The annuities trade, like in the present day, was prosperous and active in the 18th to 19th centuries, and this prosperity is evidenced by the large amount of surviving annuity documentation. This documentation is composed of annuity receipts, bonds, Wills, checks, and other miscellaneous documentation that went along with the creation and payment of annuities during these eras.

The Annuity Museum possesses a fairly diverse collection of annuity documentation. From receipts issued by the Bank of England spanning the centuries to endorsed checks and coupons from 19th century Pennsylvania, these documents offer a look at how the annuity market functioned on a more personal scale.