This collection contains over 2,000 Charter parties for vessels and cargos, issued primarily by Messrs. Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd. in New York, and preserved by Mr. George W. Stretch. A charter party is the written agreement between a shipowner and a charterer, specifying the vessel's tonnage, capacity, and condition; courses and ports proposed for the voyage; details of loading and unloading; and charter and insurance rates.