This collection contains various book and short story manuscripts written by Blanche Young Oldham. There is also a finished copy of her book, "How the Manx Cat Lost its Tail,” as well as a binder with the author’s notes.

Additionally, the collection boasts photographs and other materials related to the Isle of Man, where the folk stories that make up Oldham’s work originated.

Also contained in the collection are personal materials. These include newspaper clippings, a small number of photographs of Oldham and her family and other personal documents such as the Lake Forest College Program of Commencement Week (1915) and a certificate presented to Oldham in 1946 by the American National Red Cross in recognition of her personal service during World War II.

This collection contains photocopied portions of a Rumsey family history written and edited by Jean Rumsey. Rumsey’s writing and the original documents she incorporated into the family history produced a document 1,350 pages in length. Examples of original documents Rumsey integrated into the history include family correspondence, inventories, newspaper clippings, familial records, and other memorabilia. While only some of the almost 1,400 pages of her work reside as photocopies in this collection, they nonetheless provide a good picture of the Rumsey family.

In addition to the family history, the collection contains another work written by Rumsey titled, "Tour of Lake Forest, Ill. via the 1900 census.” The work speaks to the Rumsey's connection with other Lake Forest residents.