Personal Papers and Speeches, undated

The Nelson Holmes Van Vorhes (NHVV) papers span from 1835 to 1943 and contain correspondence from NHVV and family members; government documents; newspaper clippings; a scrapbook; and wedding invitations.

The majority of NHVV's letters and correspondence pertain to political matters during his years as Representative of Ohio. 1855 is the most represented year. Several issues that were extensively written about were temperance, election campaigns and results, part affiliations and results of votes on bills presented to the House Representatives, and of local concern to Athenians was the railroad that was to be constructed through Hocking Valley. There are numerous letters written during the Civil War when NHVV was stationed at Camp Dennison and at a camp in Nashville, Tennessee. Other correspondence includes letters from NHVV's in-laws John and Jane Coulter, children and parents.

NHVV retained some government documents from his stay in the House of Representatives. these include memos and letters, two voting result sheets on House Bills, a diagram of the floor plan of the House of Representatives in 1850 and 1851, and a copy of a letter (1870) sent to George S. Boutwell (Secretary of Treasury Department) from U.S. Grant, former president of the United States. Other documents and important papers are listed in the Collection Inventory.

A scrapbook from W.E. Peters collection containing personal mementos of NHVV is included in the collection. The majority of items are invitations from government officials, business cards and a few letters from Elizabeth Van Vorhes and Charles H. Grosvenor. There is one invitation to attend a dinner party given by Rutherford B. Hayes.

Some miscellaneous items in the collection include: 44 unmatched envelopes with 3 cent stamps, dating 1851-1881, grocery list books belonging to Elizabeth Van Vorhes 1889-1895, and 16 wedding invitations to Nellie and Elizabeth Van Vorhes 1898-1903.