, the human character, government, and politics. Most notable are Patch's expansive writings on slavery, the economy, women's rights, and education (B1 F1). Subseries B consists of Patch's original Plays—dramas and tragedies written in three acts. This subseries also contains several excerpted sections of The Literary Museum, a Boston-based publication that Patch edited and published for a number of years. The clippings cumulatively make up a play called "Erodia, the Spirit of Love and Beauty; or, the Law of Love: A Drama in Three Acts," the author of which is unspecified. They also contain fragments of various dramatic, musical, and poetic compositions. Authors noted on the fragments include composer O.W. Withington and poet Lieutenant A.T. Lee. Subseries C contains Patch's Poetry, an assemblage of complete and fragmented works ranging from the religious to the political to the sentimental. Subseries D contains Political Commentary pertaining to Constitutional Conventions in New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Massachusetts. The majority of these writings concern the adoption and ratification of the Constitution in these states. Subseries E. Journals contains a maritime journal where Patch wrote about trade, correspondence, travel, and conditions while at sea. It covers the period from 1804 to 1805, though the paper booklet is quite fragile and is likely missing pages. The second journal includes the following handwritten note on the inside of its front cover: "Commonplace Book, found in the John Patch house, Ipswich, Mass." It is a bound hardcover book containing myriad thoughts and reflections, the bulk of which are religious in nature.