This collection consists primarily of correspondence between Elizabeth Peabody and Ralph Waldo Emerson and correspondence from Elizabeth Peabody to others. Also present is a dirge written by Peabody and photographs of her.

The four letters in Folder 1 from Elizabeth Peabody to Ralph Waldo Emerson discuss the plight of Jones Very. Very (1813-1880) was an American essayist, poet, clergyman, and mystic associated with the Transcendentalist movement, who had a mental breakdown at about the time these letters were written. Also present is one letter to Mrs. Lidian Emerson.

Folder 2 contains three letters from Ralph Waldo Emerson to Elizabeth Peabody on a variety of subjects ranging from treatment of the Patriarchs in the Bible to criticism of one of her essays. Folder 3 contains thirteen letters written by Elizabeth Peabody to others. Two of these letters contain reminiscences of her childhood in Salem, growing up as neighbor of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Folder 4 contains a dirge commemorating the death of Mary Barr, written by Elizabeth Peabody, and a transcript of the dirge. In Folder 5 are two photographs of Elizabeth Peabody and some brief biographical information.