Papers about the discovery of methods of measuring longitude at sea, notably the work of John Harrison. They also include papers relating to other issues of navigation. There are records, notably logs of scientific observations, relating to some major voyages of discovery, including ones led by Captain James Cook, Captain Matthew Flinders and Captain George Vancover, as well as to the search for the North West Passage.
The records of the Admiralty and Secretariat filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project cover the records of the Admiralty Office up to 1832 and of the Secretary's Department of the reorganised Board of Admiralty after that date.
The records comprise minutes of the Standing Committee 1778-1819, 1900-1935 and the Foreign Committee 1846-1880, anniversary sermons, annual reports and journals of monthly meetings of the Society 1901-1935, missionary reports 1852-1938, letters received from Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia and Southeast Asia 1821-1936, copies of letters of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Overseas Secretary 1842-1935, missionary rolls 1846-1910, candidates' papers 1821-1857, testimonials, ledgers 1891-1936 and photograph albums, including photographs of Malaya, Singapore, Borneo and Melanesia.
1. Letterbook 1615-20 of Capt. William Keeling describing the third voyage undertaken by the East India Co and referring to trade with the East Indies and Anglo-Dutch rivalry.
Papers 1791-1794 of astronomer William Gooch who sailed on the Daedalus. They include: an account relating to part of the journey; notes on the inhabitants of the Falkland Islands, Marquesas Islands and Sandwich Islands; and a statement written by Thomas Dobson giving details of Gooch's murder in 1792 in Woahoo (Oahu).
Acland Papers 1841-92 including letters of W. Acland written from the Australian Naval Station 1883-85 and correspondence with the entomologist Rev. William Cotton 1841-46.