The John F. Harden Papers Collection consists of one ten folder box. The papers contain primarily correspondence. There are both personal and business letters. Much of the business correspondence is with shipowners who had engaged Harden as a captain. There is also correspondence with fellow shipmasters and business owners. There is a folder of business documents, including receipts, accounts, consular certificates and general clearances. The papers provide a glimpse into the life of upper rank seamen engaged in the maritime trade in the late 19th century.