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.

An addition was made to this collection which consists chiefly of the business correspondence, personal correspondence and miscellaneous legal and business papers of A. T. Russell Also included are photographs, various mementos, newspaper clippings, and other family materials collected by Josephine Russell, daughter of Clara Cronkrite and A. T. Russell.