This collection consists of materials dated from approximately 1850-1981, but predominantly from 1913-1940, relating to Dr. Casey Albert Wood’s research, writing, correspondence, and personal interest concerning ornithology, vertebrate zoology, memoir and family history, Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Library collection development, ophthalmology, politics, and current events. Materials relate chiefly to Wood’s “Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology” (1921-1956), falconry (1930s), his unpublished memoir (1930s), the development of McGill University’s Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries (1918-1941), the history of ophthalmology (1925-1936), “Fundus Oculi” (1911-1934), his travels and research expeditions studying birds in their natural habitat (1920-1940), political interests, and correspondence relating to these activities and subjects.

There are approximately 2902 incoming and outgoing pieces of correspondence including letters, postcards, notes, telegrams, and cards. Series 1) Research and writing, contains the largest volume of correspondence relating to “the Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology.” While Series 2) Research trips, contains the largest portion of photographs. Other materials in this collection include research notes, manuscripts, page and galley proofs, book and article reprint publications, postcards, artwork, glass plate negatives, book plates, palm leaf manuscripts, artefacts, printed ephemera, clippings, journals, and administration and financial records relating to Wood’s publications or the Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries.

There are gaps within this collection relating to geographic locations, as not all locations Wood is known to have visited are represented or are only minimally represented. Asian countries, such as China or Japan, are not represented in this collection. While geographic locations that are prominent within the collection are Fiji, Sri Lanka and India.

The series consists of 1) research and writing (ca. 1850-1956); 2) research trips (1920-1937); 3) scrapbooks (1887-1946); 4) collection development (1918-1941); 5) published books (1907-1981); 6) artefacts (191-?, 1920-1937); and 7) glass negative plates (1924, 1927, 1930, 1956).

These papers contain Forbes' personal files of correspondence and clippings, some design materials and films of McGill football games. The personal files contain biographical materials such as his birth certificate, military commission and service records, and letters concerning his employment at McGill. Other files concern Forbes' designs for decorations for the 1951 Royal Visit, the McGill C.O.T.C., the Forbes Trophy for athletics, Forbes' involvement with McGill athletics and museums, and the career of his brother Kenneth Forbes, a painter. A number of diplomas and certificates awarded Forbes, as well as a photograph album, complete this series. Materials for designs include files on heraldry, a collection of illustrations from 19th century periodicals, designs for the Royal Visit decorations (a few, by Percy Nobbs, were used for the 1939 visit), maps, linocuts, bookplates, and programmes designed by Forbes for McGill events, ca 1925-1950. Thirty-four reels of motion picture film record McGill extramural football games (1947-1951). Films with sound track show the construction of the Currie gymnasium (1939-1940), and demonstrate the swimming techniques of Matt Mann. Additional biographical material is provided by obituary notices and letters of condolence to Mrs. Forbes, and by clippings of articles about Forbes.

The collection contains 164 botanical and zoological paintings created chiefly by Elizabeth Gwillim as well as possibly by her sister Mary Symonds while living in Chennai, India (then Madras). The collection includes 121 watercolours of birds with inscriptions, 31 watercolours of fish, and twelve of flowers, drawn from life rather than specimens. The paintings reflect the sisters' time in Madras during which, as artists and letter writers, they created a substantial visual record of the landscape and inhabitants of Madras and environs. The paintings also reflect Gwillim's scientific pursuits, including her study of botany.

