The Joseph Vallence Bevan papers consist of 138 items, of which most are copies. Many of the originals have been lost or are in other collections not known to the Georgia Historical Society. Some were separated from the boy of the papers and are listed in other Georgia Historical Society collection, with notations that they originated in the Bevan collection.
The papers consist of official colony and state papers, and letters and papers of individuals. The papers cover various phases of colonial and state government; Indian affairs, including original lists of presents to the Indians, 1749-1751; Revolutionary War military affairs, ; and the Yazoo land speculation.
The official papers consist of Lists of Acts disallowed under the Royal Government, 1755-1775; Proceedings of Governor and Council, 1774-1780; Proceedings of Executive Council, 1778-1779, 1782; extracts from the journals of the Georgia House and Senate and resolutions; letters to and from the Governors; proclamations; and negotiations with the Indians.
The writers of letters, depositions, etc. are in alphabetical order: Timothy Barnard, Richard Call, Patrick Carr, Elijah Clark, Zachariah Cox, Count d'Estaing, Nathanael Greene, James Gunn, Abner Hammond, James Jackson, John Loverel, James Madison, M.A.B. Mangourit, Governor Mathews, Old Tossell (Cherokee chief), John Nepommene de Quesada, Archer Norris, Andrew Pickens, Daniel Stewart, Anthony Wayne, Charles Weatherford, and Solomon Wood. In addition, two letters written to Bevan in 1812 relating to the writers' Revolutionary War experiences are from Samuel Beckcom and Richard Winn. There are also parts of two other such letters from sources not identified.
This collection was assembled with the aid of Peter Force's 'Table of Documents Collected by Joseph Vallence Bevan,' a copy of which is filed with the papers; and through internal evidence, such as notes, etc. The collection is arranged chronologically.