Collection 81-141 (1930-1979) includes some University of California, Division of War Research (UCDWR) records, but consists largely of central laboratory files from Marine Physical Laboratory at Pont Loma. These includes correspondence, memoranda, proposals, contracts, blueprints, sketches and photographs documenting MPL administration, and research relating to submarine acoustics, signal processing, marine geophysics, oceanographic instrumentation undertaken, Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP), Digital Multibeam Steering (DIMUS), and Deep Tow. The accession includes correspondence and other files of MPL administrators and scientists: Victor Anderson, Fred Noel Spiess, Harald Ulrik Sverdrup and Victor Vacquier.

Collection 2004-62 (1942-2004) includes indexes to Marine Physical Laboratory photographs, slides, viewgraphs, drawings, blueprints, reports, a directory for University of California Division of War Research (CDWR) laboratory personnel, the MPL How To Do It Book on heat flow procedures, computations, and instruments, and other material from the MPL Photographic Laboratory.

Collection 82-13 (1958-1974) includes data, films, photographs and drawings documenting underwater acoustics, Birdsall 60 shot, Morris Shell Project, Group 10, SUS Quality Assessment, Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP), Remote Underwater Manipulator (RUM), and Digital Multibeam Steering (DIMUS).

Collection 82-06 (1961-1973) consists of mail logs, subject files, and films, all on the Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP), R/V Oconostota, scientific and operating equipment, publicity, and research.

Collection 92-01 (1962-1990) includes subject, project, correspondence and committee files, photographs, films, and project and correspondence files of Marine Physical Laboratory deputy director Victor Anderson and director Fred Noel Spiess.

Collections 2006-48 and 82-97 (1963-1989) include files related to the research of Victor Vacquier. The accessions include correspondence, expedition planning documents, program plans for a proposal, correspondence on the International Decade of Ocean Exploration (IDOE)'s Southeast Asia program, photographs and oversize drawings of the fluxgate deep sea magnetometer, a Meteorite Survey logbook kept by Gordon Miller, and information on meetings.

Collection 2009-33 (reports, 1959-1997) includes technical memoranda and technical reports.

Collections 2007-27, 2007-04, and 2006-47 (Deep Tow records, 1968-1995) document the design, deployment and data gathered on expeditions using Deep Tow, an instrument designed by Fred Noel Spiess. Expeditions include South Tow, Titanic, Hebble, REM, Rama, Pele, MAG, Pluto, Le Paz, Indomed, Tiptow, Nereus and Cocotow. Includes microfilm, photographs, slides, data and information on Woods Hole Ocranographic Institution (WHOI), R/V Knorr and R/V Atlantis II.

Collection 93-20 (recordings, 1960-1986) consists of 130 recordings on film (8mm, 16mm), video (U-matic, VHS, BetaCam), and audio (open reel). Covers Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Marine Physical Laboratory subjects, including events and celebrations, Remote Underwater Manipulator (RUM), Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP), Deep Tow, Oceanographic Research Buoy (ORB) platform, Alvin & Sea Cliff submersibles, ocean platform, ship launching, Monsoon Expedition, ships, buoys, piers, and unknown subjects.

Collection 97-12 (Oceanographic Research Buoy (ORB) records, 1977-1995) consists of correspondence, memoranda, proposals, photographs and other material documenting Research Platform ORB (Oceanographic Research Buoy). ORB was designed by the Marine Physical Laboratory in the mid-1960's and was used at Scripps until 1997.

Collection 99-08 (photographs, 1950-1986) comprises the central photographic negative, print, and 35mm slide files of the Marine Physical Laboratory and the indexes that describe them. The collection includes images of instruments designed by MPL scientists, original figures and photographs for MPL reports, and photographs of some expeditions.

Collection 2004-49 (Remote Underwater Manipulator (RUM III) photographs, 1985-1989) includes 290 color 35mm slides depicting the Remote Underwater Manipulator RUM III and its deployment at sea.