The collection (1897-1943) consists of three scrapbooks, the subjects of which are the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and Edgar Allan Poe. A photocopy of the Edgar Allan Poe scrapbook is also included. The scrapbooks were compiled by Miss Cassandra Moncure Lyne (born 1875) in collaboration with her mother, Mrs. Cassandra Moncure Lyne (1845-1934). The scrapbooks are composed of clippings and pamphlets with holographic notes that relate family members to many of the persons or events in the published sources. The scrapbooks provide an excellent source for the genealogy of the Moncure and Lyne families.

The first scrapbook in the collection is titled "Civil War 1861-65." It includes articles from 20th century newspapers and magazines dealing with Civil War events. Contained here is a copy of Mrs. Cassie Moncure Lyne's article in the Confederate Veteran (V. 36, 1928) entitled "The Culture of the Old South." Each clipping has a holographic note which relates the subject of the article to a family member. An article about General George Meade has a note listing the song sung by Eustace Conway Moncure who served as a scout for General Robert E. Lee. Mrs. Moncure Lyne added anecdotes about other contemporary figures: Thomas Jefferson Moncure (1831- ), Robert Baylor Lyne, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, Sam Houston, and William McKinley.

The second scrapbook is entitled "Abraham Lincoln - From Original 1st Editions. Era - Civil War 1861-65." The compilation was done by Miss Cassie Moncure Lyne "from her mother's clippings." Included are articles and pamphlets about Abraham Lincoln and other assorted pieces with references to Civil War episodes. Often, the articles are incomplete. Along with the printed material are holographic notes establishing a connection with the Moncure-Lyne families. One note relates that Edmund Lyne lived in Christian County, Kentucky when Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, worked there as a hired girl. Another note relates that Robert Baylor (of the Lyne family) used the scaffolding from John Brown's execution to complete a "gate-door." Other anecdotes concern Edwin Booth, Sidney Lanier, Charles Dickens, Richard Henry Lee, and the Battle of Gettysburg. A brief history of the estate at Arlington, Virginia is included here, beginning with Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington (1618-1685).

The third and last scrapbook is entitled "Edgar Allan Poe's Influence over Jules Verne's Pen - Aviation & Submarines." There is no dated material. Included are incomplete reprints of articles, clippings and holographic notes, with some association to Edgar Allan Poe. An article removed from an unidentified source relates to the title of the scrapbook, but most of the items do not substantiate Poe's influence on Jules Verne. Miss Moncure Lyne does establish connections between the families and Poe. John Moncure Daniels was an editor of The Southern Literary Messenger which published Poe's stories. The firm of Moncure, Robinson, & Pleasant sold the personal property of the John Allans when they departed for England taking the young Poe with them. A candlestand, once owned by Poe, was later in the possession of Miss Moncure Lyne. (It is now in the Poe Room at the Enoch Pratt Library). Other clippings touch briefly on aspects of Poe's life at West Point, the University of Virginia, in Baltimore and Richmond. Mentioned also are Hugh T. Young, Charles Dickens, the Cabell family, and a final anecdote explaining Poe's use of "never more, never more" in The Raven.