This collection consists of diaries; correspondence; military records and certificates; newspaper clippings; land deeds; and ephemera pertaining to William M. Standard. The collection also contains a school essay written by Standard's great-great-grandson, Ron Currens, and a 1961 map of Civil War battlefields on which Currens marked the route his ancestor followed during the war.

Of particular interest are over 200 letters exchanged between Standard and his wife, Jane, as well as his children, George W., Perry J., and Almira, from 1862-1865. Standard wrote about his life as a soldier and described living conditions; troop movements; combat experiences; and the character and effectiveness of fellow soldiers and officers. He also wrote about foraging and his interactions with civilians in Confederate territory; how difficult it was for soldiers to get their pay and allowances; and the incidence and treatment of camp illnesses and battlefield wounds. He wrote candidly that he did not support the war and described his political convictions, particularly his opinions of Lincoln as president and George McClellan as a presidential candidate. Letters from Jane and the children describe life on the home front, including their struggles to maintain the farm and provide for themselves in Standard's absence; their efforts to send him money and clothing; their feelings about his service; and news of friends and other family members also serving in the Union Army.