The papers pertain equally to Tom and Adela's activities. There is a large volume of papers on the Seamen's Union. The papers include newspaper cuttings for the years 1924-1941; typescripts of articles, speeches and radio broadcasts by both Tom and Adela covering topics such as women's rights, communism, politics, labour disputes, and the war; copies of articles and addresses by other people on the same topics; photographs; copies of journals such as The voice of the people, and The people's guild; cash receipt books for the Seamen's Union; court writs, judgements and transcripts of proceedings; cables and correspondence including that with P. Spender, W. M. Hughes, R. Menzies and J. Curtin.