The material in this manuscript group was originally stored in transfer drawers by year. During the preliminary inventory it was decided to sort the material by record type, then arrange each type chronologically.

The major part of this collection consists of records of jobs completed between 1951 and 1975. These are arranged first chronologically by year, then by first letter of the last name of the person for whom the work was done. Included for each job are estimate sheets, plans and drawings, and cost sheets which indicate the wholesale and retail costs of the material used, and frequently include the Waterman's profit on the job.

The financial records include check registers, bank deposit books, general ledgers, accounts payable ledgers, daily cash reports, payroll records, records of contributions to the Painters Trust (a union), sales and property tax records, and inventories of merchandise.

Other business records include correspondence, mainly with suppliers, legal documents including the dissolution of the Kennewick partnership, and a few photographs of the store interior.

Also included in this group are some personal papers of Clyde and Vi Waterman. These include undated check registers, bowling memorabilia such as chevrons and merit certificates, programs from two Nampa High School reunions, Coast Guard boating information, insurance policies, medical receipts, unidentified photographic negatives, interest and dividend statements, state and federal income tax records, and property tax records from Latah and Benewah Counties in Idaho and Maricopa County, Arizona.