Fonds consists of personal accounts of Margaret Baikie and also includes photocopies of written memories.

The fonds consists of personal papers of Moses Button and William Button, and business records of the firm of M. Button & Sons. The business papers consist of ledgers, account books and correspondence relating to the operation of the firm from 1892 to its closure in 1953. The personal material includes daily diaries kept by William Button which contain entries on weather, community events, births and deaths, and activities in St. John's and New Melbourne.

The fonds is arranged in five series: Correspondence, 1892-1951; Financial records, 1894-1951; Miscellaneous (legal records, lists and accounts, and published material) 1892-1964; Advertising and price lists, 1912-1942; Personal papers, 1892-1938.

Collection consists of memories of Lydia Campbell in the form of a poem to Lydia Campbell by daughter Elizabeth Goudie. Also included printed article entitled "Labrador woman wrote of life and times" (1989).

Fonds consist of textual and graphic records which depict the life and activities of the family. The textual records include family correspondence (1935, 1948); minute books related to the family business (1928-1951); legal documents (1902); and 1 scrapbook of newspaper clippings.

The graphic materials include 4 tintypes and 36 photographs (predominantly b&w; 15 x 20cm). There are 2 photograph albums; one contains photographs (b&w); the second includes photographs, postcards and newspaper clippings.

The fonds also includes 8 watercolours by Lottie P. Harris, which are signed LPH.

Fonds consists of microfilmed ships' accounts, insurance policies and papers for the following vessels: Sally (1796-1801); Dove (1797-99); Snow Mary (1803-04); Mary (1803-04); Susanna (1805); Cattle (1810); Paraquay (1849); General Higgins (1851-52); Hibernia (1789-91); Belmont (1858); Lampedo (1856-58); and Rosannah (1785).

The fonds also includes Leavitt family letters (mostly to Daniel, George and Joseph) for 1802-66; indentures and bonds (1798-1874); bills, receipts and promissory notes (1700-1856); Daniel Leavitt account book (1798); account book (1796-97); and Saint John City Poor House account book (1810-13).

Fonds consists of records collected by Matthews for his dissertation and during his tenure as chair of the Maritime History Group, as well as his prior research. The fonds includes material for his research into the study of the Newfoundland/West of England fisheries, the subject of his doctoral thesis, as well as extensive data on the individuals and businesses involved in the early settlement and trade of Newfoundland, up to 1850.

The early modern documents are a collection of copies of over 1200 documents held at repositories in Britain relating to political development and trade in Newfoundland in the 17th and 18th centuries. The 19th and 20th century Newfoundland documents are copies of individual documents and collections of documents relating to the Newfoundland fishery and its government and politics, drawn mostly from records of the Colonial Office, Newfoundland governors papers and papers of Newfoundland prime ministers. The fonds also includes Matthew's research notes and personal papers.

The fonds is arranged in five series: Series 1. Early Modern Documents, 1500-1800; Series 2. Name Files, 1500-1850; Series 3. 19th and 20th Century Documents; Series 4. Research Notes; Series 5. Personal papers.

Fonds consists of microfilmed copies of ships' papers, including fishing and shipping papers, 1761-1790. They record trading activities with local merchants in Virginia and Maryland; unofficial cargo manifests; journal of a voyage on the sloop Phoenix; and work performed aboard the sloop Robinwood. Business and family papers contain correspondence, legal records, and financial papers relating to shipping and business affairs and include merchant correspondence, bonds and deeds, shipping accounts, and correspondence with family members.

Fonds is arranged in three series: Ships' papers (1761-1790); Shipping account books (1763-1788); Business and family papers (1758-1817).

The fonds consists of personal papers belonging to John Keneally, including land deeds to Carbonear property (1856-1917), correspondence (1856-1913), insurance policy, "Amelia Emma" (ship) certification, and a lumber catalogue.

Collection consists of 2 photograph albums created by the Job family, reflecting the Job business ventures, Job family activities, as well as historical events. The geographic area represented by the photographs is almost exclusively Newfoundland and Labrador, with the exception of photographs from the Search for the Franklin expedition in Hudson Bay (1903-04).

Albums include photographs of the Job premises in St. John's, Quidi Vidi, Placentia, L'Anse au Loop, Blanc Sablon, Little Heart's Ease, Bell Island, and Whitbourne. Images include buildings (interior and exterior), wharves,shipping, and the fishery, including marine fishery, sealing and whaling.

Historical events represented in the albums include the royal visit of the Duke of York (1901), the sealers' strike (1902), the unveiling of the war memorial in St. John's (1924) by Field Marshall Haig, and scenes from the Viking Disaster (1931). The photographs also illustrate the economic activity and the cultural landscape in that era.

The collection contains 204 copies of original photographs gathered by the Haystack Reunion Committee for inclusion in its commemorative booklet, Haystack Reflections, published in 1997. The images include schools, churches, business premises, work and social activities, special events, Haystack residents, and the changing landscape of the community in the first half of the 20th century. All have been identified and described on MHA photographic database. Families include Gregory, Drake, March, Coffin, Wakely, Gilbert, Wareham, Allen, Halfyard, Paul, Bendle, Best, Johnson, Jarvis, Tulk, Bert, Peach, Quinton, Pike, Reid, Bugden.