Thomas Goode Jones was born on November 26, 1844, in Macon, Georgia, to Samuel Goode Jones and Martha Goode Jones. In 1862 Jones left the Virginia Military Institute with his classmates to serve in the Confederate army. Jones fought under Stonewall Jackson, John B. Gordon, and Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Jones carried one of the flags of truce through the lines at Appomattox.

After the war, Jones farmed land in Montgomery, earned his law degree, and commanded in the Alabama State Troops. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1884. In 1890 he was elected Governor of Alabama and served two terms, until 1894. In 1901 Jones was appointed judge by Theodore Roosevelt for the northern and middle districts of Alabama. Jones died in Montgomery on April 28, 1914.

Walter Burgwyn Jones was one of Thomas G. Jones' thirteen children. He was born on October 16, 1888. Walter Jones served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1919 to 1920. Jones served as a circuit court judge from 1920 until 1935 and a presiding judge from 1935 until 1963. Walter Jones died August 1, 1963.

Correspondence by Thomas G. Jones consists of a collection of copies of letters regarding the actions of the left flank of Lee's army in the battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864 and Gordon's part in the Battle of Cedar Creek October 19, 1864. One letter was written to Jones' father after the Battle of Cedar Creek. Eight letters were written to Senator John W. Daniel who also participated in the aforementioned battles as a fellow staff officer of Jones. The last letter is written to Thomas Owen of the Alabama Department of Archives and History describing the purpose of the letter collection. Also present is a copy of an open letter to B.B. Comer.

Miscellaneous correspondence contains three letters, two of which are addressed to Judge Walter Jones, and one written by Walter Jones.

Papers about Jones contain typed copies of pieces written honoring Jones, both during and after his life.