The collection includes 33 items, primarily personal letters directed to Hattie Robinson by family members. The main correspondents are Hattie's estranged husband Clarence (2 letters, March-October 1935); her son Lloyd and Lloyd's wife, Bernice (9 letters, 6 February-12 November 1936); and her daughter Eva (19 letters, 31 January-13 December 1936). The letters were occasioned by the Robinson children's recent departure from the area around Texarkana, where the family had lived for several generations.

Miss Mary E. Branch, president of Tillotson College for Women, inquires as to Eva Vashti Robinson's enrollment plans.

Cleveland C. Robinson writes to his estranged wife Hattie, asking after their children, Lloyd and Eva. He regrets that the children have not responded to his recent letters, and notes that Eva has not written in four years. He also notes he is currently out of work.

Cleveland expresses his frustration with his children, who have failed to communicate with him: "It seems likely that they don't care for me." He also alludes to his departure from home some years before: "I will say Hattie that I could not stand your way, therefore I left."

Eva writes her mother from Tollette, where she is employed teaching school. She mentions a teaching certificate that she should soon receive, and hopes that government aid for the school will be forthcoming.

Lloyd writes his mother at length about the cold weather in Chicago, and asks after family and friends still in Arkansas. He mentions a number of couples originally from Arkansas now living in Chicago, with whom he and his wife Bernice "step out". Bernice also writes to Hattie of daily affairs.

Personal news.

Personal news. Enclosed is a note to Hattie from one of Eva's students.

Bernice apologizes for failing to acklowledge her mother-in-law's birthday.

Eva mentions sending money to her mother to have some teeth pulled; other personal and social news.

Personal and social news.

Eva mentions a recent visit to her mother, and asks to borrow money for an upcoming trip.

Eva describes her recent trip, and her finances.

Though written in Bernice's hand, the letter is in the first-person voice of Lloyd. He apologizes for not sending money, as "it takes all I make for us to live off here." Mentions that "all Texarkana negroes seem to be following me [to Chicago]."

Bernice urges Hattie to write to confirm her whereabouts, since Lloyd is again employed and can start sending her money.

Eva describes a funeral in Texas.

Eva is taking summer classes at Arkansas State A. M. & N., in Pine Bluff. Her letter details the enrollment process and her thoughts on starting classes.

Lloyd is critical of his mother's wish to remain in Texarkana (a "dirty town") and of her relationship with a man named Bill Chator. He complains of not having heard from Eva since the previous year.

Bernice alludes to the relationship mentioned by Lloyd in the previous letter, and attempts to offer her mother-in-law some advice: "A girl can't let a man know that she really loves him. She should keep him guessing. That's the way I did."

Eva asks her mother for her father's address, intending to write. She is critical of her sister-in-law Bernice: ". . .she should be made to stay with Loyed all of her life, because she had no business going up there to him She knew that he didn't have anything when she married him. She better get out and work like I'm doing." Eva also writes of people she has met during classes.

Eva is "flat broke," and asks her mother for rent money. She has been asked to sing at the N.A.A.C.P. mass meeting at the college the following night.

Eva repeats her request for rent money.

Lloyd is presently unable to contribute $15 to pay for Hattie's new teeth. He then goes on an extended rant about his mother's relationship with Bill Chator: "Listen Mother I love you and all that But if you can't keep from messing around with trash like Bill Chator I don't want anything to do with you at all. So you can do as you like and keep his friendship or you can lose mine." Lloyd accuses Hattie of doing the same thing her ". . .no good husband done, and that is run out in Texarkana."

Bernice writes a generally apologetic letter to her mother-in-law, expressing her sympathy for Lloyd's antagonism and thanking Hattie for being a positive mother figure.

Hattie's younger sister Carrie (b. ca. 1896) writes from the old family farm in Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, requesting money for the payment of taxes on the portion of the land left to Hattie by her parents.

Eva writes from Osceola, Mississippi County, Arkansas, where she has a new job teaching the second and third grades.

Eva writes of attending the A.M.E. (rather than the C.M.E.) church service, and goes on to talk of money matters.

Eva writes of her work as a teacher and recent social activities, such as traveling to neighboring Blytheville and attending the movies.

Eva writes of a carnival fundraiser which netted ten dollars for the school. She also asks her mother's advice on love. She has two possible suitors, Joseph and Walter, but she "doesn't love either one!" Eva also mentions that she received a two dollar raise.

Eva writes of minor daily activities and developments at school.

Bernice writes of her fear that Lloyd wil "get into some trouble" when he visits Hattie in Texarkana over Christmas. .

Eva sends her mother fifteen dollars.

Eva tells Hattie that her "dady" (C.C. Robinson) passed through the area on the train and happened to speak with the principal of Eva's school, Mr. Gray: "He told Mr. Gray everything about your affairs and I don't know what he told him about me."

Mattie Bell Gary briefly updates Hattie Robinson on some family members.