Official and personal correspondence of Governor Richards. Topics include railroad interests, public lands, water issues, petitions for pardons, Spanish American War veterans issues, livestock, game and fish, Carey Act, state hospitals and health concerns, appointments, fugitives, federal and state legislation, expositions and conferences, invitations, miscellaneous requests, and routine administrative matters. Personal correspondence covers the Governor's banking and sheep interests, travel, health, and family matters.

Outgoing correspondence primarily in indexed letterpress books, incoming letters (and a few outgoing) are in file folders. Letterpress books are arranged chronologically, letters in file folders are arranged alphabetically according to this scheme: If a correspondent represented a government (U.S., state, or local), or a corporation or business, then the correspondence is filed by that entity. Wyoming government officials are filed by the title of the office. Otherwise, the letters are filed by the name of the correspondent. If a correspondent fits into more than one category, or if it is unclear what organization the correspondent represented, then the correspondence is filed by the individual's name.