The fonds documents John Mappin’s occupation as an independent antiquarian book seller, his personal interest in the history of print and Canadian politics, and his personal achievements as an author. The wide variety of subject files found in this collection are almost entirely North American based and span from 1733-2004. These records reflect Mappin’s particular focus on Canadian authors and Canadiana in general.

McDonald's correspondence, 1791-1860, mostly concerns business and property matters, but also includes personal correspondence. There are statements of account with McTavish, Frobisher & Co., 1799; with McTavish, Fraser & Co., 1803-1804; with McTavish, McGillivray & Co., 1808-1809. There are two volumes of autobiographical notes assembled in 1859 and covering the period 1791-1816.

There is a second copy of the autobiography, probably transcribed in the late 19th century. Written on the front fly leaf is the name: A.E. MacDonald. It has 63 leaves, and there are minor textual variants.

Fonds consists of an album of autograph letters and signatures, including letters both to and from Nichols. Correspondents include John Temple (26 November 1821) and Charles Burney Jr. (5 January 1809). Also represented in the fonds are Nichols's children John Bowyer Nichols (1779-1863) and John Gough Nichols (1806-1873), including a letter to John Gough Nichols from Sir Henry Ellis (2 December 1842).

Nash's papers comprise original illustrations for Nouveau Poor by Belinda Blinders, edited by Desmond Cooke (1921), together with drawings for and letters concerning L.de G. Sieveking's Dressing Gowns and Glue (1921).

Ruskin's literary manuscripts include a lecture on "The Italian Question" delivered at Bradford, 1864, an essay on The Three Colours of Pre-Raphaelitism, the preface to the last edition of The Stones of Venice (1872) and two poems; "To the ocean", 1831 and "Sonnet to a dond". His correspondence comprises 32 letters to Elizabeth White, 1864-1881.

Fonds consists of journal for the year 1800 kept by Thomson on the Mackenzie River (Rocky Mountain).

Collection consists of Joseph Crawhall's correspondence, notes, memoranda, and manuscripts related to his research on engraver Thomas Bewick (1753-1828).

Frobisher's papers comprise a letterbook of the North-West Co. containing copies of letters written by Frobisher from April 1787 to October 1788, two original letters to Simon McTavish, 1796, and one from him, 1787, business and legal documents, largely concerning the estate of James McGill, 1810-1834, and a diary, 1806-1810, mostly a record of where he dined.

Consisting of documents detailing the 1785 travels and observations of Joseph Hadfield through the Northwest fur trade of North America and to Niagara Falls (probably written after 1810). Observations are primarily economic in nature; however, there are also references to the geographical and cultural surroundings.

The fonds documents Judith Fitzgerald’s personal and professional activities as a journalist, poet, and country music enthusiast, put together by Fitzgerald herself, documenting her work from the years 1965 to 1995. The majority of the records consists of research about individuals and musical acts, as well as other work-related projects that Fitzgerald was involved in. These include notes, drafts, and published work written by Fitzgerald, as well as various publications that she collected about the subjects and projects she worked on. The fonds also notably includes Fitzgerald’s creative work, including notes, drafts, manuscripts, and copies of her published books of poetry. Other materials include correspondence between Fitzgerald and friends, publishers, and individuals and institutions that she covered in her research. In addition, the fonds includes some financial records and personal records relating to Fitzgerald’s day-to-day activities and significant events in her life. These records include her marriage certificate, scrapbooks containing collected publications on herself, and notes on her autobiography.