Chiefly correspondence between members of the Pierce, Aiken, Appleton, Mason, and Means families, including letters from Franklin Pierce and Jane M. Pierce; together with genealogical material and photographs. Topics include antebellum New England family life (especially in Massachusetts and New Hampshire), religion, politics, War of 1812, slavery, and events at Bowdoin College which Jane M. Pierce's father, Jesse Appleton, served as president. Jane M. Pierce's letters (1822-1860) reflect social life in Washington, D.C., during her husband's term (1835-1842) as U.S. representative from New Hampshire and his first year in the White House (1853) and her struggle with depression following the deaths of their three children. Franklin Pierce's six letters (1850-1868) are written largely to his sister-in-law, Mary M. Aiken.