Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing his activities as he prepares for his job as professor at South Carolina College. Barnwell writes of purchasing the cook and maid of outgoing professor, Dr. Francis Lieber, "partly [out of] comfort" and partly to relieve Dr. Lieber from "parting with slave property in the usual way of public sale."
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Erlangen, Germany, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, informing her of the opening of the Librarianship at South Carolina College and his desire to apply for the position.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to father, William H. W. Barnwell thanking him for the gift of his servant "Aleck the little" and discussing possible future plans for his younger brother, William.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, Zion Parsonage, to sisters, describing the rural nature of the parish he will minister near Columbia and inviting them to visit and assist him in setting up housekeeping in his new cottage. In addition to a servant provided by the parish, Barnwell has been given one of his father's servants, "Aleck the little".
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to unnamed aunt. Barnwell discusses the start of his German education, including his efforts in avoiding American and English acquaintances to better immerse himself in the language, and describes the sorrow he feels for how hard German women have to work without servants.
Incomplete letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to unknown describing his plans for Christmas in Germany and the pride he feels for his siblings' accomplishments back home.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing the difficulty of learning Hebrew during his studies in Erlangen, Germany, and discussing his plans for his final months in Europe.
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to father, William H. W. Barnwell, describing the esteemed faculty in theology at the university at Erlangen, Germany.
Robert Woodward Barnwell writes to sister, Elizabeth Barnwell, telling her of his preference for Beaufort women compared to the women he has met in Germany.
Partial letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell, in Erlangen, to unknown correspondent describing the state of Christianity and theology in Germany. Barnwell also discusses his attempt to impart his knowledge of contemporary American political science but concedes that "slavery is a topic which cannot be understood, which everyone talks about but which I generally excise myself from speaking upon."
Letter from Robert Woodward Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, from Erlangen, Germany. Barnwell explains that he left the university in Berlin because of the high cost of living and that the university in Erlangen afforded him a better opportunity to learn Hebrew. Pictured on the stationery is a view of Erlangen that Barnwell has marked with the approximate location of his apartment there, a room over a tavern.
