This collection consists primarily of interdepartmental correspondence and other organizational records created by the Pacific Coast branch of the Canadian National Steamships Company (CNSS). Records were created primarily between the 1920s and the 1970s, during the CNSS' years of operation. Some records (see series 23-26) are not CNSS organizational records, and were added to the collection by other interested donors. The series' records pertain to the company's operations in Vancouver, Victoria, and the West Coast of Canada.
Series 1-21 of the collection consist of the CNSS' organizational records; they were donated by the CNSS, and arranged according to the original order indicated by the markings on the company's original file folders. Series 22 consists of miscellaneous organizational records arranged by the archivist. Series 23-26 consist of a collection of ephemera, promotional materials, photographs, and articles that were arranged on the basis of content.