This collection sums up C. Patrick Labadie's career in Great Lakes maritime history field where he spent a good portion of amassing a one of a kind collection of photographs, newspaper clippings, indexes, plans, archaeological studies, and research files relevant to 19th century Great Lakes shipping. This collection contains files on vessels, owners, ports, people, and archaeological studies.

This collection of maritime materials consisting of vessel photographs captured and collection by Barr, books, and other maritime research materials related to the Great Lakes and St. Clair River near Michigan.