The collection consists of papers concerning the designs that Arthur Robb made for cruising/racing yachts like the SEAVIEW MAIDEN, the LION, the ROBB 35 and the RADIANT one-design classes, as well as design data for specific sailing craft for individual owners. The careful mathematical figures and many pages of design details, displacement ratios and sail area plans give a picture of the meticulous planning that he did before a yacht was allowed to be built. Robb also had his attention on such details as which firms could supply the best winches, rigging, masts, sails and other equipment. He carefully followed the progress of his yachts once they were launched, and saw to changes in design, mast placement, type of keel, etc., even going so far as to cancel a contract with one builder whose work he felt to be shoddy. He took a lively interest in the Bermuda and the Annapolis-to-Newport Races, making notes of the CCA ratings and records of the yachts entered in those races in 1962 and 1963.

The Arthur C. Robb Papers are divided into five different series. The first series relates to the vessel RADIANT, the second to the Ketch THE BLUE BIRD, and the third to a Yawl intended for William Whitehouse-Vaux.

The fourth series is of a data book index which can be used as a reference for folders 9-19 in box 2. The index contains the design numbers Robb used, which can primarily be found on the far left hand column and the folio number, found on the far right column. Using the index, researchers can be directed to specific folio papers found in folders 9-19. In folder 9, the folio numbers found in the index corresponds to the circled red number in the lower right corner of the papers. In folders 10-18 the folio numbers can be found in lower right corner, either stamped or written in. Folder 19 contains unmarked folio papers.

The fifth series is comprised of financial and estate papers of Arthur C. Robb.