The Papers of the Cavendish-Talbot family contain 175 autograph letters signed, as well as various financial documents, warrants, petitions, orders, physician instructions and other miscellaneous documents relating to the Cavendish, Talbot, Wentworth, and Slingsby families as well as to Sir Humphrey Style, and Stanley Gower.

Divided into six series: Cavendish and Talbot family papers, 1548-1607; Wentworth family papers, [1542?], 1624-1705; Slingsby family of Scryven papers, 1586-1634; Sir Humphrey Style letter, ca. 1629; Stanley Gower papers, 1636-1658; and miscellaneous documents, 1500-1548.

Most of the papers are autograph letters; several are written by an amanuensis and signed by the writer. Well-known place-names and personal names are modernized. Dates when not given are supplied, often tentatively, with a few given as undated. If a wax seal on a letter is whole and undamaged, this is noted. Additional manuscripts relating to the Countess of Shrewsbury appear in the Related Materials section of this finding aid.

Series 1: The Cavendish and Talbot family papers contain letters and miscellaneous documents. The majority of the letters are addressed to Elizabeth Hardwick Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, either as Lady Cavendish, Lady St. Loe, or as Countess of Shrewsbury, and are from her family and friends. Many mention Lady Arbella Stuart, the Countess of Shrewsbury's grand-daughter. Some are instructions to her steward and men of affairs and mention matters concerning the running of the estates and the building of Chatsworth. Others, particularly those from her stepson Gilbert Talbot, her daughter Mary, and her sons Charles and William, give her a survey of the news of the day, and events at court. The Wingfields answer at some length enquiries as to suitable New Year's gifts for the queen. Though Mary, Queen of Scots, was in the keeping of her husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury, during much of the time covered by the letters, there are few references to her, although two well-known letters in which the Earl tells of the possibility and then the certainty of Mary, Queen of Scots, being put in his charge are in this collection. A few refer to the differences which arose between the Earl and Countess. There are several household accounts, and an inventory of the goods of Francis Talbot, deceased. Twenty-three of the letters are written by women, including the Countesses of Kent, Lennox, Northumberland and Shrewsbury (both Elizabeth and her daughter Mary); Grace Cavendish; Lady Frances Cobham; Elizabeth (Leake) Leche; Lady Frances Pierrepont; Lady Margaret St. Loe; Lady Dorothy Stafford; Anne Talbot; and Elizabeth Wingfield.

Series 2: The Wentworth family papers contain letters and miscellaneous documents. There were many Wentworths in Yorkshire, including the Wentworths of Elmsall and Broadsworth, the Wentworths of West Bretton, the Wentworths of South Elmsall, and the Wentworths of Woolley. Most of these letters are to and from the Wentworths of West Bretton and Woolley. There are two from William Wentworth, later 2nd earl of Strafford, and some accounts on matters affecting his estates. Two orders are signed by Sir Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Strafford; one by John Lambert. Some letters bear postal markings: X.d.428 (149, 156, 158, 168).

Series 3: The Slingsby family letters contain letters of the Slingsby family of Scriven, Yorkshire. Most are to Sir Henry Slingsby (d. 1634, father of Sir Henry 1602-1658) from other members of the family. A number arise out of his vice-presidency of the Council of the North and concern parliamentary affairs. Correspondents include Sir Henry Slingsby, his father Francis, his brother Sir William, his nephews Guilford and Sir Robert, his cousins William Byrnand and Sir Francis Trappes-Byrnand, his son-in-law Sir Thomas Metcalfe, his grandson Sir George Marwood, and his cousin Henry, Earl of Northumberland. Other correspondents are Sir Charles Cavendish, Peter Benson, Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Sir John Gibson, Christopher Mather, Robert Norton, Phanuell Otbie, Sir Robert Cecil, later Earl of Salisbury, Christopher Wade, Thomas Wardropp, Edward Wilson, Samuel Wortley, and William Wycliffe. A few of the letters are sent to/from Dublin.

Series 4: Sir Humphrey Style letter is to his wife Elizabeth.

Series 5: The Gower family letters are from Stanley Gower and his wife to their close friends John and Mary Stainforth of Darnall, Yorkshire, 1636-1658. Stanley Gower was rector of Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire, and his patron was first Sir Robert Harley and then Sir Edward Harley. Several letters refer to the disturbances of the civil wars, but not to the prolonged siege in 1643.

Series 6: The Miscellaneous documents consist of a copy of a lease, will, and receipt, apparently unrelated to any of the above families.