The fonds reflects the scientific and literary outreach activities of the Montreal Natural History Society over the course of its existence and contains correspondence, minutes, financial records, council and committee reports, membership lists, donation lists, catalogues of holdings, newspaper clippings, lecture advertisements and weather maps. In addition, the fonds includes reference material to other societies and information regarding the publication and creation of the Canadian Naturalist and Quarterly Journal of Science, Canadian Naturalist and Geologist and the Canadian Record of Science.
The fonds is composed of the following series: 1) Accounting Records (1860-1917); 2) Administrative Records (1833-1887); 3) Catalogues (ca.1829-ca.1925); 4) Correspondence (1871-1896 with gaps); 5) Essays and Lectures (1829-1852); 6) Minutes (1827-1832,1844-1923); 7) Montreal Microscopical Society (1884-1906); 8) Reports (1828-1881 with gaps); 9) Weather Maps (1895-1897).
The collection consists of the minutes of regular and executive meetings from 1943 and detail monthly activities of the Association. Most of the minutes are typed except for the earlier ones. There are copies of some briefs, copies of the Association's pamphlet, Reflections, and a copy of We Are Tomorrow's Past - published for the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Home Economics Association (1939-1989). See the photo inventory for group photos covering the years 1980-1990.
Included is the constitution, by-laws, and minute books covering 1922-1940. Approximately one half of this material consists of membership cards recording the name, rank, degrees, and publications of members from 1920 until ca 1970. There are also membership lists for various periods including the founding members and lecture lists, ca 1930s. The secretary's files, covering the period 1963-1969, contain files on dues collected, expenditures, membership (nominations, transfers, correspondence with members), the national convention, and chapter meetings. Financial transactions from 1939 to 1946 are recorded in the treasurer's account book.
