The Irving and Electa Johnson collection contains 23 boxes and 56 volumes. It is organized into nine different series.

The first series, found in boxes 1-4, relates to papers involving only Irving Johnson. It is arranged chronologically and falls into three different time periods of Irving's life, before he met Electa, while he was in the Navy and during his extensive lecturing career. In total this series includes correspondence, articles, diaries, journals, notebooks, expenses and ephemera.

The second series, found in boxes 5-8, relates to papers that correspond to the Schooner YANKEE. This series is arranged primarily chronologically but further grouping papers by correspondence, expenses and papers for the first three world cruises. Business papers and charter parties between the world cruises on the Schooner can also be found in this series. In total this series includes correspondence, provision lists, charter parties, crew lists, newsletters, business papers and articles.

The third series, found in boxes 9-11, relates to papers that correspond to the Brig YANKEE. Like series two, this series is arranged primarily chronologically but is furthered grouped by correspondence, expenses and papers. These papers however relate to the fourth through the seventh world cruise as well as the summer charter parties between these cruises. In total this series includes correspondence, charter parties, provision lists, newsletters, articles and business papers.

The fourth series, found in boxes 12-15, relates to papers that correspond to the Ketch YANKEE. This series is arranged chronologically and is also further grouped by correspondence, expenses, papers and business correspondence with Arthur Johnson.

The fifth series, found in boxes 16-17, contains miscellaneous papers that relate to this collection but not to one of the other specified series. Items that can be found are personal correspondence to Irving Johnson, undated expenses, checks and bank statements of Irving and Electa Johnson, screenplays, and articles written about Irving or the YANKEEs.

The sixth series, found in boxes 18-23, contains accounts from the crew of the various YANKEE voyages. These are usually complete day to day descriptions of one of the crew member's or other highlights of the voyages. Items that are included are logs, diaries, journals, correspondence home to family members, scrapbooks and articles.

The seventh series contains logs, volumes 1-29, kept on board the Schooner YANKEE May 14, 1933-April 27, 1941 and the Brigantine YANKEE, from July 14, 1947-February 23, 1958. Kept by whomever was on watch, the logs contain mostly navigational and weather data, but are highlighted by occasional editorial comments about other crew members, conditions on board, or stopovers. These logs describe all seven circumnavigations as well as the sail of the Schooner YANKEE from Harwich to her home port in Gloucester, Ma and the Brigantine YANKEE from Brixham to Gloucester, Ma.

The eighth series contains account and expense books, volumes 30-35, from 1933-1955. The account books primarily record expenses aboard the Brig YANKEE, however volume 30 describes accounts of Yankee Cruises, Inc. during the first voyage of Schooner YANKEE.

The ninth series contains scrapbooks, volumes 36-56, of Irving and Electa. Spanning from 1920 to 1991, these volumes contain numerous pictures, articles, etc. of Irving and Electa's life together at sea.