The fonds consists of the following four series of textual material, primarily professional correspondence and documents, and one photograph: Series 1 - James Bardin Palmer papers, Series 2 - Edward Palmer papers; Series 3 - Harold Palmer papers, and Series 4 - Palmer genealogy and miscellaneous papers.

This fonds consists of records created by the process and functions of the legislature of Prince Edward Island for the period 1773 through to 1893 when the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council were combined to form the Legislative Assembly of P.E.I. The fonds consists of 11 series of records. The journals of the House of Assembly, printed annually, provide opening speeches of the House of Assembly, record the proceedings of the House, include references to resolutions passed, acts discussed, petitions, reports and correspondence received by the House. Often copies of these documents are included in the appendices. The journals range from 1785-1893 and the series divides into three sub-series: manuscript journals, printed journals and appendices to the journals. The acts of the P.E.I. legislature comprise the second series of the fonds and cover the years 1773 through 1894. The series includes both bills and statutes of the House of Assembly. Debates and proceedings of the House of Assembly for the years 1855-1893 comprise the third series of the fonds. Election papers comprise a series which includes 3 sub-series: writs for election, poll books, and revised voters lists. The election papers series dates from 1779 through 1891. Petitions to the House of Assembly from individuals and groups regarding matters of public concern form the 5th series of the fonds. Petitions span the years 1805-1879. A series of correspondence divides into two sub-series: committee of correspondence and general correspondence. This material dates 1790-1841 and 1877. The fonds includes a series termed public accounts which includes reports of government revenue and expenditure for the years 1795 through 1837 and a volume of resolutions of supply 1881-1893 recording resolutions of the House for payments for services and supply. Communications with the Lieutenant Governor form a series. This series includes copies of the speeches from the throne, messages and despatches regarding acts, and addresses. These records date from 1790 through 1862. Eight file folders of House of Assembly committee reports, dating between 1792 and 1876, to the House of Assembly comprise a series. Order books or agendas recording subjects of discussion to be introduced in the House of Assembly, maintained by the Clerk of the House of Assembly form a series. The two volumes cover 1881 to 1893. A series of resolutions include two file folders of resolutions passed by the House of Assembly in 1825 and 1846.

This fonds consists of records pertaining to the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. As the Queen's representative, the Lieutenant Governor was responsible for reporting to Colonial Office on all matters pertaining to the administration of the colony. Blue books and annual returns, provide reports and statistical information on the government of Prince Edward Island and its various departments and include figures on revenue and expenditure, etc. The appointing or commissioning of individuals to particular government offices was the responsibility of the Lieutenant Governor. Commissions and commission registers are included in this fonds for numerous positions held by civil servants dating 1777 to 1955. Also included in this fonds is correspondence, both in-coming and out-going, relating to the Lieutenant Governor's office for the period 1790 to 1947. Earlier correspondence relates to numerous administrative matters concerning the colony, while later correspondence includes requests for information from individuals, other government officers, and circulars. The office of Colonial or Provincial Secretary was closely related to the Lieutenant Governor as he acted as a secretary and registrar of government documents, many of which required the signature or approval of the Lieutenant Governor. Oaths of office taken by three Lieutenant Governors are included in the fonds covering 1858 to 1870 as are instructions to the Lieutenant Governor for 1862 and ca. 1894. In relation to the Lieutenant Governor's responsibility for acts passed in the Legislature, the fonds includes a register of orders in council relative to acts and some copies of orders, dating 1773 to 1876 and proclamations regarding acts, the general assembly, and the establishment of holidays, etc. for the period 1791 to 1888. The granting of pardons for criminal offenses is a privilege of the office of Lieutenant Governor. The fonds includes a register of pardons and commutations for the years 1858-1873. A register of despatches to the Secretary of State for Canada containing copies of correspondence from 1873 to 1884 is included in the fonds. The Lieutenant Governor was authorized to issue debentures for the payment for the cost of building the Prince Edward Island Railway. This information is recorded for the years 1872-1873 in a debenture register and coupon book. The fonds also includes a miscellaneous series which consists of copies of documents regarding the sale and transfer of lands at Warren farm and Abraham Gesner's 1846 report on his geological survey of Prince Edward Island.

