General Correspondence, 1899-1902, consists of letters and telegrams to and from Rhea concerning local, state, and national politics, including Rhea's contested elections to Congress in 1898 and 1900 and his opponent in those elections, James A. Walker (1832-1901); Rhea's selection as Democratic candidate for Congress in 1900 and 1902 by his district; requests for Rhea to support or oppose various legislation; requests for aid or employment; and other political issues. Papers also contain correspondence concerning the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902 and how it may affect elections; the Philippines Insurrection; the clean-up of the Clinch River, including requests for jobs on the project; a weather bureau station in Wytheville, Virginia; a request that a courthouse be built in Catlettsburg, Kentucky; and pension and relief claims, including a pension request from Rebecca Mayo, one of the four remaining lving Revolutionary war widows. Papers also include correspondence concerning property Rhea is interested in selling.

Arranged chronologically.

Postal Service, 1899-1902, contains correspondence to and from Rhea, his constituents, and officials in the United States Postmaster General's office concerning post offices, postmasters, postal routes, and postal carriers located within Rhea's congressional district in Southwest Virginia, asking for new post offices or routes; moving existing offices; changing existing routes; asking for employment as postmaster or mail carrier; or complaining about problems with offices, routes, or carriers. Includes Rhea's correspondence with Postmaster General's office regarding these requests and complaints. Papers also include references to Rhea's contested elections of 1898 and 1900, the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902, and other political matters. Papers include envelopes that contain information concerning the resolution of questions and requests.

Arranged in subseries: Post offices; Postmasters; Mail Routes; Mail Carriers; Mail Miscellany.

Agriculture, 1900-1902, contains answers to an unidentified questionaire from various counties located in Rhea's congressional district. Series also includes Rhea's correspondence with the Department of Agriculture regarding his allotment of seeds which congressmen received annually, as well as requests from constituents for seeds, trees, and pamphlets concerning agriculture.

Arranged chronologically.

Employment Requests, 1901-1902, consists of correspondence to Rhea containing requests from constituents regarding federal employment and Rhea's response that most positions required would-be applicants to take the Civil Service exam.

Arranged alphabetically by individual.

Military, 1900-1902, includes correspondence to and from constituents, many serving in the military, asking for Rhea's help in securing commissions, promotions, transfers, discharges, and payment for service while in the military. Papers also contain a request for Rhea to intervene in a desertion case of a son of a constituent, as well as a request from a constituent for Rhea's assistance in helping him locate his son serving in the army in the Philippines.

Arranged alphabetically by individual.

Pensions, 1899-1902, contains correspondence from constituents asking Rhea to assist them in securing pensions for Civil War and U.S. military veterans, or for relatives of soldiers killed during the Spanish- American War or the Philippines Insurrection.

Arranged alphabetically by individual.

Contested Election papers, 1900-1901, contain letters, depositions, voter lists, instructions, and other documents concerning Rhea's contested 1900 election against Republican James A. Walker. Letters include Rhea's correspondence with his legal representatives concerning his strategy, county election officials, and other interested parties in the counties making up the 9th Congressional District; and correspondence from election officials concerning Republicans who voted for the Democrat Rhea as opposed to Walker. Depositions include those from election officials in Pulaski, Smyth, and Washington Counties. Voter lists include voter party affiliation by precincts in Pulaski and Russell Counties, and by race in Bristol. Papers also include a county-by-county vote tally for the 1896 9th District congressional election of 1896 between James A. Walker and Samuel Walker Williams; Democratic campaign committee instructions to election officials; Democratic party canvass books and lists; a Minnesota state ballot; and a copy of the Baltimore (Maryland) AMERICAN, 5 November 1900, containing a sample ballot.

Arranged alphabetically by county, followed by miscellaneous folders.

Miscellaneous items include a handwritten and typewritten copy of a speech delivered by Rhea in the United States House of Representatives on 14 May 1902 on the United States occupation of the Philippines; two of three volumes containing materials relating to Rhea's contested 1898 election against James A. Walker for the 9th Congressional seat, published by the Government Printing Office, middle volume is missing; Democratic Campaign Book for the congressional election of 1902; and mailing addresses for Rhea as a member of Congress.