According to Rupert Lockwood's biographer, Rowan Cahill, some of Lockwood's papers were destroyed in a fire in 1957. Certainly there is little in the collection that documents Lockwood's career as a journalist before that date. The papers in the Lockwood collection consist of correspondence, writings, notes, research material, photographs, sound recordings and printed material relating to Lockwood's life as a journalist, writer, Communist Party member, historical, industrial and political researcher, and editor. A major portion of the collection comprises drafts of his pamphlets, articles and books, particularly of Black armada, War on the waterfront and Ship to shore. Notes and research material, including titled subject files, are also abundant. Records documenting Lockwood's role in the Petrov Affair include copies of official records, including 'Document J', correspondence, articles, news cuttings and printed material. Many of the photographs were collected by Lockwood when editor of Maritime worker and reflect the subject matter of that journal. There is also correspondence and submissions from readers sent to him as editor. Family who are represented in the correspondence include Lockwood's siblings, Douglas, Allan and Lionel Lockwood, ex-wife Betty Searle and his children, in particular Penny Lockwood. Other correspondents include Vic Bird, Tim Bowden, Tas Bull, Rowan Cahill, Veronica English, Irina Golovnya, Ken Gott, Jo Hawke, David McKnight, Ron Maxwell, Bernice Morris, Helen Palmer, Katherine Prentice, Paul Stenhouse, Russel Ward, Judah Waten and Douglas Wilkie.