The collection consists of the correspondence of Asahel Bush. The bulk of the collection is typescript copies or microfilm of letters that were sent to Bush. These letters often discuss politics; events such as the Rogue River War, the Yakima War, and Oregon territorial elections; and the newspaper business. A large number of these letters are from Matthew P. Deady. Other significant correspondents in the collection include Jesse Applegate, George L. Curry, Joseph Lane, Delazon Smith, Samuel R. Thurston, and George H. Williams. Original letters in this collection include several that Bush sent, as well as ones from Applegate, Deady, B. F. Harding, Hugh D. O'Bryant, W. C. Johnson, W. H. Farrar, John T. Jeffreys, W. W. Buck, and three letters that are either unsigned or have illegible signatures. Other items in the collection include an original promissory note made to Bush for $5,000; microfilm of a letter book that, in addition to correspondence to Bush, includes some letters addressed either to Bush's descendants or to the Ladd and Bush Bank; an original note by Bush about an Indian commissioner named "Allen"; and correspondence of Bush's son, A. N. Bush, regarding the use of typescript copies of Bush's letters.