The collection contains primarily 50 Civil War letters of assorted sizes and paper quality, and 33 envelopes - not all related to corresponding letters, two lead Civil War bullets, five brass Civil War buttons, assorted reference material such as magazine articles, newspaper items, discharge papers. The contents are arranged chronologically when possible throughout all manner of material.

50 letters, 33 envelopes (some with full-colored patriotic iconography) with stamps possibly as valuable as the letters themselves, discharge orders, assorted reference materials regarding philately as well as Civil War Centennial items, two bullets, five brass buttons, Confederate currency and a replica of the Gettysburg Address. As the handwriting is different especially in the Richardson letters, there is a possibility that Joseph D. Richardson is dictating the letters to someone who writes for him. In the case of the Rupert letters, the handwriting and spelling is poor.