The first 14 folders in this series are related directly to R.V.V. Nicholls in his capacity as president of the Canadian Inventory of Scientific Instruments of Historical Interest. Much of the material is comprised of form letters, inventory notices and correspondence . The last folder( #15) is a grouping of miscellaneous ephemeral and research and reference materials of which some is related to the aforementioned organization .

Series includes files on various McGill University committees from the 1940s to 1972, his notes taken as an undergraduate and graduate student at McGill in the 1930s and as Professor of Chemistry, 1936-1972.

Much of the material contained within this series is concerned with the history of McGill's Chemistry Department. Because the majority of material is research related the contents of this series are dominated by xeroxed research materials, holograph research notes, and photographs.

The majority of materials contained in this series is related to organic chemical research during the Second World War. Project RDX is highlighted throughout most of the material. Much of the material is comprised of printed reports (progress and final), printed experiments, discussion papers, holograph notes, and correspondence.