Collection consists of correspondence and other material relating both to William M. Boggs and to his brother Thomas O. Boggs, the sons of Govenor Liliburn W. Boggs of Missouri. Thomas O. Boggs was born in 1824 near the Neosho River most likely in present-day Oklahoma. In 1844 Thomas worked at Bent's Fort, an important trading post on the Arkansas River in present-day southeastern Colorado. In 1846 Boggs emigrated to California. William M. Boggs was born at Fort Osage on the Missouri River in 1826. In 1844 William traveled to Santa Fe and spent the winter at Bent's Fort. Later in life William Boggs wrote on the history Bent's Fort, and this collection also contains a copy of The W. M. Boggs manuscript about Bent's Fort, Kit Carson, the far west and life among the Indians., edited by historian LeRoy R. Hafen.