The collection consists of letters to Arabella Cleveland from the Dent family and a few other friends, although the majority of the letters are from Ophelia. After their father's death, Miriam and Ophelia operated a dairy on the plantation, and the letters describe daily life on the plantation including weather, the Hofwyl dairy, food, flowers, servants, family dogs and poignant letters about their deaths, social events, travel, antiques, sewing and clothes. Ophelia often visited the Belins at their home Evermay (Washington, DC) and the DuPonts at their estate Longwood (Kennett Square, PA). The Dents were friends with the Haynes family at Ashantilly, the Huston family at Butler Plantation and the Phillips family in Savannah.