The collection contains correspondence, financial materials, articles, pamphlets, photographs, news clippings, sketchbooks, a tape recording, and miscellaneous reference materials. Most of the records originate from the period between 1940-1958 and document Barnes' financial interests and his involvement in the St. Lawrence Seaway project. Some personal correspondence is also included.

The collection consists of three 8x10 (broken at the folds), black and white photographs of Duluth men who served in the Great Lakes Naval Training program in WWI.

The collection contains a May 23, 1952 letter to Mr. J. G. Sellwood from N. R. Danielian (Noobar Retheos Danielian), Executive Vice President of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Association, a draft of a program for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Association, and a memo from Danielian to Board and members of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Association.

The collection consists of Hearding's journal containing copies of letters, reports, statistical data, and similar information relating to his career, including surveys of the Great Lakes.

The collection contains photographs albums which depict Lake Superior Ships, docks, passenger ships, shipwrecks and ship buildings. Photographs in the collection were collected by Harvey Miller.

The collection contains Coastal Zone Management Program Policy Advisory Committee minutes and various statements issued by the Minnesota State Planning Agency pertaining to Coastal Zone Management.

The collection contains correspondence, articles written by Pardee, notes and other reference materials. Most of the material concerns Pardee's Duluth, Minnesota civic activities, including the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater Association correspondence (1918-1930), civic council material (1925-1928) and some correspondence and notes on "Pittsburg Plus" (1924-1927), an issue concerning unfair steel base prices.

The collection contains annual reports, 1954-1977, minutes, 1930-1977, correspondence, files by office divisions, legal materials, news clippings, publications, and photographs.

The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings pertaining to Singer’s role in the Lake Superior transportation business from 1899-1903.

The collection contains the following documents: Remediation Action Plan, Stage I, 1992; St. Louis River Management Plan, 1994; Habitat Plan, 2002 with accompanying CD.