The Robert Murray Papers detail ship captain Robert Murray's life at sea from 1836 to 1864. This collection is organized into two series.

Series I. Business Papers consists primarily of documents and business correspondence from the ship Franklin, which sailed from New York to San Francisco to Mazatlán, Mexico, to Pernambuco, Brazil, to Hamburg, Germany, and finally back to New York, 1860-1862. The Franklin documents are arranged in chronological order.

The documents in folders 3 and 4 list Robert Murray as first officer on the voyage from San Francisco to Hamburg, Germany, but he took on the duties of captain off the coast of Brazil when the current ship master, Solomon Freeman Jr., fell ill with consumption. In February 1862 the Franklin docked at Grimsby, England, where Freeman was removed to London and later died. The personal correspondence to Murray in regards to Freeman's death and last wishes were added to Series I as business correspondence.

Folder 5 contains various certificates of discharge for Murray listing the ships' names and the ship masters, and an order to Murray to sail the schooner F.R. Hassler to Jacksonville, Florida. There are two letters of recommendation for Murray from the master of the ship James Cruikshank and the ship Ostrich. The series is arranged chronologically by date.

Series II. Personal Papers consists of 47 letters, personal receipts, and certificates. Folder 6 contains personal receipts, a card detailing a naval academy class, a letter of recommendation from the Naval Academy, and a Mason certificate. The oversized items include Murray's indenture and a certificate of competency from the Committee of Privy Council for Trade.

He wrote to his wife, Sarah, while onboard the Franklin. His letters to Sarah detail his life on the Franklin, his relationship with Captain Freeman, and the death of Captain Freeman. His siblings' letters are of general family business. Folder 10 contains a letter from Murray's son Robert Franklin Murray to Sarah Murray and thank you notes from Robert's two children to their aunt Fannie M. Murray. Folder 11 contains miscellaneous items Murray picked up in his travels such as ship building-related business cards, a list of ships stores from Grimsby, England, a hospital money table from the Custom House in Boston, an exchange schedule of Hamburg- English and American currency, and invoice of goods for the African market, and James Murray's business announcement, 1861.