The James Morrison papers are a collection of documents chiefly related to James Morrison's activities as a trader and merchant in Montreal. The papers also include some material related to Morrison's family, including legal documents and genealogical research conducted by his descendents. The documents in the James Morrison papers cover a period beginning 18 September 1651 and ending in approximately 1912, but focusing primarily on 1767 through 1800. The fonds represents Morrison's business dealings in Quebec, Ontario, the northern United States, and England, as well as his family life in Montreal and connections with relatives in Baltimore, Ontario, and Jamaica.

The papers are arranged into three series: 1 - Journals, 2 - Correspondence, and 3 - Financial and legal records. Documents in these series include a bound journal, correspondence, contracts, deeds of ownership, power of attorney, birth and marriage certificates, bills of sale, invoices, accounts, descriptions of political and military events, and genealogical notes.

This file contains a journal containing entries related to two voyages undertaken by James Morrison, with some accounts, lists of goods and furs, contracts, and other notes and transactions. The first voyage is titled "Journal of a voyage in a large cannoe by Jas Morrison from Montreal to Toranto [sic]," and took place between 13 April 1767 and 1 August 1767, during which they also visited Michilimackinac. The second voyage, "Journal for voyage 11 April 1769 1 canoe to Detroit," also set out from Montreal and visited Michilimackinac, returning on approximately 20 or 21 September 1769. Other notable entries include "A Dictionary of Indian words in the Missisage" with 49 words of Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) vocabulary and a directive from Benjamin Roberts, Commissary of Indian Affairs, to Jean-Baptiste de Couagne, Interpreter for Indian Affairs, written in Morrison's hand from Fort Niagara, 21 May 1767.

Letter from King & McCord to James Morrison, concerning the lack of availability of "Russia Ermine" and the bad colour of locally available ermine.

Letter from Proulx to James Morrison, expressing concern for Morrison's health and discussing an amount of wheat that he could sell to Morrison, along with Mr. de la Corne.

Partial, unsigned letter addressed to James Morrison. Letter's contents describe the sinking of the ship Swift Bay in the English Channel following an accident, along with news and speculation about the American Revolutionary War (including Montgomery's defeat at Quebec), as well as discussion of a drop in the price of beaver pelts which the writer attributes to the events of the war.

Letter from John Winslow, pay master, to James Morrison. Letter explains that Winslow cannot give any money to Morrison without a warrant from the General.

Letter from John Mompason to James Morrison. Contents of letter include concern for Mrs. Morrison's health, a lost barrel of rum that Morrison had sent to him, rumours that Lt. Gov. Sinclair may face a civil prosecution, and complaints about the difficulty of obtaining changes in posting, and lost revenue by traders, both caused by the Lt. Gov.

Letter from Samuel Morrison to his uncle James Morrison. Letter concerns commercial and political news following the end of the American Revolutionary War, with prices for goods including molasses, gin, tobacco, flour, rum, and sugar, and personal news, including the deaths of his son and several of his nephews from smallpox.

Letter from Robert Woolsey to James Morrison, including copied note from David Grant and invoices related to insurance Grant took out for Portuguese and Spanish gold coins.

Letter from Robert Woolsey to James Morrison, with a note about the sale of butter and a description of an unusual fog and thunderstorm causing extreme darkness.