This collection encompasses the papers of five generations of Felt family members, most of whom were in the shipping business. It is organized into seven series.

Series I. John Felt (1754-1796) Papers consists of two documents regarding land in Danvers, Massachusetts and papers for the Schooner Hope related to the voyage to the West Indies in 1793/1794 and its seizure by the British. It also contains papers of the Brig Rose and the Schooner Greyhound.

Series II. John Felt (1764-1802) Papers contains papers for the Ketch Brothers, which was wrecked en route to Havana in the spring of 1799 and lost on a reef on Abaco. There is also information about the Schooner Little Cherub.

Series III. John Felt (1782-1811) Papers contains letters to his brother, Jonathan Porter Felt, and an insurance policy for the Schooner Saucy Jack.

Series IV. Jonathan Porter Felt (1785-1860) Papers has been divided into four subseries. Subseries A. Shipping Papers is comprised of accounts, insurance policies, passports, protests, receipts, and other papers for various ships mastered by Captain Felt. Subseries B. Correspondence is divided into two sub-subseries. Sub-subseries 1. Personal Correspondence contains letters from various family members and letters written by him. Sub-subseries 2. Business Correspondence includes letters regarding a lawsuit brought against the New Jersey Steam Navigation Company for the loss of property on board the SS Lexington which caught fire and sank on January 13, 1840 off Long Island Sound. His son was also killed in that accident. It also contains letters about gold mining in Lanesborough, North Carolina and letters pertaining to the Boston Marine Society. Subseries C. Financial contains an account book and receipts for items such as taxes, dues, and subscriptions. Subseries D. Writings and Studies contains a journal, notebooks, genealogy, and numerous writings on topics such as Astronomy, Navigation, Ancient History, Mechanics, and Law. Jonathan Porter Felt was the Treasurer of the Boston Marine Society and this series contains two volumes of records for that society. This series also contains two Felt family Bibles. The Bible published in 1813 includes the genealogy of the Felt family as well as the Huessler family. Jonathan Porter Felt (1785-1860) married Margaret Huessler (1787-1863) in 1810. The Bible published in 1834 includes the genealogy of the Felt family as well as the George Ropes family. The two families were connected when Ephraim Felt (1795-1872) married Elizabeth Ropes (1798-1873) in 1822.

Series V. Jonathan Porter Felt, Jr. (1813-1840) Papers contains a journal of a trip to Virginia in 1839, two high school work books, and copies of letters from him to Stephen C. Phillips. He was manager of Stephen C. Phillips' business in Salem, Massachusetts when Phillips served as a member of the United States Congress in Washington, D.C.

Series VI. John Felt (1815-1907) Papers is comprised of postcard correspondence with his granddaughter, Marion Felt.

Series VII. John Porter Felt (1848-1938) is divided into four subseries. Subseries A. Shipping Papers is arranged chronologically and contains various shipping papers for 19 different ships with which Felt conducted his shipping business. Subseries B. Personal Correspondence contains three letters that Felt received as a child. Subseries C. Business Correspondence contains letters written and received during his business career. Subseries D. Financial contains receipts, invoice books, and an account book.

Series VIII. Derby Family Papers were donated with the Felt family papers, probably because the Felts worked on Derby ships in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The series has been further divided into four subseries. Subseries A. Elias Hasket Derby contains bills of lading, letters, portledge bills, and other papers for many Derby-owned ships. It also includes a folder of requests for charity from various fishermen. Subseries B. Richard Derby contains business letters, disbursements, invoices, and sales accounts for various ships. It also includes the testimony of N. Cushing regarding the Brigantines Massachusetts and Henry and Ann. Subseries C. John Derby contains receipts and accounts. Subseries D. Benjamin Pickman contains receipts, an insurance policy for the Brig Success, and a handwritten document by a Parisian stenographer describing the secret interrogation of the accused, incidents that occurred, debates of the court, and more relating to the escape of Monsieur Fauldes (1818).