Focused on Adair County, Missouri, including Kirksville and surrounding areas, this collection encompasses a wide variety of materials from businesses, churches, and organizations. It includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, maps, and more.

Eugene M. Violette's papers, approximately 8 linear feet plus 18 volumes, include draft versions of his books and articles; professional papers, primarily from his years in Kirksville, Missouri, 1900-1923; and personal and family papers including diaries, scrapbooks and photos from childhood to shortly before his death.

Personal papers, research notes and writings of Paul Owen Selby, consisting of the files and records he gave during his lifetime as well as those cleared from his campus office after his death. Many are concerned with Kirksville and Adair County history, genealogies of Adair County families, and Mark Twain. Also includes his personal scrapbooks from 1890-1979.