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.

This archive contains letters and copies of letters, from the Wisdom sisters to one another, describing their experiences at Royal Victoria College, 1900-1908. There is also a letter from Stephen Leacock, accepting an invitation to deliver an address, and two from Hilda Oakeley to Mrs. Wisdom. Programmes (particularly of R.V.C. plays and sports events), clippings, and photographs are also included. There are also course notes for C.W. Colby's Renaissance history and William Caldwell's history of modern philosophy.

This material features a small amount of medical papers: a manuscript of Bell's address on the subject of nursing training to the Alumnae Association of the R.V.H. School for Nurses, 1910; a letter introducing Bell to Dr. Viktor Hueter of Marburg, Germany, from Francis Shepherd, 1891; and a laboratory report to Bell from R.F. Ruttan, on kidney stones, 1900. Bell's map of the Riel Rebellion, 1885, is also included. A series of five lectures and papers on intestinal ailments, syphilis, rodent ulcer of the face, cancer of the larynx and kidney disease is supplemented by 19 case reports, 1896-1907, 7 of patients whose primary symptom was abdominal pain, and 12 suffering from sore or swollen throat. The remainder of the papers consist almost entirely of obituary notices, newsclippings and resolutions in memory of Bell and about half a dozen lettes of sympathy, including one from Sir William Osler.

The World War I Clippings Collection consists of approximately 635 newspaper clippings and articles related to the First World War. Most of the clippings in this collection consist of daily reporting on troop movements and events that occurred during World War I, with some editorial and commentary pieces. Also included are clippings of maps, most from unidentified newspapers, and clipped recruitment ads. Specific topics include the sinking of the Lusitania, McGill participation in the war, the siege of Przemysl, Canadian troop deployments and casualties, and the Pope. The majority of the clippings come from the Montreal Gazette (approximately 140 clippings) and the Philadelphia Public Ledger (approximately 120 clippings). Around 50 clippings are from the The Evening Bulletin (Philadelphia) and a handful are from The Times (London). Also included are some articles from the D. A. W. War Tracts (numbers 5-7), Berlin, and the Journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin (New York). The fonds also contains a copy of the War Gazetteer, compiled by Charles McD. Puckette and Carrington Weems, issued by the New York Evening Post in 1914. The earliest article appears to be reporting on England's declaration of war on Germany, dated 5 August 1914.

The bulk of Girdwood's papers concern his work in forensic medicine. Other materials cover his research in photography, and his general medical and scientific interests. Girdwood's career as medical-legal consultant is documented by 24 cm of his notes and reports, together with some correspondence, on four poisoning trials: People vs Emma Davis (Malone, N.Y., 1881), Queen vs Provencher and Boisclair (Sorel, 1867), Queen vs Joseph Ruel (St. Hyacinthe, 1868), and Queen vs David Prevost and Damase Brunet (L'Orignal, 1881). There are also coroner's autopsy reports and notes for four cases; Girdwood's memoires of ten cases on which he served as consultant; Rogers and Girdwood's submission to the Home Office, London, on the strychnine test, together with letters to Lancet and the Times on the same subject; and notes on the counterfeiting of stamps (1893). His interest in medical photography is reflected in lists of X-rays taken by him (1898-1899) and reprints of three articles. His general scientific and medical activities are represented by a scrapbook of newsclippings on cholera (1854), a lecture on gold presented to the Natural History Society of Montréal (n.d.), essays on strychnine (1864) and water filtration (1869), a review of a textbook in physiology (1864) and some reprints, including convocation addresses to the Medical Faculty. Finally, there is a manuscript copy of an address to the graduating class of Applied Science in 1881 and a small scrapbook of printed articles by Girdwood's father, G.F. Girdwood, M.D.

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.

Correspondence 1921-1931 concerning Simon McTavish; official copies of legal documents including estate inventories, lawsuits over the McTavish estate, and Simon McTavish’s will; notes for Baylis’ study of McTavish; numerous petitions and newspaper clippings on the state of the McTavish monument and tomb (Peel St., Montreal), and a typescript of his text concerning Simon McTavish. Also two letters from Ignatius Donnelly, 1899, and a letter 1895, from J. Middleton to John Doyle about 19th century gardening in Montreal and the funeral of Judge James Reid.

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.

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.