General John Coffee (1772-1833), born in Tennessee, was a delegate of the United States Government in negotiations with Indian nations of the southern states during the Andrew Jackson administration, and was a friend and business partner of President Jack

The papers consist of correspondence, maps and documents relating to two delegations led by John Coffee to negotiate with the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The first delegation (in 1829) was to gather information on a Cherokee and Creek boundary dispute. Two autograph letters, signed, from Secretary of War Lewis Cass and one retained copy of a letter from Coffee to Georgia Governer John Forsyth describe this mission. Two manuscript maps (stored in a portfolio) document the disputed Cherokee boundary lines. A related memorandum summarizes Cherokee and Creek boundary treaties. Coffee's second mission (in 1831-1832) was to negotiate with the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations regarding "emigration," as outlined by two autograph letters, signed, from Cass and one autograph letter, signed, from John Eaton (former Secretary of War who led the negotiations with Coffee). The Chickasaw reaction to these negotiations is documented by two letters: one from sixteen members of the Chickasaw Nation protesting plans for removal, and one from tribal leader George W. Long relating to plans for Chickasaw people to remain. Other documents include records of expenses incurred by Coffee and Eaton during the mission. The papers are accompanied by a pamphlet about and photograph of John Coffee's tomb.