The Archie W. Shiels papers consist of research material, publications, personal papers, maps and charts dating from 1790 to 1965. The bulk of the materials date from around 1850 to 1950.

Research materials date from circa 1797 to 1964, and represent the background sources Shiels used for writing his many manuscripts, books, and speeches. The documents reference a number of topics primarily related to Pacific Northwestern history and, in particular, Russian America, the Alaskan Territory, and the State of Alaska. Specific subjects include Alaska's annexation to the United States and its eventual statehood, subsequent boundary disputes, as well as the Bering Sea controversy regarding fur seal fishing. Other topics cover the fishing and fur industries in Russia and Alaska, Alaska Natives’ fishing rights, maritime navigation, oil and geology, and transportation throughout Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest.

Publications date from around 1846 to 1965, and contain items authored by Shiels and other individuals that are related primarily to Alaskan topics and the Pacific American Fisheries company. Some of the rarer books written by Shiels included Seward’s Ice Box: A Few Notes on the Development of Alaska, 1867-1931 (written in 1933), and The Early History of Canned Foods (written in 1940). Other authors’ works include Lieutenant L.A. Zagoskin’s Account of Pedestrian Journeys in the Russian Possessions in America (undated), and J.M. Shively’s “Route and Distances to Oregon and California with a Description of Watering Places, Crossing, Dangerous Indians, etc. (written in 1846).

Personal papers date from circa 1800 to 1962, and include documents belonging to Shiels, but generally unrelated to his research regarding Alaskan history. For example, these materials include a number of documents created by and/or retained by Shiels during his tenure at the Pacific American Fisheries. Cannery blueprints, canning industry publications, and a letter from Filipino cannery workers protesting their working conditions are a few examples of items located in Shiels’ personal papers. Additionally, there are photographs and negatives documenting Shiels’ career and personal life, and other Northwestern themes.

Maps and charts date from around 1910 to 1944, and comprise early representations of Alaskan, Canadian, and Pacific Northwestern territories, cities, and surrounding areas. Some of the maps relate to early transportation in these regions, including maritime, railroad, and highway routes.