The Tennessee Documents Collection, 1783-1977 (bulk 1793-1889), contains deeds, plats, court documents, warrants, bonds to prosecute, indentures, and more from the late-18th to the mid-19th centuries in Tennessee. All but one folder deals with Tennessee (or territorial Tennessee).

Folder 1, Tennessee, 1795-1884, contains 10 items, half of which are from 1795 through 1802.

Folder 2, Anderson-Hickman Counties, 1790-1888, contains 12 items, with only one or two from each of the represented counties (Anderson, Blount, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Davidson, Grainger, Green, and Hickman). Half of these items are from 1790-1804.

Folder 3, Knox County, 1793-1858, holds 42 documents, thirty of which are dated between 1793 and 1820. Clerks Francis Alexander Ramsey and Charles McClung signed many of the documents (also, in Folder 2, Tennessee), and there are several documents pertaining to the John Crozier vs. William Handridge case dating to 1807-08 (including a bond to prosecute and a warrant for Handridge). Also this folder contains two 1810 documents witnessed by a James White, possibly the James White who co-founded Knoxville, Tenn.

Folder 4, Lawrence-Sevier Counties, 1810-1887, contains 13 items from Lawrence, Loudon, Rhea, Robertson, and Sevier Counties. Lawrence Co. accounts for six of these items from 1838-67. Loudon has three from 1872-74, Rhea one from 1810, Robertson one letter with an envelope from 1886, and Sevier two from 1868-87.

Folder 5, Unidentified Counties, 1797-1816, contains two documents. The 1816 document is a petition, signed by James White, to move two cases from the prejudiced unnamed county.

Folder 6, Bentley Estate, 1825-1882, contains 14 items pertaining to the Bentleys. Only one is from a Bentley, an 1858 check to R. G. Ramsey from M. V. Bentley. There are also many notes from R. H. Rose and S. E. Rose. Most of the documents are bills and collection notices. Represented Bentleys are Daniel, M. V., M. L., L. Mino, and Mattie J. Half are from the 1850s.

Folder 7, Non-Tennessee, 1783-1833 contains two land grants. The first is a 1783 North Carolina land grant for Peter Morison to own acreage in Sullivan County. President Andrew Jackson signed the 1833 land grant for 80 acres in the Detroit Michigan Territory for John Jackson of New York.

Folder 8, Other, 1808-1977, contains 25 items, 19 from 1850 through 1889. Two date to 1808, one 1836, one 1977, and three have no dates. Although most are government documents like in the other folders, there are a few letters. One 1859 letter is written in German. Through a rough translation by Dr. Norbert F. Riedl, it is determined to be from Lucas Graf in Knoxville, Tenn., to his son in Wartburg. The letter refers to butcher Wahl, a wife in Knoxville, daughter-in-law Barbara, and daughter Barbara Katriner. There is also mention of a trip to Wartburg and of employment of a writer as carpenter's assistant, gardener, and other jobs.