The Olin Norwood collection consists chiefly of holograph French documents and correspondence, but there are also a variety of other materials, such as British, American, German and Belgian holograph, typed and printed correspondence and historical materials, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, pictures, and other materials. The materials in this collection cover topics such as the American Civil War and World War II, military issues such as the Battle of Kings Mountain or the bombardment of cities. Other materials discuss searching and seizing foreign vessels, people fleeing their country, slavery and the sale of enslaved peoples in areas such as South Carolina, and the collection also contains materials on poets and there is a picture from the world premiere of Gone with the wind.
