The papers are part of the Oliver-Bellasis collection, on permanent loan to the Museum since 1936. They comprise a series of logs, some watch, station and quarter bills, a sights book, 1872 to 1876, three diaries, 1879 to 1881, and a notebook, 1888.

Administrative / biographical background
Oliver entered the Navy in 1869. He served in the Bristol, 1870 to 1871, and was rated midshipman in 1871. He was in the Mediterranean from 1871 to 1874, in the Ariadne and then for two years in the flagship Lord Wardon. From 1874 to 1876 he served in the Audacious, flagship on the China Station. He was promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1876 and served in the Shannon, 1877 to 1880, on the same station. In 1880 he was promoted to lieutenant and appointed to the Pelican, Pacific Station, 1880 to 1882. From 1882 to 1884 he was in the Indian troopship Jumna and served in operations in the Sudan in 1884. Between 1885 and 1887, Oliver served in three Coast Guard ships based at Southampton, the Hector, Northampton and Invincible. He returned to China in the Wanderer between 1888 and 1891. During the 1890s Oliver served in various posts, in a training ship, in the dockyard reserve and the coastguard. He retired with the rank of commander in 1900.