The papers contain records of both the Payne and Gambrell families. The first folder contains a ledger book or journal of Fannie Elizabeth Gambrell showing various examples of business terms, titles, abbreviations, punctuation, business forms, sample figures; and student grades from 1865 to 1867. Also included are several loose sheets with student names and accounts or marks. The papers also contain a letter dated 1863 from a physician asking that John W. Payne (brother of James P. Payne, both of whom served in Hampton's Legion in the Civil War) be reassigned from military operations in the field to an appointment closer to home for health reasons; essays by Fannie Gambrell titled "The Gift of Memory" and "Close of School" dated 1864; a letter to Fannie Gambrell from her aunt dated 1868; an essay titled "Bingen on the Rhine;" and other poetry by Fannie Gambrell; a letter to Fannie Elizabeth Payne from a former student, dated April 15, 1871; a letter from Duffie W. Gambrell to his "brother and sister" dated 1873; and a small account book from Eleanor Gambrell.

The second folder contains an appraisal and agreement to divide the property of John Payne among his heirs James P. Payne and Sarah Louisa [Payne] Pollard; a probate appraisal of the property of Reid Gambrell, dated 1883; a price list and promotional letter from Dr. Scott's Electric products company; mortgage papers from the 1890s; pages from a ledger of James P. Payne; letters concerning surgery for Vannie Payne, daughter of Fannie and James Payne; and various undated loose pages of poems, essays and sketches and loose paper clippings.

The oversize folder contains a Tax-in-kind document for James P. Payne from the Confederate States for farm items from 1864 and part of a copy of the Semi-Weekly Journal Atlanta, November 17, 1902.