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.

The fonds contains deeds, conveyances and other legal documents, 1750-1866, Captains' logbooks, 1842-72 (Samuel, 1842, William the Fourth, 1852, Britain, 1853, Harriet Ridley, 1863-65, Six Brothers, 1872), and a Furness Line sailing schedule, 1928.

The legal documents provide evidence of the acquisition, transfer and subsequent loss of the family's property in Carbonear from 1834 to the 1860s. They also provide evidence of the business activities and associations of the firm of George Forward. The Captains' logbooks detail the voyages of five of the Forward's fleet of foreign-going vessels.

The records are arranged in three series: 1. Legal documents; 2. Logbooks; 3. Other material.