The collection consists of thirteen items, including: letter to Mr. Putnam, 4 Nov. 185?, in reply to Putnam's invitation to Read to contribute to his magazine; letter to Mr. Putnam, 4 July 1854, submitting a poem to Putnam's magazine; letter to My dear Mr. Gray, 23 April 1856, about his painting, his plans to visit New York, and his fiance; letter to My dear Childs, 2 June 1861, about his work with commentary on the Civil War; letter to J.B. Lippincott, 10 June 1863, approving arrangements made by Jas. T. Claghorn for the publication of Read's poems; letter to Chief Justice Chase, 24 July 1865, enclosing a copy of his recent poems; long poetic fragment, entitled Fannie's Birthday, 23 March 1868, a poetic commentary on the advent of the month of March; letter to Thomas Russell, undated other than Wednesday evening, expressing regret that he missed Russell's letter and invitation; letter to Mr. Ticknor, undated, about his circumstances and an edition of his work; poem, undated, entitled Beatrice, a laudatory verse for Beatrice. Also includes: clipping of poem published in Putnam's, July 1870, titled To Frances, signed by Read, with Susan Gray added to title; clipping of article by Wayne B. Homan, titled Pennsylvania Heritage, Poet's Premonition, about Read, with portrait and photographs of his birthplace and early schoolhouse; dedication on flyleaf inscribed to Major General Sheridan, extracted from Read's A Summer Story, first published 1865.
