The years between the founding of Nashotah in Wisconsin in 1841 and the election of Henry B. Whipple as the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota are represented primarily by letters and other papers of the chief founders of the church in Minnesota: James Lloyd Breck, Ezekiel Gilbert Gear, E. Steele Peake, and Solon W. Manney.

Letters from Breck at Nashotah House to I. K. Sass, Charleston, South Carolina (1846-1850), discuss the organization, character, and philosophy of the Nashotah Brotherhood; and the finances, divinity students, and missionary services of Nashotah House. A copy of its charter (1847) is included. Breck's later letters to Sass and others (1850-1859) discuss the organization and work of the Associate Mission in Minnesota, and missions to the Ojibwa, as do the few letters of other churchmen during this period.

Papers for 1855-1859 discuss the organization of the diocese, and include the proceedings of its Primary Convention (1856) and a report on its official union with the national church (1859).

Also included is information on the oversight activities of Jackson Kemper (1844, 1848-1859); excerpts from the diaries of E. Steele Peake (1848), Solon W. Manney (1851-1859), and Ezra Jones (1856-1859); constitution and minutes of the Church Missionary Society for Minnesota (1851); newspaper copies of Henry B. Whipple's travel letters from New York and Florida (1853-1854); information on the creation of the Minnesota Church Foundation to administer diocesan real estate (1854-1860); and diocesan reports and missionary papers (1858-1859).

Letters of Whipple, his clergy (especially Peake and Breck), and lay persons discuss Indian missions, diocesan clergy, and church services, and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Several printed programs and schedules announce church and cathedral services and the bishop's appointments.

Other aspects of diocesan administration are reflected in reports on a resolution by Eli T. Wilder to reorganize the Minnesota Church Foundation (1860); certifications of delegates to diocesan conventions (1860-1861); a report on Bishop Gilbert's proposed "Provincial System" canon, which would have grouped several adjacent dioceses into provinces (1868); issues of the "Missionary Paper" published by the Bishop Seabury Mission (1860-1866); and a letter of Heman G. Wood outlining the relation between the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Cathedral in Faribault (1874).

Additional information on Indian missionary work is found in Missionary Paper No. 5 of the Associate Mission for Minnesota, entitled "The Indian Mission at Work" (1860), which describes the Mission's work among Minnesota Indians; notes of a speech by Madwaganominde[?] at Red Lake (1860); letters discussing the Ojibwa Indian Bad Boy (1865); Samuel D. Hinman's Santee Mission journal (Jan. 1869, printed); a pamphlet discussing Bishop Hare's removal of Hinman from his post at the mission (1879); and an address by H. A. Stimson (1879).

Also filed with these papers are minutes of the Central Convocation, Diocese of Minnesota (1866-1870); the constitution and bylaws of the diocesan Board of Missions (1869); printed information on the Reformed Episcopal Church (1873-1874); addresses of Henry B. Whipple (1873, 1878); a humorous account of Whipple's journey to attend the first meeting of the Synod of Rupert's Land (1876); and an account by William C. Pope of church work in eastern Minnesota (1878).

Approximately half of the papers for the period 1880-1899 consist of George C. Tanner's correspondence with clergy and lay workers on the history of the diocese, its parishes, and its ministry. Much is from rectors or former rectors, describing their services at various Minnesota communities, or reminiscing on early church work. It is especially voluminous during the years 1888-1894.

Other papers include correspondence of Whipple, Mahlon N. Gilbert, and diocesan clergy, as well as clippings, leaflets, printed notices, and pastorals; they relate to diocesan and parish affairs, clergy, finances, and the diocesan schools at Faribault. Also present are sermons and addresses by Whipple and others. There are several letters from Gilbert and others to Georgia Mounts [Richardson], 1887-1898.

A few letters and articles discuss missionary work among the Ojibwa and Dakota, including two pamphlets by Joseph A. Gilfillan on the Ojibwa deacons at White Earth Reservation (1890s and 1891). Two letters and an article by Thomas E. Dickey (1891-1893) describe his pastoral work in Kalispell, Montana. A letter from Harvey Officer to Whipple (1893) outlines the history of the Minnesota Church Foundation and the Church Missionary Society for Minnesota.

Other items include: John O. Barton, "Progress of the Church in the West" (pamphlet, 1882); annual report of Shattuck School (1885/1886); and discussion of proposed amendments to canons governing assessments (1890s) and ministerial reciprocity (1894).

