The Winthrop L. Warner Papers are composed of correspondence, building specifications, sales contracts, vessel weight and displacement calculation tables, ships' plans reprints, design lists, and miscellaneous notes; 1932-1973, relating to Warner's vessel design career.

The papers are organized into five series: I. Design specifications, sales contracts, correspondence, and other design related papers (Boxes 1-17); II. Weight and displacement calculation tables (Boxes 18-22); III. Ship' plans reprints (Boxes 23-26); IV. Miscellaneous papers (27-29); and V. Volumes (Boxes 29-30).

Series I , II, III, and V, are arranged in design number order, the Miscellaneous files in Series IV are arranges alphabetically by folder title.

Warner assigned numbers to all plans that he considered designing. As some vessels never progressed beyond the preliminary discussion stage, many numbers are not represented in the collection. In addition Warner included in the numbered sequence folders with the title "JOB", such as "JOB 178, TRITON." These Jobs appear to represent situations where Warner either collaborated on a design or drew alterations to existing vessels designed by other naval architects. In many instances Warner also designed more than one model of a particular vessel. In the earlier part of the collection these design variations are noted by a dash followed by a rig initial, ie "-Y" to denote "Yawl," a "-C" to denote "Cutter", a "-S" to denote "Sloop", a "-A" to denote "Auxiliary" (having an engine as well as a full sailing rig), a "-P" to denote a "Power." Somewhere around design number 90, Warner altered his number system. Still continuing with the sequential initial number he now used, -A, -B,-C, etc. to denote differing rigs of the same hull type. In instances where more than one vessel of the same hull and rig type was produced Warner added a number following a dash to delimitate these. Therefore, as in the example of Design number 152 (most likely his most popular design), the collection contains folders labeled, 152-A, 152-B, 152-B-2, 152-B-3, 152-B-4, 152-B-5, 152-B-6, 152-B-7, 152-B-8, 152-B-9, 152-C, 152-P-1, 152-P-2, 152-P-3.

The material in this collection has been processed at a folder level, retaining, for the most part, Warner's original arrangement and filing system.

The material is generally in good condition, however many of the specifications in the first series are purple mimeograph master sheets containing purple ink which can easily stain fingers and transfer to other materials. Researchers must take care to clean their hands after handling these materials.

The Ships Plans Division of the Mystic Seaport Museum houses Warner's extensive design drawings and plans.