The papers of Hiram Putnam and his wife Elizabeth Osgood include their correspondence, bills of lading related to the South American and China trade (1823-1829) and other business documents. There are account books, including one that has accounts and letter book from Putnam's time on the high seas (1813-1816). Some letters relate to his business and political interests in Syracuse, NY, especially those related to the public schools.

There is correspondence related to Dudley Post Phelps of a personal and religious nature (relative to the true nature of Jesus Christ) and his poetry. There are also annotated copies of his: The Phelps record (Syracuse, N.Y., 1885), a genealogy of the Phelps family.

In addition, there is correspondence received by Samuel Holten, Hiram Putnam's maternal grandfather, relative to the U.S. Continental Congress from John Avery, James Lovell and Azor Orne, as well as copies (or drafts) of Holten's letters to Richard Henry Less, Col. Enoch Putnam, Dr. A. Putnam, William Carmichael, Moody Spofford and Azor Orne.

This collection is organized into four series:

• I. SAMUEL HOLTEN LETTERS, 1780-1796
• II. HIRAM AND ELIZABETH PUTNAM LETTERS, 1800-1856
• III. BUSINESS PAPERS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, 1813-1874
• IV. DUDLEY P. AND LUCY PHELPS PAPERS, 1852-1885