The Bowdoin B. Crowninshield papers are comprised of the business and personal papers of the naval architect and shipbuilder from 1870 to 1946. The bulk of the papers concern Crowninshield's work in naval architecture from 1898 to 1940. The collection has been divided into two series.

Series I. Business Papers includes correspondence, letter books, record books, account books, shipbuilding papers, and legal papers, which document his work as a naval architect and shipbuilder. Subseries A. Business Correspondence is almost entirely made up of letters between Crowninshield and Thomas W. Lawson concerning trials of the America's Cup contender Independence. The letter books contain outgoing correspondence to suppliers, shipbuilders, and prospective customers relative to his design and shipbuilding activities.

Subseries B. Naval Architecture Record Books provide specifications of Crowninshield's ships listed by design number. These design numbers correlate with the numbers used on the B. B. Crowninshield drawings currently in the custody of the Peabody Essex Museum's Maritime Department. The records often identify the shipbuilder, the name of the customer, and sometimes include notes on the performance of the vessel during its trial runs.

Subseries C. Crowninshield Shipbuilding Company Record Book contains similar descriptions of the vessels built at Fall River and the project numbers in the record books correlate with the Crowninshield Shipbuilding Company photo album in the custody of the Peabody Essex Museum's Photography Department. The account books document Crowninshield's activities in a number of marine industries. However, the accounts are not always in chronological order, and groups of account regarding a specific year may be found in a number of locations within a single volume. Researchers interested in accounts relative to certain partnerships or the Crowninshield Shipbuilding Company, should consult volumes containing accounts during the years of the partnership's existence (see Appendix I). Of particular interest is the 1906, 1926-1928 account book, which contains listings of "Situations Wanted" from 1926 to 1928. These are descriptions for individuals of varying levels of training and experience seeking jobs in a number of capacities relative to yachting, fishing, and maritime commerce. The 1914-1915, 1927-1928 account book includes marine insurance accounts from 1914-1915. Also included in this subseries is a photograph album, with some loose photographs, of ship hulls built by Crowninshield Shipbuilding Company.

Subseries D. United States Navy Shipbuilding Papers documents Crowninshield's activities as Inspector of Hulls Building during World War II. The correspondence and memoranda folder contains mostly administrative material regarding submission of time sheets, pay of civilians, travel orders, and gasoline rationing. There is some correspondence pertaining to George Turnquist (Ensign, U.S. Navy) and some material about requests for duplicate ship plans. A copy of the 1942 Navy Day speech by Rear Admiral H. T. Smith, given at the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Hall, is enclosed with a typewritten letter dated December 22, 1942. The 1943-1944 notebook contains notes on inspections of newly built naval vessels, and their trial runs, in addition to a draft letter to the Marblehead Assessors Office concerning Crowninshield's inability to pay real estate taxes.

Subseries E. Miscellaneous Papers includes a 1902-1926 scrapbook which contains news clippings and photographs of vessels designed or built by Crowninshield, often with his personal handwritten notes. Among the miscellaneous papers is an agreement releasing Crowninshield from liability to Thomas W. Lawson for claims against design faults of the Independence.

Series II. Personal Papers contain Crowninshield's diaries, scrapbooks, and legal papers. The deeds/indentures folders concern purchases or sales of property and include rental agreements. The construction contracts relate to improvements made to Crowninshield's personal properties. The bills of sale for yachts document Crowninshield's interest in the schooners, Harmony and Fortune, and the boat, Quill. Miscellaneous papers include proof of citizenship document signed by United States Secretary of State James G. Blaine, and documentation of Crowninshield's enlistment and discharge from the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.