This collection includes the handwritten and the typed drafts of Mr. Ryan's book Persuasive Advocacy. It also includes rough drafts and information used for his article on Harry S. Truman and his book American Orators of the 20th Century. It includes galleys of his book American Orators Before 1900.

These papers include correspondence, articles, and selected notes for Crenshaw's General Lee's College and manuscripts given to him in the process of his research for the book.

This collection contains two original manuscript copies and one photocopy of Samuel H. Chester's valedictory address given on June 27, 1872 at Washington and Lee University. It also contains correspondence about the presence of this address in the University's Special Collections and Archives.