Consists of one notebook containing volume 2 of Notes on mining, Royal School of Mines, 1871-1872.

File consists of one undated blue notebook with manuscript half-title page: "Catalogue of Books, Maps, & Papers bearing on the North Western Part of British North America." Two leaves of loose notes and drawings laid in at end.

File consists of one black bound notebook with notes beginning with trip to Port Hood, Nova Scotia, 15 October 1872.

File consists of two childhood diaries. The diary dated from summer 1865 recounts a trip to the United Kingdom taken with his father when George Mercer Dawson was 16 years old. The diary dated 1861 was kept while George Mercer Dawson was 11 years old and begins 1 March 1861. One loose leaf with instructions for a magic lantern was previously laid in the diary. 1861 diary speaks of lessons with "Miss," tells of pasttimes and games including tops and marbles, siling boats, tag, bow and arrows, magic lantern, etc. Speaks also of continued headaches and being tired.

File consists of two bound pocket notebooks, one dated 1882 and one between 1869-1871. The notebook beginning 21 June 1869 is a small red pocket notebook with gold clasp and contains geological observations and drawings of a cave at Murray Bay in Quebec (1869), Grange Quarry and Burntisland (summer 1870) and a British Geological Association excursion (1871). The 1882 notebook contains poems and notes on France and Germany written while traveling .

File includes George Mercer Dawson's passport (dated 1882), a small account book dated 1879, and 19 small index cards (tied with string) containing bibliographic citations for publications on geology.

File includes a wedding invitation; a reception invitation to the opening of the Peter Redpath Museum of McGill University; and a private letter written by John William Dawson to the members of the Council of the Royal Society of London.

File includes a diary with entries of the Queen Charlotte Island Cruise from 27 May 1878 - 17 October 1878.

File consists of private diary for 1891 (I), entries dated 9 July 1891 - 7 September 1891.