The collection consists of three legal texts presumably collected by Justice Nicholson during his legal career. They include a book of case forms, handwritten by Phillips Callbeck circa 1774, "The lawyers' common-place book...", 1860 (inscribed "M. MacLeod") and "Reports of decisions of the Supreme Court, Court of Chancery, and Court of Vice-Admiralty of Prince Edward Island, delivered by Hon. James Horsfield Peters", 1872. The two latter books have labels marked "W.E. Bentley". The common-place book contains handwritten synopses of cases and the third volume also includes handwritten reports of cases not included in the printed volume. Some of these may be in Judge Nicholson's hand.

This fonds consists of the administrative and financial records of the office of the Provincial Treasurer spanning the years 1775 to 1981. The Treasurer was required to keep a set of books in which the accounts of each government office were to be "duly entered, kept, and balanced." Originally, these records were to be presented to the Lieutenant Governor in Council for his inspection at quarterly intervals and upon retirement or removal from office, the books were to be handed on to the Treasurer's successor. Later, the books were examined by the Provincial Auditor. Included among these records are correspondence, journals, day books, various types of ledgers, warrant books, pay lists, bond books, Public Accounts, land assessment rolls, school district boundaries, and records of the office of the Deputy Provincial Treasurer. This fonds is divided into 7 series:

Correspondence
Accounting records
Expenditures
Revenue
Reports and printed materials
Deputy Provincial Treasurer's records
Assessment and taxation records

This fonds consists of a day book (1775-1787) and a diary (1797-1818) kept by Benjamin Chappell in which he recorded his work and daily activities. Information includes who he worked with, the type of work involved, and for whom he was working. He describes the early conditions in the settlement at Elizabethtown (New London), reports the arrival of much-needed supplies, and mentions arrivals and departures of individuals to the settlement. He also records the occurrence of deaths, marriages, births, illness, fires, accidents, and the weather.

The latter volume appears to have originally been the account book of an Alexander McMillan who recorded the purchase and sale of general dry goods in Halifax, on board ship, and on Prince Edward Island. Entries, dated between 1777 and 1785, are organized by the name of the client. Chappell appears to have crossed out McMillan's account entries and then written in his own journal entries on the blank sections of the pages.

The original volumes were microfilmed in 1973. The first reel of microfilm contains copies of both volumes while the second reel only contains the day book.

This fonds also contains a photocopy of a transcription of a letter written by Benjamin Chappell to Mr. McGregor of Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1802. This letter has a religious theme, but also makes inquiries as to the discoveries of astronomer Sir William Herschel (1738-1822).

This fonds consists of a pamphlet which appears to be one of Robert Clark's attempts to entice settlers to the colony of St. John's Island. Signed by various London merchants, it depicts an idyllic pastoral setting with great prospects of profit in agriculture, fishing, and commerce for those of an industrious and enterprising nature. All this was to be had for the purchase price of 100 per 500 acres or for a lease granted on "the most reasonable terms".

The fonds consists of an account book and a list of names from the day book of William Creed. Listed are accounts for people in the New England area who did business with William in the late 1700s. The accounts list a variety of goods such as flour, liquor, oil, cutlery, candles, bread, and beef, etc., purchased from William Creed. Entries by William end in 1788. Subsequent entries dating ca. 1816-1824 were written by his son Joseph, indicated by letters written in the account book.

The fonds consists of the matrix for the Seal of the Supreme Court of St. John's Island, later Prince Edward Island as well as two positive images of the seal. The photograph were taken by the National Archives of Canada in preparation of a seals exhibition held at the Supreme Court of Canada.

The fonds consists of correspondence and documents of Angus MacAulay. A certification dated 1783 documents his performance at Marischal College in Aberdeen. Correspondence between MacAulay and Alexander MacDonald (1789-1791) deals with MacAulay's appointment as factor and commissioner to MacDonald and business matters thereafter. Correspondence with Lord Selkirk (1794-1803) relays information about MacAulay's lot of land in Belfast. Other correspondence consists of requests made by MacAulay to the war office regarding payments and an allowance for his family (1795-1827).