The Cheney-Downing Collection consists of business and personal papers of a father, George Locke Cheney (1857–1933), and his daughter, Harriet Cheney Downing (1895–1987). Harriet served as her father’s personal secretary and maintained family papers after her father's death. The collection contains correspondence relating to her father's business (Comstock, Cheney & Co.) until 1936 as well as personal correspondence relating to his charitable and family activities. Harriet's own correspondence is included and relates to family, charitable, financial, and household activities.