The records of the Newburyport Athenaeum, a Newburyport, Massachusetts, proprietary library, include administrative papers, such as record books, reports of meetings and trustees, and correspondence; library operations papers, which include three library charge books; and financial papers, including a donations and fines book, treasurer's reports, shareholders and sales of shares, fines, receipts, and proxies. The collection is divided into three series.

Series I. Administrative Papers includes: record books, documenting the acts of incorporation, rules, and regulations, lists of stockholders, and reports of meetings; annual reports of trustees; miscellaneous reports; notices of meetings; and correspondence. Correspondence includes an undated analogy comparing the fate of the athenaeum to a voyage of a ship.

Series II. Library Operations Papers consists of three library charge books, lists of meetings books, and a binding list.

Series III. Financial Papers includes a donations-and-fines book, treasurer's reports, shareholders and sales of shares, fines, receipts, and proxies.