This subseries consists of other research, writing, and correspondence files related to Wood's research and writing activities (1852-1925), writings of others assisting in Wood’s research projects or written about Wood (1936-1943), and volumes containing multiple publications by Casey Wood from 1852-1943, but predominantly 1920-1938. Some of these volumes include writings of other authors as well. The subseries is composed mostly of publications, manuscripts, and correspondence, along with photographs, clippings, book dust covers, feathers from John III, and printed materials pertaining largely to ornithology, falconry, and Wood's research.
Included in this subseries are 661 incoming and outgoing correspondence (1914, 1927, 1933-1940) including letters, postcards, and telegrams. Some of the individuals represented within the subseries include G. R. Lomer, Elizabeth E. Abbott, Margaret E. Hibbard, Dr. Maude Abbott, Dr. Cresswell Shearer, Marjorie Fyfe, Alan H. Wood, Samuel Casey Wood III, Arthur William Head, H. Gronvold, H. Kirke Swann, Alexander Wetmore, Dr. Andreas Nell, Elliott Coues, George Arliss, Duke of Wellington, Professor Arthur Willey, Dr. Witmer Stone, John Still, E. C. T. Holsinger, Dr. Burton Chance, Wladimir Ivanow, John M. McWilliam, Dr. Max Meyerhof, W. L. Sclater, Harry Harris, Dr. Arnold C. Klebs, Professor Alonzo Taylor, Dr. Harold Gifford, David Nutt, William Wrigley Jr., Professor W. P. C. Zeeman, Eileen Thompson, William Thornwall Davis, H. S. Swarth, E. Edward Newton, Joseph Pearson, R. T. Gunther, Dr. Jon Pearson, Sir George Perley, J. Wilkes, Edward Von S. Dingle, George Edwards, W. E. Powell, L. J. Griffin, Robert Moore, and Major Chester Davis. Book publishers and dealers represented include Wheldon and Wesley, G. E. Stechert and Co., Bernard Quaritch Ltd., R. Friedlander and Sohn, K. F. Koehler’s Antiqarium, Foliophiles, Sotheby and Co., Francis Edwards, Vitty and Seaborne Ltd., Sun Engraving Co., Dulau & Co., Ltd., Samuel N. Rhoads, and Franklin Bookshop.
Topics and research projects within the subseries include ornithology, aviculture, bird protection, fossil eggs, zoology and sea life, collection and financial records for McGill Libraries and other institutions, McGill Library exhibits, the Feather book, travel and research, professional and personal lives, Wood’s ancestry, events Wood attended, politics and crime, Dr. Joseph Grinnell, Sir Henry and Elizabeth Gwillim, James Graham Cooper, John III’s painting and life, Emma Shearer Wood library boo plate, bird and zoology prints and other artwork, the dodo bird and related art, Sinhalese Olas, coins, and Persian manuscripts, ayurvedic medicine, Dominion Parliament building, “Fundus Oculi of Birds,” “An Introduction to Literature of the Vertebrate Zoology,” “Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon,” Benevenutus Grassus’ de Oculis, Tadhkirat of Ali ibn Isa translation, Frederick II’s de Arte Venandi cum Avibus and falconry, “Catalogue du Fonds de Paul Lechevalier,” “James Craw Portrait of Alexander Wilson,” “Monograph of the Birds of Prey,” and other manuscripts.
Places referenced in this subseries include the British Museum, McGill University, Emma Shearer Wood Library, San Francisco, England, Barbados, New Zealand, Fiji, Oceania, Switzerland, India, Sri Lanka, and others.

This series consists of 23 volumes and 6 files focusing on travel, research, and expedition activities conducted during Casey Wood's ornithological research trips from 1920-1937, including periodical and newspaper publications written by Wood during this time. This series consists of manuscripts and articles relating to letters to friends and family providing accounts of his travels, clippings, photographs, printed ephemera, photostats, artwork, and feathers from John III. Some of the volumes contain manuscripts, notes, and/or photostats, while others are scrapbooks containing multiple record types seemingly curated, arranged and mounted by Wood or as directed by him.
Within this series are 209 incoming and outgoing correspondence including letters, notes and cards. Individuals in correspondence with Wood include Cora Raymond, G. R. Lomer, E. V. Sanderson, Sir George Perley, Sir Charles Major, H. Kirke Swann, Edith Hayes, Emma Shearer Wood, W. E. Wait, Sun Engraving Co., Taylor and Francis, Bitty and Seaborne Ltd., Stuart Baker, G. M. Henry, and Allan Brooks. Other individuals present in this series include Mabel Satterlee, L. F. Struthers, W. J. Belcher, J. Sutton, G. M. Henry, F. Marjorie Fyfe, J. C. Harrison, Alexander Wetmore, and Dr. Andreas Nell.
Places referenced within this series' files include South America (1920), British Guiana (1922), Fiji (1923), Oceania, New Zealand, Australia (1923-1924), England and Scotland, Ceylon (1925-1934), Colombo, Kandy, and Italy (1934-1936). Some topics and research areas of note include ornithology, zoology, bird protection, travelling, nightingales (1920-1934), John III (1924, 1937), “Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon” (1925-1927), Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Library collections, Sinhalese weights, Wood’s heath, Ali ibn Isa, and political printed material on Italy during the late 1930s.
There are also a number of photostats of publications or manuscripts copied approximately in 1937 related to Emperor Frederick II’s “de Arte Venandi cum Avibus.” These photostats were used for reference during these research trips for Casey A. Wood and F. Marjorie Fyfe’s published translation “The Art of Falconry.”