This collection is comprised of 13 letters written by Margaret Thornton of Huntsville, Texas, to various relatives in her native England, plus two additional letters by other family members writing from overseas.The Thornton letters describe daily life and events in East Texas, especially Walker County and Huntsville, as interpreted by a recent immigrant from England. Among her descriptions are the yellow fever epidemic of 1867, a fire and fire control (a bucket brigade), and martial law after the Civil War. This collection was donated to the Mayor of Huntsville who then passed the collection to Dr. J.L. Clark, former head of the Texas Room (which predated SHSU Special Collections.)