Included are files for the period when The Scriptorium was managed by his daughter, Julia (Ricketts) King, and his son-in-law, Jasper Seymour King. With the collection are medieval and historical documents assembled by C.L. Ricketts, ranging from the 13th century to 1848.

The first series of the collection, Personal, consists of biographical materials, 1856-1963, for Helen Louise (Ricketts) Goodman, Julia Marguerite (Ricketts) King, Coella Lindsay Ricketts, Hettie (Merriam) Ricketts, and several other members of the Ricketts family. Also included are materials relating to penmanship classes and exercises designed and taught by Ricketts as well as memorabilia from his membership to the Caxton Club and his involvement with the World's Columbian Exposition.

The second series, Correspondence, contains the correspondence and business papers, 1875-1979, including letters to Ricketts from his wife Hettie written while he was in Europe and she was running the business in Chicago; letters from employees during his absences; correspondence with European acquaintances, scholars, and dealers in books on calligraphy; and letters of introduction for Ricketts from American diplomats and others to European institutions and individuals owning manuscripts. Some of the letters from Europe during World War I comment on the war. Other correspondence includes letters to Ricketts in Chicago from Hettie and their two daughters, Helen and Julia, while the three of them were in Europe, 1909-1910.

The Financial series includes bank records; bookseller invoices; business records for The Scriptorium; invoices; medical receipts; North Shore Syndicate papers; property deeds and real estate taxes; materials relating to Ricketts' second-hand book business that he operated in the early 1900's; and stocks and bonds.

The Scriptorium series consists of materials relating to and created by the Scriptorium, including designs, specimens, realia, and texts collected for ideas. Included in this series are the materials for The Book, a collection prepared by Ricketts to illustrate the development of the alphabet from the 7th to the 15th centuries as found in medieval documents.

Subject Files consist of informational clippings and pamphlets/specimens arranged by subject.

Writings and Book/Manuscript Collections includes writings by Ricketts as well as writings by others. Also included are writings about Ricketts' collections of books and manuscripts, as well as notes, bibliographies, and other related materials.

The bulk of Medieval Fragments and Illuminations consists of photographs, modern holograph reproductions, and facsimiles of illuminated manuscripts and bindings arranged by collector/institution or type of material, as well as some 19th century illuminations and bindings. Also included are 100 fragments, most of which are medieval but some of which date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Note on Indexing Term - "Women": Includes a number of letters written by Alameda Virginia (Ricketts) Smith, Julia Marguerite (Ricketts) King and Mehitable Henrietta Hester Ann (Merriam) Ricketts.

Note on Indexing Term - "World War, 1914-1918": There are some letters from Europe during World War I which comment on the war.