The Historic Sotterley papers contain materials primarily about the history of Sotterley Plantation ("Sotterley"). The collection consists of architectural materials; biographical sketches; correspondence; deeds; land surveys; obituaries; newspaper clippings; notes; obituaries; photograph albums; publications, such as one book and booklet; and transcripts. The bulk of the material is dated from circa 1890 to 2015.

The collection largely documents the history of Sotterley; its architectural and landscape features; and the lives and experiences of different individuals--including enslaved persons--who interacted with Sotterley over the years. Significant individuals and topics in this collection include the Sotterley Oral History Project, an effort of the Sotterley Education Committee to gather oral histories from individuals who helped develop Sotterley; Chas. A. Howard, a county surveyor who created numerous land surveys of Sotterley and neighboring areas; and the Briscoe, Plater, and Satterlee families, who were involved with the construction or ownership of Sotterley.