File includes a collection of 12 short essays written by George Mercer Dawson as a child. On the verso of many is a title, date, and a sketch. The titles of the essays are: "The Indian Antiquities (of Montreal)"; "Fishes"; "Winter"; "Rivers"; "Mountains"; "The Ocean"; "Paper"; "Flowers"; "Vegetation"; "The Wolf"; "Europe"; and "The Lion." The first essay ("Indian Antiquities") discusses the discovery of objects belonging to previous Indigenous inhabitants of the region, including pottery, knives, etc.

File consists of two childhood diaries. The diary dated from summer 1865 recounts a trip to the United Kingdom taken with his father when George Mercer Dawson was 16 years old. The diary dated 1861 was kept while George Mercer Dawson was 11 years old and begins 1 March 1861. One loose leaf with instructions for a magic lantern was previously laid in the diary. 1861 diary speaks of lessons with "Miss," tells of pasttimes and games including tops and marbles, siling boats, tag, bow and arrows, magic lantern, etc. Speaks also of continued headaches and being tired.

File consists of two bound notebooks with notes on chemical lectures delivered at the Royal College of Chemistry by Professor Frankland, 1869-1870 session.

File consists of two notebooks kept by Dawson, one is volume three of his notes on chemical lectures delivered at the Royal College of Chemistry by Professor Frankland, 1869-1870 session; the second is Dawson's chemistry laboratory notebook.

File consists of two bound notebooks kept by Dawson while a student at the Royal College of Chemistry. Includes chemistry notes and examinations.

File consists of volumes I of Dawson's notebooks containing lecture notes from a natural history course taken at the Royal School of Mines.

File consists of volume III of Dawson's notebooks containing lecture notes from a natural history course taken at the Royal School of Mines.

File consists of volume IV of Dawson's notebooks containing lecture notes from a natural history course taken at the Royal School of Mines.

File consists of the first volume of notebooks with lecture notes on geology from a class at the Royal School of Mines.

File consists of a notebook of natural history lecture notes ("Volume IV") from the Royal School of Mines 1871-1872 session.