The Richard S. Orton Collection consists of the photographs from two exhibits created by Orton and a series of 16 oral history interviews about African Americans in Nacogdoches County. The photographs capture authentic interactions between teachers and school children at several schools in Austin (1986-1990) and scenes of faith, family and life at Upshaw family reunions at County Line, an African American freedom colony in Nacogdoches County (1988-1998). The exhibit label text which appeared under each photograph in "The Upshaws of County Line" is written on the back of each photograph in pencil. All the photographs are black and white.