The Salem Female Employment Society records document its administrative and production activities from the beginning of the society to its demise. The collection has been divided into four series.

Series I. Administrative Records includes the bylaws and regulations, a record book, secretary's reports, and miscellaneous papers, such as the charter and newspaper clippings. If the bylaws and regulations book is held in reverse, the back section lists employees of the society, their addresses, and if they moved or died. The record book documents the beginning of the society as well as providing a list of all officers and managers. Some financial records mentioned in the meetings are also listed. A list of the subscribers will be found at the end of the book. The secretary's reports reflect an annual accounting of the society's activities; they are duplicated in some of the newspaper clippings. The other newspaper clippings pertain to notices of the society's sales. The charter (B1 F2) duplicates material found in the record book.

Series II. Subscription Records consists of church subscription records and correspondence from individual donors. The subscription records contain lists of all subscribers from ten local churches. Of special note in the donor correspondence are letters pertaining to sizable donations given by Mrs. Caroline Saltonstall.

Series III. Financial Records documents fiscal obligations of the society as well as their profit/loss margins. The treasurer's reports recap the society's finances. The account books list the monies paid out to employees as well as expenditures of the society. The sales/cash book itemizes garments sold daily and payments to employees. The receipt book lists donations and subscriptions, 1861-1877; receipts and expenditures, 1861-1868; and treasurer's accounts, 1868-1879.

Series IV. Production Records reflects work ordered and/or produced by the employees. Arranged by workers, the managers' sales books list employee addresses, items ordered by whom, costs for materials, and price. Entries marked in black in the ledgers were commissioned by the workers themselves. The work ordered books provide the following information: articles ordered, by whom, under whose supervision, and to whom the payment was given. They do not indicate who made the garments. The production accounts tabulate by garment and then by type the number of items produced each year. The lists of articles cut and made provide a monthly inventory by piece count.