Editions of Melville works, secondary sources on the study of Herman Melville and his literary output, and other sources (both textual and non-textual) documenting Melville's popularity and importance to world literature and culture.

Professor of American literature at the U.S. Naval Academy and Melville scholar. Heflin's papers contain notes and correspondence relating to Heflin's lifelong work on a book concerning Melville's sea years, together with an almost complete manuscript of the book, which Heflin did not live to publish.