Series I. Goodhue Correspondence is primarily comprised of letters between Benjamin Goodhue (1748-1814) and Stephen Goodhue (1738-1809). It also contains Benjamin's (1748-1814) letters to business associates, Stephen's letter book from 1789 until 1797. Political actions and decisions of Congress, Goodhue shipping and business interests, and the family and personal life of the Goodhue family are among the topics in this series.

Benjamin's (1748-1814) letters trace the development and political struggles of the new government. Problems such as assumption of state war debts, establishing duties on imports, fishing rights, dealing with the capture of American ships, and seamen by England, France, and Algiers, and the turmoil in the West Indies are discussed. The interrelationship of political events, the Goodhue's business ventures, the opposition to John Jay's appointment as envoy to Great Britain, and the election of John Adams as President are all topics of the correspondence.