This collection contains ships' papers, correspondence, receipts, and accounts. It has been arranged into four series.

Series I. Ships' Papers contain receipts, bills of lading, custom documents, insurance policies, and crew lists for several vessels that Robinson owned or sailed on. It is arranged into four subseries: A. Tuley (Brig); B. Moses Brown (Ship); C. Liverpool; and D. Other Ships.

Series II. Business Papers have been arranged into three subseries. Subseries A. Financial contains financial documents, not related to a particular ship. Subseries B. Correspondence contains legal papers and general business correspondence. Of some interest is a letter requesting that Captain Robinson transport "a distressed American Seamen, Henry James, negroe" home from France on the ship Independence. Subseries C. Military includes military papers from the time Captain Robinson served in the Corps of Sea Fencibles, a special volunteer naval artillery militia that served on both land and floating batteries to protect ports, harbors, and other vital coastal areas.

Series III. Personal Papers has been arranged into two subseries. Subseries A. Financial includes receipts for household expenses, cancelled checks, deeds, and account books. Receipts for the building of and furnishing a house in Brooklyn can be found here in the folders from the 1820s. Subseries B. Correspondence and Other contains a diary, personal correspondence from family members and some printed items.

Series IV. Family Papers includes receipts, correspondence, and school papers belonging to his wife, Hetty, son, George W., and other family members.