The collection consists of a letter by student, John Thomas Ruff Martin, written from Salem. Virginia, March 4, 1861, to his father in Baltimore, Maryland. In the letter, Martin references a college contest, likely academic, held on February 22, 1861. He remarks on the mood of the residents in the Salem area regarding Lincoln's election. Martin also mentions his study habits for exams and amounts owed to Mr. Holland for room and board and tuition for Mr. Yonce.

The envelope is postmarked “Salem College.” The Salem College Martin refers to may have been an early name for Roanoke College which was chartered in 1853 by Lutheran ministers. Although no obvious evidence supports this, Roanoke College had a Dr. William B. Yonce as a professor of ancient languages and literature at Roanoke College from 1854 to 1895.