Occasional letters to Tanner regarding the history of the Diocese of Minnesota and its parishes, missions, and clergy continue during 1900-1908. In 1908-1910 there is considerable correspondence, especially between Tanner and William Cox Pope, concerning publication of and subscriptions to Tanner's History of the Diocese of Minnesota.

Other correspondence, particularly among Charles Rollitt, Samuel Cook Edsall, James D. Morrison, Charles L. Slattery, Charles E. Haupt, and Alfred E. Pinkham, discuss diocesan administration and finances, clergy, church services, church properties, the sale of church buildings in St. Paul, the church pension fund (1917-1918), and the administration and programs of the diocesan schools, especially Seabury Divinity School. Many of the letters during 1906-1908 were written to Charles Rollitt of Red Wing. Programs, leaflets, clippings, biographical data, and obituaries of diocesan clergy and lay supporters are also present.

Considerable correspondence among Edsall, Morrison, C. C. Camp, and Bishop Cameron Mann relates to applicants for admission to Seabury Divinity School and for ordination to the diaconate or the priesthood. Correspondence between Edsall and Susan Salisbury (1907-1917) discusses the Dakota mission and her lace-making project at Birch Coulee. A proposal to commission a portrait of Ezekiel G. Gear is discussed in 1905-1906 and 1909-1910[?]. Other letters concern the Third Annual Conference of the Sixth Missionary Department (which included the dioceses of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas City, Nebraska, Colorado, and Montana), held in Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1906.

Other papers include documents relating to the consecration of Edsall as bishop coadjutor (1901) and Frank A. McElwain as Minnesota's first suffragan bishop (1912); letters to Georgia Mounts [Richardson]; diocesan treasurer's reports (1904, 1919, 1920); histories of the Church Deaconess Home, St. Paul, and the Church Club of Minnesota (1907); a report of the Dean of Mankato to the diocesan Board of Missions (1910); a financial report of St. Mary's Hall, Faribault (1916); parish statistics (1918-1920); and a copy of the 1920 edition of the diocesan constitution and canons.

The papers for the period 1920-1942 consist largely of diocesan historian Francis L. Palmer's correspondence, or of materials collected by him. They include letters of Frank A. McElwain, Charles E. Haupt, Stephen E. Keeler, and other members of the diocesan standing committee, regarding diocesan administration, clergy, candidates for orders, and sale and management of church property; letters and financial records relating to fund-raising campaigns (1930-1936); and Palmer's correspondence on diocesan history.

Other letters discuss aid for Breck School (1920, 1921); the Reverend David Buel Knickerbacker and Octavius Longworth families (1925-1929); the Twin City Clericus, an organization of all Minneapolis/St. Paul Episcopal clergymen (1928-1932); and the Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund (1930-1932).

Also present are reminiscences of Augusta E. B. Kerr (1933), Mary Heywood Folwell (1937), and Charles E. Haupt (1938); and printed circular letters written by Haupt for the Minnesota clergy (1939-1941).

Papers for 1943 consist almost entirely of letters, reports, and notes regarding the proposed merger of the dioceses of Minnesota and Duluth.

The files for the period 1944-1957 are primarily those of Bishop Stephen E. Keeler and other diocesan officials, particularly Charles H. Richter, Earl R. Coppage, David E. Bronson, Jule M. Hannaford, Lloyd R. Gillmett, John H. Myers, and F. Rodney Paine. They center on the diocese's business management and clergy, including finances, clergy prospects, church buildings and properties, church services, the work of the Bishop's Committee on Laymen's Work ("Men of Minnesota," 1943-1946, 1950-1951), the work of the Standing Committee in evaluating candidates for the ministry and diaconate, diocesan schools, and fund-raising efforts (1952).

During 1947-1948 the diocesan Committee on Rules of Order discusses procedures for conducting diocesan conventions, while the Committee on Legislation is concerned with church canons and state laws governing the sale and mortgage of church property and with the structure and duties of the Bishop and Council and the Standing Committee. Letters in 1948-1949 and 1951-1952 discuss the election of the bishop coadjutor for the diocese, and the consecration of Hamilton H. Kellogg to that position in 1952.

Records for 1950-1954 are heavily concerned with plans for the Pan-Anglican Conference held in Minneapolis in August 1954.