Jenkins family papers

The Jenkins family papers consists of three series: Correspondence, Genealogy, and Miscellaneous.

Series I, Correspondence, contains eight folders of correspondence between members of the Jenkins family, friends, and acquaintances. The earliest letter in the series dates to 1838, sent from Oliver Jenkins in Rome to his sister, Martha Lee, in Baltimore. He describes his travels in Italy, particularly in Rome and Naples. Following that there is an 1844 letter from Judge John Joseph Jenkins to his son, Lieutenant Edmund Jenkins, advising him on his proposed marriage. While Judge Jenkins has no objection to the match, he is appalled that his son has not spoken to the lady's father about his intentions and reminds Edmund of his family's respectability and his duties as a gentleman.

There is one folder containing three letters from Caroline Jenkins to her husband, Michael Courtney Jenkins while visiting New York in August 1845. A folder of correspondence from Michael Courtney Jenkins contains two letters to his wife and two letters to his daughter, Martha Lee Jenkins. In a letter of July 28, 1848, Michael tells Caroline (who is visiting Cape May) about a visit to Annapolis with the children. "Yesterday I made a sacrifice of personal comfort greater than any you will be called on to endure during your sojourn at Cape May...of all trials, this of excursioning with children is one of the greatest to me."

A folder of miscellaneous correspondence dated 1858-1894 contains a letter from E. M. Sims to Master James Peacock Sims, a letter to "Cousin" from Joshua Sims, and a letter to Edmund Plowden Jenkins from his daughter, Martha. A file of Edmund Plowden Jenkins' outgoing correspondence contains two letters to Martha Lee Jenkins, one dated 1867 before they were married. He mentiones that she has recently broken off "the ties that bound you to another," and expresses gratification. "For though I knew you loved me, still it made me miserable to think that you could be willing to sacrifice your finest dearest feelings for a mere appearance in the world."

The series contains Martha Lee Jenkins' outgoing and incoming correspondence. Her outgoing letters are mostly addressed to her husband Edmund while she was traveling in Europe between 1878-1879. There are also four leters from Martha to Edmund between 1884 and 1894, one letter from Martha to her daughter while away from home in 1895, and an undated letter to a Mrs. Helen West Ridgely concerning matters related to the Maryland Society of the Colonial Dames of America. A file of Martha Lee Jenkins' incoming correspondence contains letters from members of the Colonial Dames concerning work on committees. There are also various invitations to events, and a letter dated 1918 from her son-in-law, Clifford Sims.

Series II, Genealogy, contains five folders containing genealogical notes and applications to lineage societies such as the Colonial Dames and the Society of Colonial Wars.

Series III, Miscellaneous, contains additional materials outside the arrangement of the previous series. This includes an essay by Lancelot Sims, a list of individuals enslaved by John William Jenkins at the beginning of the Civil War, newspaper clippings, a file of information on Bushwood Manor, and a file of miscellaneous items including empty addressed envelopes, ephemera, and poetry.