This report is provided to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) and Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS), by the Gulf of Maine Cod Project (GMCP) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). It presents the results of a 3-year survey and analysis of historical documents and manuscripts relevant to the marine historical ecology of SBNMS.