Most of this archive documents the High School for Girls. The administrative records comprise prospecti for both High Schools, registers of attendance, 1875-1896, examinations, 1855-1858, 1884-1888, fees, 1863-1869, and corporal punishment, 1892-1896, 1949-1960, and memoranda from the Rector applying to either the boys' division or to both High Schools, 1897-1904. There are also working notes for teachers, 1902-1903, 1921-1931, and scrapbooks of programmes, clippings and notes concerning activities in both schools, covering the years 1913 to 1960. Examination papers, 1872-1882, a guest book, 1919-1943, an annotated address book of High School for Girls staff prepared by Principal L.M. Hendrie, 1911-1945, and photographic portraits of the Principals of the High School for Girls round out this series. Student activities are reflected not only in the official scrapbooks, but also in minute books, photograph albums and scrapbooks of the High School for Girls' Athletic Association, 1912-1913, Literary and Debating Society, 1906-1908, and English Club, 1935-1940. There are a large number of photographs of girls' sports teams, 1915-1941, as well as a scrapbook of clippings on the activity of High School for Girls Alumnae, 1953-1956.

The Lyman-Scrimger Family Fonds consists of the papers of the Lyman, Scrimger and Johnston Families. Reverend John Scrimger's daughter married Walter Ernest Lyman and their daughter, Elizabeth, in turn married Wyatt Galt Johnston. Elizabeth's sister is Mary Minta Turnor.

The Lyman-Scrimger papers largely consist of approximately 42 cm of photographs. Two albums contain family portraits, while two others assembled by Albert Clarence Lyman (B.A., 1878) and Walter E. Lyman (B.A., 1881) also include pictures of McGill classmates. The large collection of unbound photographs contain a number of views of Western Canada taken ca. 1900, Montreal scenes, and travel snapshots taken in Europe (ca. 1905-1910). Two scrapbooks compiled by the Reverend John Scrimger contain newsclippings, poems, cards, letters, photographs, and memorabilia of a family or sentimental nature. The reminder of the papers consists of newsclippings, programmes and so forth related to members of the family as well as a few scattered items of correspondence, probably collected by Mrs. Walter Lyman.

The Johnston Family papers comprise Wyatt Galt Johnston’s laundry lists and grocery accounts, ca. 1899; a letter to Elizabeth Johnston from her mother in Lennoxville, 1906; H. Wyatt Johnston’s school reports, 1907-1911; and letters of sympathy and memorial cards sent to H. Wyatt Johnston on the death of his mother Elizabeth Johnston, 1943 and his aunt Mary Tunor, 1945.

Mary Minta Turnor’s papers consists of correspondence, largely with members of her family in the Eastern Townships on domestic news. A few photographs of houses and pets, as well as some recipes, are also included.

The Ross family fonds consists primarily of records related to the student achievements of the Ross children and includes student notebooks, news clippings, convocation programmes, certificates, and memorabilia of the Red and White Revue such as songs, photographs and original songs. Edward Russell Paterson’s student notebooks in geology, petrography and English literature are included.

In addition, there are two diaries of William Stieven Paterson’s from his travels through Civil War battlefields in the southern USA and a trip to Cuba; 8 photograph albums depicting the Paterson side of the family; 3 scrapbooks of magazine stories for children, poems and household hints; and correspondence between Dorothy Jean Ross and the McGill University Archives.

Three scrapbooks document Birks' involvement with McGill, particularly with the Theological Colleges and the Faculty of Divinity. One contains newspaper clippings and correspondence (1912-1913) concerning the United College of Theology. The second scrapbook contains newspaper clippings and correspondence (1912-1948) on the establishment of the Faculty of Divinity at McGill. The third contains telegrams concerning the appointment of Sir Auckland Geddes as Principal in 1919, as well as newspaper clippings regarding the McGill Fund Campaign (1911) and the Patriotic Fund, (1914-1917). There is also correspondence about church matters and the Joint Theological Colleges and brief accounts of the establishment of the latter, correspondence, minutes, reports, reminiscences and notes document the establishment of the Faculty of Divinity in 1948. There is also a builder's contract and accounts for the Birks building on University Street and a draft fragment of a historical story or novel set in the 14th century about a Richard Birks.

Bovey's papers document his involvement with a number of organizations, his political, literary, and military careers, and his travels. His files as president of the Canadian Handicrafts Guild, 1930-1936, include reports, correspondence and speeches, while those connected with the Canadian Legion Educational Services also include photographs and printed material, 1939-1946. The C.B.C. series comprises programmes, draft speeches and letters, 1936-1944. His political correspondents include St. Laurent and MacKenzie King, 1940-1944. Speeches made by Bovey before the Legislative Council, business and other groups discuss a wide range of political, social and educational issues are supplemented by clipping files on Québec politics. Bovey's literary ventures generated correspondence and book reviews, as well as manuscript poems, 1939-1941, n.d., while his World War I military service is the subject of a small file of correspondence, 1915-1953. Finally, Bovey assembled scrapbooks of photographs and souvenirs of his voyages between 1930 and 1939. For Bovey's files as director of Extra-Mural Relations and Extension at McGill, see McGill Administrative Records, Record Group 44.

Fonds consists of largely off-prints and clippings of articles on education and politics, particularly in relation to Poland (1916-1932). There are also printed copies of testimonials for his applications for the chairs of philosophy at Aberdeen (1900) and St. Andrew's (1903), an annotated programme for the London Conference on Re-Affirming the World's Moral Ideal (1922), at which he represented Canada, and a poster for his 1896 Shaw Lecture at Edinburgh, on Schopenhauer.

Cruttwell's two geological notebooks contain addresses delivered by him to the Cardiff Natural History Society and other groups, notes on mineral types and their distribution, particularly in Western Britain, as well as maps and section drawings, notes and clippings.

Noad's papers document his research, and to a lesser extent, his teaching of English and comparative literature. They comprise 1.5 m of binders containing notes, clippings, extracts, and bibliographies on literary topics, e.g. imaginary voyages, memoires, the gentleman in satire, "Ossian", the young Byron, Spanish literature. A few binders contain lecture notes for his courses. Unbound materials include research notes on Ugo Foscolo and 19th century Italian poetry, lecture notes for courses in 19th century English poetry, files of clippings on 19th and 20th century writers, and bibliography cards for Elizabethan through 18th century literature.

The papers contain printed biographical materials: newsclippings on Craik's appointment as Dean (1889), his resignation (1901) and his death, as well as printed addresses by and in honour of him. There is also a typescript copy of the Medical Faculty's resolution at the time of Craik's death. A letter from Craik to a Miss Charleton (1904) thanks her for assistance in compiling an obituary.