This collection of family correspondence encompasses several generations of the du Pont, Kemble, and de Forest families.

The correspondence of Victorine du Pont Kemble (1825-1887) traces her life as a student at boarding school, as a young mother celebrating Christmas with her in-laws, and as the employer of a staff of domestics. There are ten letters written while at boarding school, of which nine are addressed to her aunt, namesake, and teacher, Victorine du Pont Bauduy (1792-1861). The letters refer to her previous studies with her aunt and describe daily life at the school, including classes in drawing and the piano and information about other students and boarders. There are two letters written to her mother, Margaretta (Lammot) du Pont (1807-1898), one while at school and the other in 1853. The latter describes the Kemble's Christmas celebration and includes details about the dinner and gifts, as well as health concerns. Kemble received two letters from a former servant, "Little Ellen," who had left her employ to live with a family in Australia. The letters, which depict her life in Australia and reminiscences of the Kemble household in New York, reflect an amicable relationship between the two women.

The collection also contains one letter from William Kemble (1795?-1881) to Henry du Pont (1812-1889) in 1850. Kemble, a New York agent for E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., wrote to du Pont regarding the purchase of a farm in Delaware or Maryland for his son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Victorine Kemble.

De Forest family correspondence consists of three groups of letters. One written to Lockwood de Forest (1850-1932) by his uncle John A. Weeks from Rome describes his hotel and leisurely style of sightseeing. Ten letters written by Lockwood and Meta de Forest (1854-1933) to his parents while in India describe sightseeing, expenses, social customs, and attendance at social events with Mr. and Mrs. John Lockwood Kipling (parents of Rudyard Kipling) and Elliott Roosevelt (1860-1893). The letters also contain information about local artwork, cut brass, and jewelry which de Forest exported to the United States. The collection also contains one letter to Meta de Forest from Amy Bradford pertaining to recipes and containing a recipe for mango chutney.