East Texas Research Center

The collection consists of letters, financial papers, legal documents, and land deeds, mostly of Bennett Blake, his immediate family, and related families. A significant portion of the papers relate to William Bonaparte McKnight, who married Mary Louisa Addie Blake. McKnight's papers include oil leases and negotiations for timber rights. Several original land grants are included in the collection, two signed by Republic of Texas President Anson Jones.

The Henry Brewer Family Papers consist of business and family correspondence; land grant and title papers; deeds, field notes, and plats; tax receipts; accounts, promissory notes and receipts; resolutions; Baptist Church session minutes and other publications; the Brewer Family Bible [too fragile to handle]; and genealogical materials.