The earliest letters, from 1861 to 1865, deal with the courtship of Earle and Amanda, Earle's Civil War exploits, and living conditions at Cane Hill and Van Buren during the war. Much of the post-war correspondence deals with Earle's experiences as a legislator at Little Rock and his interest in the presidency of the Arkansas Industrial University at Fayetteville. The last letters concern Earle's business interests at Cane Hill, correspondence with his children during their travels, and letters of consolation to Earle during his final illness.

Some of the early letters in the collection were written by or to Amanda or her father, siblings, and cousins. Most of these early letters have been published under the title "The Earle-Buchanan Letters, 1861-1876" in volume 33, (1974), of the Arkansas Historical Quarterly, edited by Robert E. Waterman and Thomas Rothrock. Those letters appearing in the article have been marked "(AHQ)" in the series inventory.

Significant correspondents: Jacob Frolich Thomas M. Gunter David Walker William E. Woodruff, Jr.