The fonds is comprised of materials related to Brown's personal life (mostly recorded through photography) and his various professional positions, particularly his role in the White Pass & Yukon Corporation and its expansion into containerized shipping.

Approximately one third of the fonds is materials that have been condensed by Brown's descendants and filed chronologically. This portion has been called the Chronological papers, and materials related to all other series may be found there, as well as a wide range of personal materials.

The rest of the fonds has been divided into 10 series of: general correspondence; papers from Brown's two government posts; his work for the White Pass & Yukon Corp.; his work for MacMillan, Bloedel, and Powell River; his work as director for other companies; subject files related to his interests; speeches and articles he wrote; personal papers; and slides (both personal and professional).