Fonds consists of a one document, a manuscript of reminiscences of Charles James, born in Montreal in 1835. The document is internally dated in April 1915. James describes his childhood as the son of a carriage and sleigh builder born in England who conducted much business for the British military stationed in Montreal. The family resided on Craig Street. Reminiscences include descriptions of Montreal, the building of the locks on the Lachine canal, a trip up the Ottawa River to Bytown (Ottawa) and then to Kingston, where the family resided for a time. James joined his father in the trade of carriage trimming as a young man before becoming a Baptist minister in Stratford, Canada, and later Wellesley.
Sangster's papers include two notebooks one containing subscriptions to Hesperus and Other Poems, 1860; and the other containing subscriptions to The St.Lawrence and the Saguenay, 1856; with newspaper reviews of his work, 1856-1887, as well as manuscript versions of Hesperus and other poems and Passing Thoughts. Also included are autograph notes concerning himself and his family; a phrenological character of Sangster, 1859, and a typescript made at McGill of his poems.
This large collection documents Sandford's involvement with various private presses. Included is correspondence relating to the Boars Head Press, 1932-1939, with the Folio Society, Nonsuch Press and Golden Cockerel Press. There is also correspondence with various individuals relating to Sandford's writings about contemporary private presses. Included are original drawings by Dorothea Braby for the Labyrinth of the World as well as 18 boxes of electros and wood blocks from various Boars Head and Golden Cockerel Press Books.
Letters and papers relating to employment with the Hudson’s Bay Company. These include letters of appointment, official announcements, lists of officers of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and an inventory the posts and officers in the Albany River district.
Fonds consists of primarily financial and legal records related to property transfers and the estates of members of the Dawes and Leishman families. It includes land sale deeds, court documents, invoices, receipts, and wills. Business and legal affairs of James P. Dawes, his wife Elizabeth Leishman, and their son Albert F. Dawes are represented in the fonds. Business deals associated with James P. Dawes include with Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada. Many legal documents in the fonds are related to land holdings and property in Lachine, Quebec.