The papers pertain primarily to William Rheem Lighton (1866- 1923), his wife Laura McMaken Lighton (1869-1948) and their children, Dorothy (1893-1967), Louis Duryea (1895-1963), Suzanne Chalfant (1905-1978), and Betty (b. 1912).

Most of the papers were collected and saved by daughters Suzanne and Betty. Included are materials pertaining to their extended family, in particular, Dorothy Lighton's children and grandchildren and Laura McMaken's father, Andrew Campbell McMaken. These include papers pertaining to Andrew McMaken's Civil War service; see Series 7 description for details. Also included are some materials pertaining to close friends Lee Seamster (a Fayetteville judge, later member of the Arkansas Supreme Court, and Suzanne Lighton's legal mentor) and Henry Tovey (music professor at the University of Arkansas).