The collection contains Thomas C. Nixon's journals beginning from 1815 to 1872. The journals reflect Nixon's daily activities including personal and business relationships, preaching, and his plantation activity among other topics. Here we see how Nixon's character develops over time and details related to his ministry, especially preaching, and his emotional reactions regarding suspension from the annual conference and the issue of slavery. The early journals discuss a great deal about his dedicated circuit-riding days whereas the later journals reflect on his life as a plantation owner. The collection also contains notebooks, loose journal pages, sermon notes, financial records, and clippings. There is also a photocopied collection of material related to the Nixon Family’s history which contains correspondences, copies of photographs, journals, notebooks, and sermons material along with additional family records.

The collection spans the years 1805-1928, with most of the material dating from before Fifield's death in 1859. The bulk of the material consists of letters, sermons and various documents. It also includes oil portraits and daguerreotypes of Fifiled and his wife, Celia. A few of the sermons date from Fifield's years as a secular banker; this indicates that he probably continued to preach somewhat during those years. It should be noted that several of Fifield's sermons are written on the back of correspondence which he received. Many of the documents are in poor condition and should be handled carefully, as should the oil paintings which are both cracked and flaking.

Many of the documents are in poor condition and should be handled carefully, as should the oil paintings which are both cracked and flaking.