Copy correspondence between two generations of Perkinson and Monaghan family members, all connected with Croghan, near Birr, Co Offaly and the Irish Hills area of the state of Michigan, USA. Following the devastation of the Great Famine, John Monaghan emigrated firstly to Suffolk and then to Michigan, where he received letters from his sister, Mary and her husband William Perkinosn, pleading for assistance to also enable their family emigrate to America. The correspondence describes the effect of famine and emigration on the Croghan area. Their son William, who emigrated to Lancashire, also writes to his cousin in Michigan of the second generation with much the same request.

Letter from Professor H S Raper of the Department of Physiology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, to Doctor Francis William Lamb, notifying them that due to present crisis (England had just entered World War II), he and the Vice-Chancellor agree that a celebration is inappropriate, and suggests that instead they will simply provide the funds for him to pay for the silverware chosen as a parting gift from the Department of Physiology.