Collection consists of original records relating to property transactions of Robert Newman & Company, 1894-1951. Records include leases, mortgages, insurances, etc. Fonds also includes material related to Robert Newman & Company accumulated by Dr. Keith Matthews. Material collected includes notes from journals, 1786-1812; photocopies and notes from ledgers, 1771-1812; notes and transcripts from letterbooks, 1792-1896; and notes from account books; Collection also includes reproduced material related to Robert Newman & Company accumulated by Dr. Keith Matthews. Material collected includes notes from journals, 1786-1812; photocopies and notes from ledgers, 1771-1812; notes and transcripts from letterbooks, 1792-1896; and notes from account books, 1775-1806. Also included is a history of Newman's that was written in 1951.

Fonds consists of a photocopied ledger giving account of provisions shipped from Waterford (hogs, cattle, grain, clothing, salt, ships' supplies), valued at 43,500 pounds sterling to 47 customers in St. John's. The main customer was Thomas Meagher, an Irish merchant in St. John's. Fonds also describes Fogarty's imports from Newfoundland, including fish oil, blubber, timber, and fur.

The microfilmed ledger is volume 1 of the Derby family papers, an extensive collection of business records and family materials belonging to the James Duncan Phillips Library, Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem.

The ledger records Richard Derby's debits and credits with other merchants, as well as with mariners, fishermen, shoremen, artisans, farmers, and widows from Salem and surrounding towns for the years 1757-76 and 1786-90. There is also a copy of Derby's will, dated 1783.

Collection consists of microfilm copies of three account books, 1664-1708, 1678-1690, and 1699-1718, which describe English's dealings with fishermen and maritime artisans, the financial arrangements of fishing voyages, and the expenses of keeping his vessels afloat.

The fonds consists of the personal and business papers of three generations of the O'Mara family. The fonds include land deeds and mortgage indentures for property in St. John's (1825, 1836, 1873, 1896, 1904, 1915); financial records (1906, 1907); cash account book of the O'Mara business (1915-1917); a day book of the O'Mara business and household expenses (1916-1926); cheque books of Peter O'Mara (1921-23, 1906-14); correspondence (1934, 1926); and 3 unidentified photographs.

Fonds consists of two microfilmed letter books dating 1833-47 and 1847-51, which contain correspondence from Nathan Smith DeMill to various businesses. The letter books provide information about accounts, orders, cargo, sailing dates and voyage destinations.

Collection consists of microfilmed copies of three account books, 1745-1754, 1753-1764, and 1765-1777, showing the history of fishing vessels and the relationships between merchant and individual fishermen over an extended period.

Fonds consists of an autograph letter signed, Port of St. John's, Newfoundland, Oct. 30 1756, by Michael Gill, Commissary, certifying that George Nixon, master of the sloop Diligence, who landed a cargo of lumber from Piscatataqua, could not proceed from the harbour with his vessel as it was condemned. The cargo included a large lumber shipment of oak planks and maple boards, quite likely for shipbuilding for action in the French and Indian war.

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.

Fonds consists of four ledgers (1927, 1928-53, 1934, 1935); a diary (1929-54); and price lists. Fonds also includes a membership certificate for the Loyal Orange Association (1929); an annual return for the Orange Lodge (1912); and several published items.