The collection contains papers of the Horne family intended for family consumption, rather than for publication. Much of the collection consists of manuscript notebooks, mainly in the hands of George and Felicia Horne, but with some passages in the hand of Sarah Horne and one, apparently, in that of Maria Horne. Since Mrs. Horne recorded, copied and extracted some of her husband's writings, in addition to producing her own, it is not always possible to determine which items were composed by George Horne and which were the work of his wife.