This collection was largely organized by Richard Columbus Mears and his daughter, Nellie. He sorted his accounts and kept meticulous records of his journeys. His daughter organized his records further and it is in this condition that they arrived at Mystic Seaport Museum. The orignal order was kept as much as possible and the only items that were moved were either not dated or relocated in order to separate personal accounts from business accounts. The Richard Columbus Mears Collection is is arranged by series as described below.

Series 1: Personal Correspondence. 1816-1972

Series 2: Personal Papers, Miscellaneous. 1816-1972

Series 3: Business and Personal Papers and Correspondence, Merchant Mariner. 1853-1892

Series 4: Business and Personal Papers and Correspondence, Shopkeeper. 1893-1897

Series 5: Journals. 1869-1890

Series 6: Account books. 1865-1889

Series 7: Published Texts. 1875, 1884, undated

Series 8: Van Valkenburgh Family Volumes. 1897-1917, undated

Series 9: Viewbooks. 1863-1900, undated