The Manning Family Papers contain the business, legal, and personal papers of Richard Manning Jr. (1755-1813), Richard Manning (1782-1830), Robert Manning (1784-1842), and miscellaneous other family members. Also included are records of the Manning family's investments in Raymond Town (Raymond), Maine, and papers relating to the Mannings' relatives, the Hathornes (Hawthornes). The collection has been divided into six series. Not included in the collection are the business records of the Salem and Boston Stage Company, owned and operated by the Mannings (see MSS 142).

Series I. Richard Manning Jr. (1755-1813) Papers include correspondence (except that relating to Raymond Town), deeds, estate and other legal papers of Manning and his wife, Miriam. (Of interest in the legal papers is a transfer of "a certain pew adjoining the southerly wall in the east meeting house in said Salem" to Richard Manning Jr. by Nathaniel Bowditch in 1804.) Business and financial transactions of a routine nature are included, as are ledgers and daybooks relating to the operations of his blacksmith shop and livery stable. Of interest is the memo book “An Account of the Expance of North Fields” dated 1788 which shows paid labor for Primus (a “negro” of the Manning family according to William Bentley’s diary).

Included in his estate papers are Volumes 3 and 4, Estate Account Books, prepared by his son Richard of Raymond, Maine. Each of these two volumes has a separate booklet containing an alphabetical listing of accounts. Volume 3, considered the "rough" volume, and Volume 4, considered the "finished" volume, are basically duplicates. Loose papers in Volume 4 were removed from the volume and placed in Box 2, Folder 5. There are some references in these loose papers to the Hathornes (Hawthornes).

Series II. Richard Manning (1782-1830) Papers contain a small amount of business and legal papers, mostly relating to land transfers. However, most of Richard's work will be found in the estate account books (Volumes 3 and 4) in Richard Manning Jr.'s papers. Acting under power of attorney granted by Miriam Manning, widow of Richard Manning Jr., and the other heirs, Richard kept a detailed record of the estate of his late father, found in these volumes.

Series III. Raymond Town (Raymond), Maine Records contain papers of the Proprietors of Raymond Town. The records include bills, tax assessments, correspondence, drawings, lot assignments, and material on the founding of the town. Some correspondence of Richard Manning Jr., a proprietor, relating to taxes, and other items concerning land holdings in Raymond Town are included here. A number of prominent Salem residents, including Richard Manning Jr. and Elias Hasket Derby, purchased land and invested in Raymond Town.

Series IV. Robert Manning (1784-1842) Papers contain primarily business and financial records, much of them bills and receipts, with a significant section relating to his activities as a pomologist. Included in the references to pomology is a large part of the correspondence, together with the pomology record books (Nursery Book and List of Peach Trees). In his business and financial records, there are items relating to pomology, such as the cashbook, which includes pomology records, and the daybook, with a major reference to pomology itemizing various accounts relating to fruit trees. The bills and receipts are grouped chronologically by year, or by a set of months in the year, but are not necessarily in strict chronological order within those groupings.

Papers that are not directly attributable to Robert Manning include bills and receipts and other items that may have been related to the stage business or related to persons who were associated with, or perhaps employed by, him. Robert's activities as an agent for the Salem and Boston Stage Company are located with that company's records, MSS 142. Bills and receipts relating to Nathaniel Hawthorne and other members of his family are located in Box 8, Folder 5.

The Robert Manning family papers include bills and receipts of Rebecca (Dodge) Manning (Robert's wife), and correspondence of two of Robert's children: Robert (1827-1902) and Rebecca (1834-1933).

Series V. Manning Family Papers include miscellaneous business, legal, and family papers. A large number of deeds to property in Salem will be found here. In this series are included the correspondence, business and financial records, and legal papers and agreements of William Manning (1778-1864). Also included are the business and financial records of Samuel Manning (1791-1833), including the cashbook of Samuel Manning & Company. William and Samuel Manning were sons of Richard Manning Jr. (1755-1813), and brothers of Richard (1782-1830) and Robert (1784-1842).

Series VI. Manning Family/Hathorne (Hawthorne) Papers include various pertinent items relating to the Hathorne/Hawthorne family that were extracted from the Robert Manning papers to form this series. They include bills and receipts covering various Hathorne/Hawthorne family members, particularly a number of bills and receipts of Robert Manning for Nathaniel Hawthorne's tuition and clothing. Also included is an interesting booklet, "Bon Jardinier," "translated by Miss E.M. Hathorne - Salem." for Robert Manning. Elizabeth Manning Hathorne was Robert Manning's niece, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's sister.