Collection of 4 sixth plate, 5 eighth plate, and 1 circular sixteenth plate daguerreotypes, plus an eighth plate ambrotype and an eight plate oval portrait on ivory. 9 are in leather-covered cases (1 lacking top); the circular portrait is in metal locket; ivory image in velvet case; 1 lacking case.

Significant collection of daguerreotype portraits of identified members of the extended family of Oakes Ames, included Oakes himself (his is the small circular image, in a tooled metal locket, with space for the second portrait empty, but with label of his brother and partner Oliver Ames remaining). Oakes Ames (1804-1873), was a manufacturer, capitalist, and member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The sons of a blacksmith, Oakes and his brother Oliver took over the family shovel-making business, and proceeded to make a fortune spurred by the settlement of the Midwest and the discovery of gold in California and Australia. He became influential in Republican politics, and was elected as U.S. Representative from Massachusetts in 1863. In 1865, Lincoln appealed to him to take control of the Union Pacific Railroad, and he and his brother spearheaded the project, increasing their fortunes as the rails pushed westward. Ames was involved in the Credit Mobilier scandal, and was censored by the House in 1873. Besides the portrait of Oakes Ames (the glass covering of which is cracked), the daguerreotypes include Sam. Ames, Cyrus Ames, Lewis Ames, Mary Anne Ames (these first four are sixth plates), Daniel Ames, Sally Ames, Harriet Ames, Lucretia Ames, and a unidentified couple (these five are eighth plates); the ambrotype is of a young girl (W.L. Ames); and portrait on ivory is Mary Ames, dated 1876. Also included in the archive is a lithographed genealogy/family tree of the Descendants of William Ames (creased with wear).