In firms operated by individual owner-managers, it is often extremely difficult to separate business records from personnel papers. Office staff that was primarily engaged in business-related secretarial work often handled personal correspondence and arranged social engagements. The series, which has been designated as general correspondence contains, letters relating to both business and personal matters. Included are reports from John McShain's Washington, Trenton, and Philadelphia offices, letters to the General Building Contractor's Association, correspondence with suppliers and subcontractors, correspondence with business associates Edward Barnhart (comptroller), Joseph Normille (head of estimating department), Paul Fry, Secretary-Treasurer; George Bruni of the Claridge Hotel, and attorney Vincent McDevitt. Personal correspondence includes letters to Sister Pauline McShain (daughter), Mother Pauline Mary (Convent of the Holy Child - Sister Pauline's order), administrators from Rosemont College, LaSalle College, Catholic and Georgetown Universities, Archbishop John H. Krol, relatives, and friends.