The Edmund Kimball papers contain the personal and business papers of Newburyport shipping merchant Edmund Kimball (1762-1847) and the correspondence and legal papers of his son, Edmund Kimball (1793-1873), who was an attorney and state senator. This collection has been divided into three series.

Series I. Edmund Kimball's (1762-1847) Papers contain personal and business papers, which reflect the development of his mercantile career from shipmaster to merchant and shop owner, and his avid interest in educational and religious societies. This series is divided into three subseries. Subseries A. Ships' Papers is arranged alphabetically by ship and includes records for ships owned or mastered by Edmund between the years 1786 and 1826. These vessels traded with the West Indies, Europe, Calcutta, and coastwise America. Included with the papers of the vessels Glide, Ocean, and Draper are letters from co-owner Francis Todd. Miscellaneous ships' papers, arranged chronologically, include records for consigned cargo and chartered vessels. Also located here are shipbuilding agreements and miscellaneous invoices and accounts of sales. Underwriting and outfitting accounts and receipts are filed with the financial records.

Subseries B. Correspondence includes letterbooks, merchant house correpsondence, and miscellaneous correspondence. Additional correspondence relating to the procurement, shipment, and sale of cargo can also be found in this subseries. The letterbooks contain both ingoing and outgoing correspondence with merchant houses and shipmasters from 1803 to 1825. The merchant house correspondence from Boston, Cadiz, Hamburg, Jamaica, London, New Orleans, and New York contains letters that do not discuss the activities of specific ships. Also filed here are letters from the co-owners of Edmund's vessels. Miscellaneous correspondence includes shipping, personal, and business letters. It discusses Edmund's investments in banks, insurance, and real estate; procurement of goods for his store and vessels; his financial support of religious and educational societies; and the activities of his family.

Subseries C. Legal and Financial Records contain legal agreements, account books, and accounts and bills for his personal and business activities. Within the accounts and bills are receipts for the outfitting of vessels, underwriting accounts, inventories of farm utensils and real estate, and donations to societies.

Series II. Edmund Kimball (1793-1873) Papers largely consist of correspondence received as an attorney, state senator, and Whig party member. Of note in the correspondence is a letter from Edmund, while serving as a state senator, to a newspaper discussing Henry Wilson's slavery resolve; and an 1819 letter from a friend aboard the U. S. frigate Macedonian, describing the battles between Spain and Chile. Edmund's papers also include his attorney case notes, bills and legal notices; legal acts and petitions as state senator; circulars and annual reports from civic societies, and railroad companies; and an 1833 passport to Cuba.

Series III. Miscellaneous Papers contains one folder of miscellaneous, undated papers.