Fonds contains correspondence, including letters and postcards from Sir William Osler, clippings and two photographs.

The fonds contains original and typescript letters, manuscript notes, newspaper clippings, journal extracts, reminiscences and more, assembled by Harvey Cushing chiefly between 1920 and 1924 during the course of his research for the biography of William Osler. For the biography, Cushing collected and retyped over 7500 pieces of Osler's correspondence, among which are some original letters.

The fonds is separated into three series: Manuscripts, Working Notes and Osler's Correspondence. It also contains photographs, annual reports, publications, clippings, one watercolor painting, one postcard. Osler's correspondence is further arranged in three subseries based chronologically.

Fonds documents the Montreal years of H.V. Ogden and the ties he had with Sir William Osler. The fonds contains the correspondence of H.V. Ogden consisting of letters from May Francis and Marian Francis (Osborne), letters from George Cantlie, a letter from Dr. Robert Palmer Howard and a letter from Edmund J.A. Rogers.

Fonds consists of records (originals, printed materials, photographs and motion pictures) that are almost entirely of a professional and research nature, covering Barnes’ general scientific and university work during World War I, a number of special research problems, and his involvement in scientific and social organizations.

His general scientific and university files (1914-1915) contain correspondence, including copies of some of Barnes' outgoing letters on departmental adminstration, Barnes' lectures, publications, scientific apparatus, research problems and the exchange of information. Correspondents include colleagues in other institutions (including Ernest Rutherford), learned societies, and private industry. This series also contains a file on purchases for the University Library, and inventories of Barnes' library.

Far more extensive are the materials on special research problems. These comprise notes, essays and correspondence on the detection of submarines (1915-1917) and on the development of anti-freezing devices for fire extinguisher and sprinkler systems (1917). A report by Barnes on the effect of ice conditions on St. Lawrence navigaton is supplemented by printed background materials and copies, or extracts from other reports. Barnes' work on icebergs is documented by five binders of clippings, photographs, maps and diary notes on research expeditions to Newfoundland (1924-1929). Practical experiments in ice clearance are illustrated by bound notebooks of clippings and photographs, as well as a number of loose photographs showing ice and flooding damage, use of thermite and calcium chloride, apparatus and ice-crushers (ca 1921- 1929). Finally, two reels of 35 mm motion picture film (ca 1930) show Barnes experimenting with a new mercury microthermometer.

Barnes' work as Hon. Secretary of the Canadian Committee of the British Science Guild is documented by correspondence from 1907 to 1919, largely concerning the recruitment of members and officers, but also touching on a survey of science teaching in schools and the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1917. Less extensive files cover Barnes' involvement in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (1912-1914), the Rotary Club (1917) and the McGill Graduates' Society (1919)

Correspondence, accounts, journals maps, etc., documenting Bissett’s career with the Hudson’s Bay Company. The Photostats (in C.1 and C.2) include Bissett’s journal and accounts at the Red River, 1854-1855, and a journal “Lachine to the Sandwich Islands” 1858-1859. There are also journals for 1859 and 1867. The original documents (in C.3) include correspondence with the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1858-1875, and accounts, 1860-1873. There are Bissett’s commissions as Chief Trader (1858) and as Chief Factor (1872), and a list of Chief Traders and Factors, 1855-1879. There are also some plans / maps, sketches, and photographs including a sketch of the Hudson’s Bay Post at Honolulu, ca. 1860.

The fonds contains chiefly the writings of Jeremy Walker on a variety of issues in moral philosophy and related literary topics. These writings, including anthologies, drafts of books and lecture notes, demonstrate the range of his eclectic interests from his formal studies of Kierkegaard and moral philosophy to his more personal intellectual pursuits concerning the literature of Kipling, Jane Austen, and Dostoyevsky, as well as the poetry of Woodsworth and reflections on Englishness. There are also examples of his published and unpublished poetry.

His more personal writings are in diaries that cover more than 20 years of his adult life and in contrast to his erudite writings on grand philosophical topics reflect his feelings and at times his dreams, on the state of his health, relationships with women, and recount the day-to-day events of urban travel and socializing.

His personal and family relationships are reflected by correspondence with family, friends and students, photo albums of travels to England and Greece, travel diaries document his summer activities from 1947 -1950, including lists of books read, drawings and photographs. As well, in a file titled Personalia (3) Apologiai Walker provides some personal chronologies, and reflects upon his writings and his life.

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.

The fonds consists of books, letters, documents, drafts, publications, photographs, and several artifacts collected by W. W. Francis and Marian Francis Kelen over the course of their lifetimes. Many books and documents relate to Sir William Osler and the Osler family including several personal letters, the Deed of Trust documents regarding the Bibliotheca Osleriana, drafts of Osler's works, and a wooden travelling trunk that belonged to Edward Revere Osler. The fonds also includes original poetry written by Marian Osborne, W. W. Francis, and Marian Francis Kelen.

Fonds consists of the personal and professional papers of Louis and Irene Kon including extensive correspondence between the Kon family. Included are materials relating to the founding of the Norman Bethune Foundation and Bethune memorials; the making of Ted Allan's movie, "Making of a Hero", including the conflict with Syd Gordon regarding creative differences; a manuscript draft and notes on Larry Stephenson's manuscript 'Two Petrals.'