Series I. Administration Records includes meeting minutes for the committee involved in the organization of and preparation for building the railway and for the corporation, records of stock and subscribers, legal documents and claim papers, financial reports which include amounts of earnings and expenses, fire insurance and boiler inspection papers, and papers covering the technical research and estimates for building the railway.

Of special note in the legal documents are the claim papers of John L. Ellery for the loss of the Ship Panther. Ellery contended that the vessel was thrown over the ways due to the fault of the Marine Railway. Receipts for damages to other vessels are also filed here. The file of technical research and estimates contains letters between William Denny of Dunbar, Scotland, D.M. Nicol of Liverpool, and Captain John Gardner of Salem regarding the technical aspects of building the railway, information about the pine timber, oak, cast iron, and chains and rods needed for construction, and estimates of its cost.