This collection contains the papers of Asa Smith and his family of Ipswich, Massachusetts. Asa Smith served in Massachusetts Light Artillery during the United States Civil War until his death in 1864. The collection includes his military and personal papers, notebooks, Bible, genealogical information about the Smith and related families, news clippings, tintypes, and a large number of family photographs.

Folder 1 contains the military papers of Asa Smith. Included among other items are his commission as Lieutenant, military orders, and a description of his death from Lieutenant William Rollins. The papers in Folder 2 contain correspondence with his family, while the papers in Folder 3 are those found in his notebook at the time of his death in October 1864.

Folder 4 contains two of Asa Smith's notebooks with cash accounts and other records. One notebook spans 1862-1864; the second notebook, started in August 1864, originally contained in addition photographs (removed to Folder 10) and other papers (removed to Folder 3). Folder 5 contains Asa Smith's Bible. Folder 6 contains a wallet belonging to Ammi Smith (1826-1876), Asa's older brother.

Folder 7 contains the correspondence of Hannah Stone Bond, a cousin of Asa Smith's. Folder 8 contains genealogical information pertaining to the Smith and related families including Lords. In Folder 9 are news clippings, one of which describes Hannah Stone Bond on her 90th birthday in 1930.

Folders 10 to 14 contain a collection of 88 photographs, most of which presumably document the Smith family, although few of them are identified by name. In Folder 10 are the photographs found in Asa Smith's notebook at the time of his death. Folders 11 and 12 contain photographs removed from two albums, while Folders 13 and 14 contain other small and large photographs. In Folder 15 are 20 tintypes, also presumably of family members.