Paul Clayton and unidentified woman tintype, circa 1880s

The Andrew Wallace Evans papers consists of six series: Andrew Wallace Evans papers, Evans family papers, Clayton-Brown family papers, Genealogy, Photographs, and Miscellaneous. Series I, Andrew Wallace Evans papers, makes up the majority of the collection, consisting of four boxes. The first three boxes are made up entirely of correspondence from Mary Evans to her son Andrew Wallace Evans, between 1848-1880. Her early letters are filled with pieces of advice and fears for his safety, often lamenting their separation. On October 20, 1852 she writes, "Oh! dear Andrew Wallace, do you never feel homesick, never feel or wish to be with me. I waken in the morning and my heart is perfectly heavy within me, and I lie wakeful for hours wishing I had never sent you to West Point. I have a thousand fears for you, you are surrounded by temptations and are not aware of them."

As the years passed, Mary Evans never ceased to be concerned for her son, but she also took great pride in his service. In a letter dated June 11, 1861, she describes her reaction to hearing a report of his intended resignation. "Of course we did not believe a word of it, I am sure you would not desert the cause of your country, in this her hour of terrible trial; of this, I am certain that our name will never be disgraced."

Mary further offers commentary on many of the conflicts in which her son is engaged over the decades. On December 1, 1861 she writes, "I have doubted several times whether I knew anything about military affairs, but before this war is over, you'll see I shall know a good deal, and right or wrong, I am determined to uphold our army against all the world." During an outbreak of fighting with the Native Americans, she writes on June 27, 1876 that "I wish our congressmen had to do the fighting." She continues to offer her opinion on such engagements with regularity. Mrs. Evans also gives her son regular updates on life in Elkton, Maryland, offering news of the health and well-being of friends and family members, as well as social events.

Series II, Evans family papers, contains three folders of materials related to other members of the Evans family. Included is the correspondence of Dr. Amos Alexander Evans, documents related to Mary Evans'pension claim, and letters to Susan T. Evans, Andrew Wallace Evans' wife. Included in Dr. Amos Alexander Evans' correspondence are four letters addressed to his parents in which he discusses his future prospects and shares updates of his sea voyages. In a letter dated January 11, 1815, the first page contains a letter by Mary Oliver, who writes to assure her future mother-in-law of her devotion to their son. "Life is said to be valuable, on account of its enjoyments, and as for myself, this year I have measured more happiness, than during the whole of my life. I am almost afraid you would either think me foolish, or indelicate, were I to tell you how much I love your son, and that it is owing to him, the tide of pleasure has flowed so full, but if it be improper, to avow this truth to him who is to be my husband, it cannot surely be so to her, who will be my mother, and whom to hear call me daughter, and love as such would be so grateful." On the following page, Dr. Evans praises Mary's good qualities to his parents, but despairs at his ability to support a wife. "I am not yet able to look forward with certainty to the time when I shall be able to call her wife. I hope, however, for the best."

Series III, Clayton-Brown family papers, contains five folders of materials related to the Clayton and Brown families. They include the incoming correspondence of James W. Clayton (Mary Evans Claytons' husband) and miscellaneous Clayton family documents. Additionally, the series includes papers related to Paul Clayton's father-in-law, John W. Brown, and his wife, Helen Brown. Of particular note are a series of letters Helen Brown sent home to her parents before her marriage, while touring around France, Spain, and Italy between 1889-1890. In a letter soon after her arrival on November 19, 1889, she writes, "When we arrived at the Hotel St. Antoine I could hardly decide whether to laugh or cry-everything was so strange and I understood for the first time how very far I was away." The final folder in this series contains the marriage certificate of Paul Clayton and Helen Brown, who were married on November 6, 1894.

Series IV, Genealogy, mostly contains Andrew Wallace Evans' research notes into the history of the Evans, Alexander, Wallace, Hodgson, and other miscellaneous families of distant relation. All of the notes are handwritten on lined or scraps of paper or envelopes. The folders are arranged based on the envelopes in which each stack of notes was stored, although there is a great deal of overlap in content between folders. Also included are transcriptions of wills, land deeds, correspondence, and grave stone text.

Series V, Photographs, contains four photographs of family portraits and two landscape photographs. The first two photographs are tintypes that were included in Mary Evans' letters to Andrew Wallace Evans. In a letter of June 20, 1869, she writes describes her thoughts on the group portrait. "In the only copy I have to send, the chidren are not well done. Paul and Willie Bromwell moved and the picture as regards them was blurred, and little Mary's arm is badly done, its position is not carried. But the other likenesses are excellent, mine is said to be the best I have ever taken." The tintype of Paul Clayton was similarly enclosed in a letter of May 9, 1877. Both letters are contained in Series I. The remaining photographs, one of Paul Clayton and an unknown woman, and two landscape photos, were not included in the correspondence and were found among miscellaneous papers.

Series VI, Miscellaneous, contains unidentified manuscripts, receipts and ephemera, newspaper clippings, and various scraps of paper and envelopes. Of particularly note in this series is a folder of papers relating to Andrew Wallace, after whom Andrew Wallace Evans was named. Andrew Wallace was the husband of Ruth Alexander, who was in turn the sister of Dr. Amos Alexander Evans' mother, Mary Alexander. The folder contains a letter of condolence to Andrew Wallace on the death of his brother's wife, letters of introduction in Havana, and addressed envelopes that may have once contained correspondence. Also included is a copy of a letter to Dr. Evans describing Andrew Wallace's death in May 1819. The letter is in Andrew Wallace Evans' handwriting.