The collection is organized using the skeleton of Takakjian's file system. Using the her label system information had been gathered for any vessel or activity that had a specific and clear reference or physical position in file was related. Remaining miscellaneous information was placed with the intent to make the material the most useful.

The best-organized portion of the collection involved the Raleigh. The material showed that Takakjian was carefully researching all aspects of the decision by the Continental Congress to build ships such as the Raleigh. Specific to the Raleigh is material that relates its commissioning, construction and the men involved, materials used, stores, captains, crew and voyages.

There is a significant, though incomplete, file of material used for what apparently was at least a part of a publication intended for Conway Maritime Press's "Anatomy of the Ship" series. It is not clear whether this was related to the published work "The 32 Gun Frigate Essex" or the publication she was working on at her death for the 32-gun frigate Raleigh.

There is much reference information, largely about ships of the Revolutionary war period, but also including such as model "how to" articles and suppliers of material. Finally there is numerous miscellaneous but related material including other ships that Takakjian either had an interest in or built.

The organization of the material might not always appear logical. Only some unlabeled information was combined with like information. This occurred largely in the "Anatomy of the Ship section".