Fonds consists of records related to the governance and activities of the Nanaimo Historical Society. Fonds is arranged in the following series 1) Executive records; 2) Sound recordings; 3) Nanaimo Local History Research group records; 4) Speeches and historical writings; 5) Register of residents; and 6) Photographs.

Fonds consists of building proposals, a feasibility study, minutes, reports and notes related to the development of an arts and conference centre.

The fonds consists of minutes, including constitution and bylaws, and list of initial members of Nanaimo Silver Coronet Band, also known as the Nanaimo Junior Brass Band. Minutes occasionally note rates of pay and some music played.

Fonds consists of material created and accumulated by Seiriol Williams. Records are arranged into series as follows 1) Papers and memorabilia; 2) Talks and writings and 3) Photographs.

The fonds consists of 46 manuscripts on aspects of the social history and personalities of Nanaimo.

The fonds consists of materials collected by Walter Meyer zu Erpen for his master's degree including research for a case study, "Towards an Understanding of the Municipal Archives of 19th Century British Columbia: A Case Study of the Archives of the Corporation of the City of Nanaimo, 1875-1904" and thesis: "Study of the Archival Record and Its Context: Meaning and Historical Understanding". The research notes are arranged alphabetically on index cards. Also includes photocopies of a report by Judge Eli Harrison on charges against Police Magistrate J.P. Planta, Bureau of Statistics Returns from Nanaimo, Assessment Rolls, 1895 & 1896, correspondence dated Jan 9, 1900, Wellington, from Theo Bryant re: nomination of E & N Railroad Conductor, J. W. Coburn (resident of Victoria) as Mayor of Nanaimo due to absence of any other nominees and correspondence to Col. Hon. James Baker (Provincial Secretary, Bureau of Statistics, Victoria) from R. E. Gosnell, (Secretary, Bureau of Statistics): Report of the Bureau of Statistics for the Municipalities of British Columbia, 1896.

The fonds consists of constitution and reports, minutes of meetings (1934-1943, 1957-1966), general files (1936-1966), programs (1946, 1961-1966), and scrapbooks and newsclippings.

The fonds consists of constitution (1863-1864), cashbook (1878-1886), Debating and Elocution Class minutes (1880-1891), and minutes (1880-1885). The minute book for the Debating and Elocution class also records rentals of the Hall by community groups (1887-1892).

Collection consists of pen and ink drawings of the following: 610 Selby Street (Beck Residence); 755 Terminal Avenue (Wardill Residence); 28 Front Street (Tom Brown's Autobody); detail of 28 Front Street; 102 Fry Street Young Residence); 2 images of the Miner's Cottage known as the Rowbottom Residence (at 100 Cameron Road); St. Paul's Church; 279 Selby Street (Gilbert Residence) detail; 17 Church Street (Great National Land Building) detail; 673 Selby Street (Sullivan Residence) detail; 133 Milton (Wood Residence) detail; an Eagle's Hall detail; a doodle that appears to be a likeness of a petroglyph; and two homes on Cranberry Avenue. The drawings were created by Hofman for the Heritage Commission's publication Columns, Cornices and Coal (1998).

The fonds consists of legal documents relating to property in Newcastle Townsite purchased by Lewis in 1912; correspondence; and memorabilia, including scrapbooks, guestbook, and two transcripts of interviews with William Barraclough in 1962 and 1963.