The papers of the Platt Family document the lives of several members of the Platt Family, providing accounts regarding life on an Indian Reservation in Iowa, hardships faced during severe winter weather, and the relationships between Native Americans and the settlers from the East. The collection consists primarily of correspondence among family members, including letters (transcriptions) from Elizabeth Charlotte Ricketts Whaley Lehman in which she described teaching school in Iowa (1861-62), life at the Pawnee Reservation in what is now the state of Nebraska (1863), winters on the Plains, and family matters. The correspondence series consists of 206 original handwritten letters and 102 typed transcripts (71 transcripts with no originals and 31 with originals). See the Inventory for Series I for additional detail concerning the number of letters for each correspondent.

The remainder of the collection consists of photographs of Platt Family members and acquaintances, Mary A. Platt's Oberlin College diplomas, and miscellaneous research materials containing biographical information about the Platt Family. Writings include “A Battle with the Sioux” by L.B. Platt (reprint, 1888) and “A Story About a Dog” by Elvira Platt (handwritten original and transcript), 5 June 1905.

The collection is divided into five series: I. Platt Family Correspondence, II. Photographs, III. Writings by Platt Family Members, IV. Miscellaneous Research Materials, and V. Diplomas.

Series I. Platt Family Correspondence, Outgoing (Originals unless otherwise noted), 1848-1910, 1955-57, 1960, n.d. (17 folders)

Correspondence primarily between members of the Platt Family regarding daily activities, Native Americans, westward expansion, and family matters. For example, letters of Elizabeth Charlotte Ricketts Whaley Lehman include accounts of life on the Pawnee Indian Reservation in what is now the state of Nebraska (1863), hardships faced during winter months on the Plains, and family matters. (See the Nebraska State Historical Society finding guide for their collection of Platt Family Papers. A copy is in the Oberlin College Archives case file for the Platt Family, RG 30/199). Arranged alphabetically by correspondent, and chronologically within each folder.

Series II. Photographs by Platt Family Members, c. 1861, c. 1868, n.d. (2 folders)

Photographs (stereotypes) of the members of the Platt Family and their friends. Some of the photographs are identified, and many are not dated.

Series III. Writings by Platt Family Members, 1888, 1905 (2 folders)

Contains a reprint of “A Battle with the Sioux” by L.B. Platt (The Cosmopolitan, January 1888, vol. IV, No. 5) in which Platt gives a firsthand account of a fight between the Pawnee and Sioux Indians. Also included is an unpublished manuscript by Elvira Platt titled “A Story About A Dog” (5 June 1905). This manuscript, original and transcription, is a story about the relationship between Elvira and the family’s dog, Luffra.

Series IV. Miscellaneous Research Materials (photocopies 1853-54, 1899, 1914, 1919, 1930s, 1960, 1986, n.d.), 1952, n.d. (2 folders)

Consists of an article and pamphlet concerning Tabor and Tabor Congregational Church, Iowa. Also included are photocopies of biographical materials for the Platt Family (i.e., articles, copies of photographs, copies of transcripts of letters [1853-54, 1899, 1914, 1930s, 1986, n.d.], and an Oberlin Alumni register page containing “Platt”).

Series V. Diplomas, 1845, 1855 (photocopies, 1 folder)

Oberlin College Diplomas of Mary Abigail Platt (Mrs. C.B. Darwin), A.B. 1845 and A.M. 1855. The originals are filed in College General (RG0).

Archives (RG 41), Subgroup II. Files Relating to the Tenure of Roland Baumann, Subseries 3. Collection Management Projects (Archives), “Jean Schobert,” 1987-89, 1995; Platt Family Papers in the Nebraska State Historical Society (MS0907), Lincoln, Nebraska, copy of their finding guide in the Platt Family case file (30/199).