The collection consists of personal and professional papers created or collected by members of the Benjamin T. DuVal family.

The DuVal family papers represent the combined collections of at least three of the six children of William DuVal, an early settler of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Benjamin, Catherine, and Susan DuVal were the creators and collectors of most of the papers which were afterwards passed on to Marie DuVal Johnston, the daughter of Benjamin DuVal and his second wife, Rose Scott DuVal. Marie's sons, Benjamin DuVal, Burley C., and David C. Johnston were the final inheritors of the material.

The papers consist of letters, a diary, speeches, essays, photographs and other materials pertaining to the DuVal family. The letters include three folders of military correspondence primarily dealing with the career of Brigadier General Matthew Arbuckle. Susan DuVal's husband, Major Francis Page, was Arbuckle's aide in the Seventh U.S. Infantry and was probably the collector of these letters. An additional seven folders of letters document Benjamin DuVal's courtship with Ellen Field in the 1840s, Confederate Army service, and postwar political career. Also among these letters are those written by or to William DuVal, Ellen Field DuVal, and her father, Major William Field of Little Rock. The bulk of the twentieth century letters pertain to Marie DuVal Johnston. The diary in the collection was kept by Catherine DuVal Rector from 1850-1853. Essays and speeches include those written by Benjamin DuVal, W.C. Connell, and Ellen Field DuVal. Other papers include samples of Arkansas Confederate money and war bonds, financial notes and receipts, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia. The photographs are primarily of family members and acquaintances, along with two early views of Fort Smith, Arkansas.