Francis Elder, a Baltimore merchant, was the great-grand son of William Elder and son of Basil Elder. Matilda Winchester Elder was the daughter of Benjamin F. Winchester, Sr. and the sister of Benjamin F. Winchester, Jr., both circuit court judges in Louisiana. The papers, organized alphabetically by correspondent, document various aspects of nineteenth century American Catholicism. The earliest material concerns the education of Francis Elder and Matilda Winchester, respectively, at Mt. St. Mary's and St. Joseph's Academy in Emmittsburg, Maryland. Also included is correspondence, written to Francis and Matilda Elder from William Henry Elder, Thomas S. Byrne, Martin John Spalding, and John M. Odin, members of the expanding Catholic episcopal hierarchy in the west.
Several items are of particular interest in reference to Southern history.
Letters from Generals Pierre Beauregard and Richard Taylor concern requests made by Matilda Elder in connection with Maryland's contribution to the Southern Relief Fair, organized throughout the Southern states in l866 to alleviate the burden of debts incurred during the war. The papers also include a letter from Matilda's brother, Judge Benjamin F. Winchester, describing in some detail his career as a circuit judge in Louisiana in l881. Concerning her expression of well wishes on his appointment to the See of Nashville. Carondelet, Baron de 3. 12 November l893.