Among the items previously made national treasures in this category, there are many of the letter variety, as well as some general archives like the Todai-ji Temple Archives, the To-ji Temple 100-document Archive, the Shimazu House Archives, and the Uesugi House Archives, and other types of documents including notebooks of historical materials of temples and shrines, diaries, prayer documents, wills, and genealogies.
既指定物件には書状（手紙）類が多く、その他、東大寺文書、東寺百合（ひゃくごう）文書、島津家文書、上杉家文書などの一括文書、寺院の資材帳、日記、祈願文、遺告（遺言）、系図などがある。