The Nichols Family of Danvers, Massachusetts, Papers contains correspondence, receipts, estate papers, legal papers, diaries, poetry, published material, and a sketchbook for the Nichols family of Danvers, Massachusetts. The bulk of the collection dates from 1800 to 1850. It has been divided in to seven series.

Series I. John Nichols (1713-1792) Papers contains a number of land agreements between the Prince, Herrick, Kimball, and Nichols families, a variety of receipts, including a receipt of items given by John to his daughter, Mary Herrick, and an account of the "Sale of Wood in Middleton, Massachusetts."

Series II. Andrew Nichols (1757-1812) and Eunice Nichols (1757-1848) Papers contains: a number of receipts; a license to sell "foreign distilled spirits" at his store; an easement between Andrew Nichols, Eleazer Putnam, and Eben Dale, and an account of Andrew Nichols' estate. Eunice's papers include a handwritten poem signed at the end by Eunice, indenture papers, a land agreement between Eunice and Betsy Evans, receipts, and estate papers.

Series III. John Nichols (1780-1840) Papers contains mostly legal papers, including a number of documents for a land transaction between John May Webster, Eunice E. Webster, and John Nichols. Other land agreements are included in this series. Also included is a paper on the estate of Emma Nichols, John Nichols' wife.

Series IV. Andrew Nichols (1785-1853) Papers are divided into four subseries. Subseries A. Correspondence includes letters written by Andrew Nichols and Mary Holyoke (Ward) Nichols to other family members and various letters to Andrew Nichols. Some correspondents of note are Rufus Choate and C. C. Sewall. Subseries B. Personal Papers consists of a number of papers documenting legal agreements, including Justice of the Peace certificates and a form granting guardianship of a boy, Stephen Swiss, to Andrew Nichols. Also included is a handwriting exercise book, a receipt for payment on a church pew, and notes on schools located in Danvers. This subseries also contains a folder of printed materials, including a flyer for a series of botany lectures conducted by Andrew Nichols, as well as political pamphlets, and an invitation to the Royal Arch Chapter Ball. There is also on daybook kept by Andrew Nichols for the year 1848. Subseries C. Writings contains a number of lectures on botany, Masonic philosophy, and intemperance; notes of botany lectures given by others; religious notes and writing son Unitarianism; histories of Danvers, Massachusetts. This series also contains a good deal of poetry; much of the poetry is undated. Andrew Nichols also wrote commentary and poetry for the Free Soil Party, and he wrote a paper against the reelection of Daniel P. King (1801-1850), a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Andrew Nichols published his writings as well and those writings have been organized into Subseries D. Published Writings. This subseries includes: hymns written for Jordan Lodge and the Unitarian Church in Danvers, Massachusetts; poetry published in the newspaper; a publication in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal on spinal irritation; a paper entitled "Irritation of the Nerves," published in the Medical Communications of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and an address given by the Health Committee of Danvers.

Series V. Mary Holyoke Ward Nichols (1800-1880) Papers includes a set of seven almanacs/diaries that cover 1826-1835. These volumes are printed almanacs with interspersed blank leaves, on which Mary Nichols recorded daily activities. Also included are a number of letters written by Mary's nieces, Sarah Page and Susannah Spillman.

Two folders comprise Series VI. Andrew Nichols (born 1837) Papers. The first folder contains correspondence written to Andrew Nichols, a receipt for six dollars, and a poem written by his father, copied on the backs of envelopes addressed to Andrew Nichols. The second folder contains a number of newspaper clippings from 1917 to 1919 and undated. A number of the clippings refer to Andrew Nichols.

Series VII. Related Family Papers consists of papers relating directly or indirectly to the Nichols family. Folders of papers and correspondence either mention the Nichols family, or were interspersed among said papers. These papers include a map to the "Iron Factory Pond." The Danvers Iron Works, which existed from 1796-1838, did have a pond on the property, which was located near the Waters Bridge. Today the Waters Bridge is the Danversport Bridge. A sketchbook belonging to Andrew Nichols' (born 1837) daughter, Mary Eliot Nichols is located in this series. Also include are a wallet and a box decorated with a picture of four ladies. The box originally held a photograph labeled as "Henry Wheatland, Pres. of the Essex Institute." The photograph has been removed and placed in a separate folder. Other papers not relating directly to the Nichols family include poems written by Samuel Sewall about his dog, Pug, and a receipt passing Ruth Cheever's estate to Israel Cheever.