Adams' papers are largely concerned with his experiments on the mechanical deformation of rocks. Glass lantern slides, both for lectures and private record, are also included, as well as some materials on his interest in religion and in the history of geology. His scientific research is documented by working papers and experimental materials on rock deformation, 1896-1912. These consist of ten notebooks and one scrapbook recording his experiments, as well as notes, photographs, and carbons of typescript chapters on background literature, equipment used, and specific minerals. There are also graphs recording results, and over 1,000 photographs, glass negatives, and petrographic microscope slides. Adams' index-card bibliography lists articles and reports on Canadian geology and mining (ca 1900-1920). Adams' collection of glass slides and negatives were used for teaching geology and as a private record of his travels and family life. These slides number approximately 1,000, and show mines (particularly in Canada) volcanoes and glaciers, a large collection of views of Mexico, the Laurentians, China, the Rockies, England and Palestine, as well as family and vacation scenes. Also included are two essays, and an outline for a third on the Christian life (1937), short reflexions on his activities from 1937 to 1942, a photocopy of his will (1943), clippings of articles where he is mentioned (1919-1942), and notices of his history of Christ Church Cathedral (1941). Adams' interest in the history of geology is reflected in a manuscript biography of A.R.C. Selwyn, for the centenary of the Geological Society of Edinburgh, and a handful of letters and notes on the early use of the word "geology" (1932). His post-retirement travels resulted in a manuscript essay on mining in Malaya.

This series consists of glass plate negatives and other photographic materials with their original boxes relating to the Feather Book, ornithology, falconry, McGill University Library, and Casey Wood. The majority of the glass plates were produced in Berlin, Germany by Agra, while a few were produced in London, England and Toronto, Canada; which is indicated on the boxes the plates were contained in. On many of these boxes, McGill University librarian Dr. G. R. Lomer’s name appears, indicating these plates and photographic materials were used for library-related activities. Most of the plates, photographs, and photographic negatives (1927, 1930, 1956) show pages from the Feather Book by Dionisio Minaggio. Other glass plate negatives and photographic material depict artwork or images relating to ornithology and falconry, a portrait of Casey Wood (1927), Gronvold’s painting of Wood’s parrot John III (1930?), an ornithological archeological exhibit in the Redpath Library (1924), and library stacks in the Redpath Library (1924).

Fond contains solely glass slide negatives. Many slides depict the McGill campus between the years 1918-1921, including the Strathcona Medical Building, as well as the Royal Victoria Hospital. Other subjects include street scenes taken in Montreal after the end of the First World War and the Lockharts' family life during the early 1920s.