The William Heath Papers provides an abundance of historical materials covering the period of the Revolutionary War and the new Federalist government. Heath, a Massachusetts farmer, joined the Continental Army and served as a Major General under Washington following Bunker Hill. Most of his adult career was spent in the service, and these papers detail his constant contact with the Board of War, state governments, and officers such as Arnold, Knox, Lincoln, and Ward.

In the political sphere, there are materials concerning diplomacy, peace negotiations, and the problems of erecting a government in a new nation. Following his retirement from the service, Heath continued serving his country as a state senator and as a judge of probate.