Series I. Shipping Papers is comprised of ships' papers, shipping correspondence, account books, business papers, and personal papers. The ships' papers contain documents relating to vessels owned or chartered by Willard Peele, as well as the cargo he shipped on non-Peele vessels. The papers of ship Argonaut are notable for their documentation of the premature condemnation of the ship and the resultant legal action against the Merchants Insurance Co. The papers of the ship Perseverance include correspondence from part-owner J. Willard Peele in Antwerp. The majority of the shipping correspondence consists of market advices and prices current from ports in American and abroad.