A small but significant portion of this collection (MC 74) documents the formation of the Troy University, including a manuscript history (1856) outlining its origins and the individuals responsible for its early development.  Several pamphlets (1853-1854) outline its fund raising efforts and goals, while a newspaper clipping (1853) identifies community leaders who actively supported locating the university in Troy.  Additional pamphlets (1850-1856) represent many of the area’s religious, educational, civic, and charitable organizations, several of which were connected to the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The cornerstone also held a variety of local, regional and national publications, including four almanacs, a bible, Methodist Episcopal titles, twenty five newspaper issues, and miscellaneous books.