Fonds consists of the personal and professional papers of Lieutenant Commander James D. Laurie. Includes his cadet second class graduation diploma, naval appointments, and orders, certificates, letters of references, and correspondence, dating from 1913 to 1949 as well as documents and correspondence related to insurance policy, pension payments, and adjustments, dating from 1933 to 1958. Also includes a handwritten letter and envelope recovered by divers from the wreck of SS Empress of Ireland, a Christmas card with a picture of an unidentified military band, and a photo album that should contain approximately 100 negatives of pictures taken during a cruise of HMS Berwick from February 1913 to February 1914 but, as of May 2016, all the negatives are missing.

Also includes a journal and note book for the use of junior officers, kept by Midshipman Laurie on HMS Niobe beginning 27 August 1914. The journal includes some coloured detail drawings of ship parts and the dust jacket is actually a map folded over the cover.

Fonds consists of written accounts of the sinking of TEV Princess Marguerite. One, photocopied from a newspaper, the other, a typewritten account from Hugh J. Tumilty, fifth engineer on the Princess Marguerite from September 1940 to 17 August 1942 when she was torpedoed. This account was sent to Mr. Chris Horn in 1985.

Fonds consists of a photocopy of a manuscript document, dated 14 December 1864 provided by Mr H. Janssen, from the Public Record Office which references proceedings No. 21 regarding the alleged murder of the crew of the Kingfisher by the Ahousett people, and a transcript and associated photocopies of handwritten documents from the public records office that appear to have been part of a report of proceedings No. 19 written by the commander of HMS Sutlej in 1864 to the Admiralty.

Fonds consists of photocopies of reports of survey for repairs, annual reports and correspondence regarding the ship Thermopylae dating from 1868 to 1893. According to the gift form, the file was provided to the donor by Lloyd's of London.

Also includes twenty-six booklets regarding regulations, engineering, and the Canada shipping act.

Fonds consists of engine room log books from 16 December 1934 to 17 August 1935 and from 13 of July to 13 December 1941, a chief engineer's log book from CGS Estevan from 16 February 1942 to 24 October 1942, and an engine room log for CGS Estevan from 7 October 1951 to 4 March 1952.

Also includes a report of the Ministry of Transport inquiry into the loss of the motor ship Princess Victoria and findings of the court, dated 1953 and a Marine Cloud Album, containing colour photographs of clouds and relevant naming and identifying information.