The papers of Edward Everett comprise one of the great American documentary collections on 19th-century affairs. Everett's accomplishments, as reflected in the papers, are impressive: Harvard professor, Representative in Congress, Governor of Massachusetts, Minister to the Court of St. James, Vice-Presidential candidate.

Next to Daniel Webster, he was considered the greatest orator of his day, and this collection contains valuable correspondence with many leading 19th-century educators, politicians, and business leaders.