This collection contains the family papers of the Bannister family of Ottumwa, Iowa. The heart of the collection is the Civil War letters of Dwight Bannister, including an original letter from acting Brigadier General Frederick Lander on February 14, 1862, before he led a successful charge against a confederate camp at Bloomery Gap. The collection also includes one of Dwight Bannister's paymaster's books and a copy book of his outgoing letters. Postcards and photographs round out the collection. There are artifacts from other wars, such as a land warrant from the War of 1812 and a ration book from World War II. A notable part of the collection is a silver goblet and pitcher which, a letter in the collection explains, were "intended as prizes for a competition in drill and procured in Boston through the Col's business partner, Joe Merrill. They were delivered to Little Rock by Lt. Col. F. M. Drake on his return from a successful recruiting mission. Most of the new recruits didn't join the regiment until it was away on the ill-famed Red River campaign and were lost at Marks Mills. The competition was not held."