The fonds consists of the records of the Zoological Society of Montreal for the entirety of its existence, from 1964-2016. These records were generated in the pursuit of the Zoological Society’s goal to enhance public awareness of wildlife conservation issues through speakers, film screenings, field trips, special events, and large projects. The records also reflect the Society's charity to zoological, ecological and conservation causes. The administration of the Society, its interactions with its members, and its projects and events are documented through minutes, correspondence, communications, published articles, financial documents, reports, and proposals. The Society’s interests and activities are also reflected through books, objects from their offices, audio and video materials, and 5243 photographs, most of which are stored in photo albums. The fonds also contains the records of the Zoological Society of Canada, which were created to administer the Canadian Society similarly to the Montreal Society, with the goal of expanding the organization’s reach nationally.

The fonds is comprised of the following series: 1) Activities (1965-2013); 2) Administration (1964-2016); 3) Artifacts (1980-2004); 4) Books (1967-1991); and 5) Newsletters (1967-2016).

The fonds documents Yvan Lamonde’s research activities as a student and professor chiefly through research notes, correspondence and journals, his participation in national and international colloquia and cultural organizations through minutes and correspondence, as well as his publishing activities through contracts, correspondence and book reviews. There is also some personal correspondence and photographs.

The minute books of annual meetings deal with social events, programmes, financial affairs, furnishing of various rooms in Strathcona Hall and various guest speakers. There is also a very brief minute book of the Executive, 1902-1914.

The collection contains correspondence, curriculum vitae, a poem written by his wife, Elizabeth Turnor, a record of medical examinations for the Coroner's Court of Montreal, 1894 and lectures notes. The greater part of the notes consists of embryology notes made at the Anatomisches Institut, Munich, around 1900.

The fonds contains correspondence related to the Osler Library and its holdings with people such as Maude Abbott, Edward Archibald, William B. Bean, Edward Horton Bensley, Archibald Malloch, Casey Wood, as well as John Farquhar Fulton, Keeper of the Medical History Collections at Yale University's library; the fonds also contains a typescript of talks by W.W. Francis (titled "Showman's Patter") about books and other items held in the Osler Library.

The fonds contains one drawing documenting the elevation of an amusement hall for the Ontario Hospital in Hamilton, ON.

A partial inventory of this collection reveals that it is largely composed of the scattered personal papers of the members of the Worthington Family, ca. 1833-1944, especially those of Edward Dagge Worthington and Arthur Norreys Worthington. The fonds also includes a few items pertaining to Edward Bruen Worthington and Asheton N. Worthington. It includes personal, business and professional correspondence; certificates, diplomas, tests, maps, sketchbooks, loose ledger sheets, testimonials, photographs and newspaper clippings. The greater part of the collection consists of the papers of Edward Dagge Worthington including correspondence related to his business affairs, medical career and family matters (1840-1883); medical certificates and diplomas, (1840-1847); two sketchbooks, (1840?); with caricatures of John Goodsir, Alexander Munro, Robert Knox and William Robertson; testimonials (1865, 1867); a resume of his education covering 1833-1843; newspaper clippings and photographs. The papers of Arthur Norreys Worthington are primarily correspondence describing his military activities in South Africa, 1900.

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.

Collection consists of programmes, guides, brochures, catalogues, and other ephemera from various world fairs and international exhibitions, including: Expo '86 Vancouver (1986), Expo '70 Osaka (1970), Exposition internationale in Paris (1937), Franco-British Exhibition (1908), Liverpool (1913), Exhibition universelle (1900), Latin-British Exhibition (1912), Canadian National Exhibition Toronto (1908), Golden Gate Exhibition (1939), New York World's Fair (1939), International Exhibition (1862), Irish International Exhibition (1907), New York Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations (1853), St. Louis World Fair (1904), Universal Exhibition Antwerp (1885), World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago (1893), International Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia (1876), Chicago World's Fair (1934), and British Empire Exhibition (1924). The collection also includes postcards for various other world fairs and international exhibitions, and some country publications.

The fonds consists of Workshop on Instruction in Library Use (WILU) Conference records including records of the Steering Committee, Program Committee, financial statements, and administrative files. In addition, the fonds includes a t-shirt from the McGill WILU Conference in May 1999.