Letter from J. C. Crain, the chairman of the 19th Senatorial district in Texas, to President William McKinley regarding John Patterson Osterhout applying to become the postmaster of Belton, Texas. Crain wrote of how highly he thought of John and recommended him for the position.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout, regarding her remaining time at Baylor University. Gertrude was eager to return home and help out around the house. Commencement was fast approaching and she wrote to her mother about what she was going to wear and that she needed her mother to send a few items to make sure she was prepared.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout, discussing her time at Baylor University. She wrote to her mother about how discouraged she had been feeling lately and that the poor weather outside had her feeling unwell. She asked for news from the family and said she would be writing her sisters soon.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her brother, Paul Osterhout, discussing her life at Baylor University. She told him that her examination scores had been excellent and commencement would be taking place later this year. She wrote of some of the events that the school held including debates, concerts, and essay readings. A storm had passed through her town recently and she told her brother that she would refuse to sleep on the third floor of the boarding house should she return. The letter concluded with a promise of gossip in her next letter and her sympathies that Paul has a night job. Included is an envelope addressed to "Mr. Paul Osterhout."

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her brother, Paul Osterhout, discussing her life at school. She wrote about her responsibilities of acting as a supervisor for the girls at the boarding house. She told him of the local gossip and school events, including concerts and drawing room receptions where the girls were taught how to entertain guests. A day after she finished the first part of the letter, she continued to write a couple pages more about a recent storm that had hit the city and resulted in property damage and a couple of lives lost.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her father, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing daily life at school. She told her father of her responsibilities to check housekeeping of all the girls' rooms and to keep flirtation between the boys and girls to a minimum. The letter detailed many of the events that Baylor held for its students, including musical recitations and drawing room receptions to teach the girls how to entertain guests. She closed the letter by saying she expected her sister to write soon and that she would write her brother next.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her brother, Paul Osterhout, regarding news she had heard about his arrival. She had heard from several girls that Paul had been seen in a nearby town and would be visiting only to learn that someone else had been mistaken for him. She told her brother he needed to hurry back and that the girls were asking about him. Included is an envelope addressed to "Mr. Paul Osterhout."

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her brother, Paul Osterhout. She wrote to inform her brother of her life at school. Gertrude told him of the weather, that she thought she was gaining weight, and a visit she made with a woman near the school. She mentioned how she was doing in her studies and promised to write a letter to one of their sisters.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote home to update her mother on her life at school. Gertrude detailed to her mother some of the end-of-session events that would be happening for commencement and final examinations. She wrote of some girls who had fallen sick and a contest she had entered to win a poetry book.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his parents, John Patterson and Junia Roberts Osterhout. He thanked his family for a recent letter he received from home. Paul described parts of a composition he prepared to give at a commencement ceremony and sent his father a copy of the speech. He mentioned some activities that were going on at the school, including a baseball game and a concert, and insisted that his father or mother try to visit. Included is an envelope addressed to "J. P. Osterhout."

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his father, John Patterson Osterhout, about upcoming events while he was at Baylor College. He wrote about how the boys would be giving speeches at commencement and he planned to praise one of the professors in his speech to increase his chances of winning a medal. Paul requested that his father send him money for new shoes to wear for his speech and listed out his upcoming expenses.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote to her mother to update her on her life at school. She spoke of how excited she was to go home, a trip to a nearby town she made with the boys, and a list of items she needed her mother to send.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her sisters, Ora and Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote to update her sisters about her life at school. She included small bits of news regarding her studies and plans to go on a picnic. She asked about the family orchards and requested that her sisters send her a box of the fruit.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote to update her mother about her life at school. She lamented the fact that she had been receiving no letters from home lately, but thanked her mother for sending the clothes she had requested. She requested money to be sent to her and that her mother and other family members write soon.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to Osterhout Family. She wrote to update her family about her life at school. She spoke of her school work and upcoming examinations, her concerns about her weight, and a recent death.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote her mother to update her about her life at school. Among the small bits of news Gertrude gave, she mentioned a musical performances that the girls gave, a memorial service, and upcoming examinations.

Photocopy of a letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout, about her life at school. She mentioned a sociable she was getting ready to attend and how the other girls were worrying about what to wear. She mentioned events that were happening at school, including a music event and lectures she attended. Her brother, Paul, had received a joke Valentine's Day card and she promised to write her younger sister, Junia, soon.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his parents, John Patterson and Junia Roberts Osterhout, discussing his time at Baylor College. Paul wrote that the only news he had was school-related and he told his parents about an upcoming lecture and a study group he participated in. He ended his letter by letting them know that the bills to pay for his education was sent home to his parents.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his father, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing his time away from home at school. Paul wrote that he did not have much news to include other than a death that had happened at the school and that his sister, Gertrude, was doing well.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his father, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing his time at Baylor College. He apologized for himself and for his sister Gertrude because they had not written home sooner and updated them about recent events, including a night fire in the boys' boarding house that they were eventually able to suppress. He told his father about his studies in Virgil and mathematics.

Letter from Paul Osterhout to his father, John Patterson Osterhout, discussing his time in Independence, Texas. He told his father that he let his sister, Gertrude, read the letter from home and described how much money he had spent recently. He ended the letter by writing that he had to prepare a composition for class.

A five-stanza poem by Gertrude Osterhout titled "My Roommates." In each stanza, Gertrude wrote about each of her roommates at her boarding school.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to her mother, Junia Roberts Osterhout. She wrote her mother to update her on life at school. Gertrude mentioned the Thanksgiving dinner they had at school and time she had been spent with her brother, Paul. She had started learning to crochet and was excited about being able to go home in a few weeks for Christmas.

Letter from Gertrude Osterhout to John Patterson Osterhout. She wrote to her father to update him on her life at school. She told him about the bad weather they'd been having, a teacher that took supper with them that evening, and her studies. She informed him of her Latin exam and that her brother Paul had arrived in town. At the end, she asked when she should come home for Christmas.