Jacob Weiss, 1750-1839, was a Colonel in the U. S. Continental Army and fought in the Battle of the Brandywine and later became Assistant Deputy Quartermaster at Easton, Pa. A geologist and businessman, he formed with Jacob Cist and Hilegas of Philadelphia, the first company for mining and marketing anthracite coal; was an early resident of Gnadenhutten (later called Weissport). Francis Weiss, 1773-1845 was a surveyor and businessman, while his nephew Francis Weiss, 1819-1888 followed the same profession.

The papers include diaries, geological and surveying notebooks, maps and observations; personalia and biographical notes; transcribed documents, portraits, scrapbooks, business journals, daybooks, mercantile records and account books as well as correspondence of many members of the family. Highlighting the collection is a record book of 1781, of supplies prepared and handled by Jacob Weiss, while Deputy Quartermaster, and notebooks giving prices of labor and supplies for 1777-86, recorded on his estate at Gnadenhutten. Most of the documents and correspondence refers to Jacob Weiss, Francis Weiss and his nephew Francis Weiss.