The collection consists of documents amassed by Roderick Mackenzie. Among the Masson manuscripts there are other series of letters; as well as journals kept by North-Westers and various business documents. Some of this material exists as originals; others are contemporary copies - the George Keith letters for example are contemporary copies on paper watermarked 1827. The collection also includes some duplicate texts - contemporary copies or later nineteenth-century copies that in some cases represent edited versions of the texts. Samuel Wilcocke's account of the death of Benjamin Frobisher exists in a draft original (or contemporary copy) and in a late nineteenth-century clean copy. Of course Benjamin Frobisher did not die in the dramatic circumstances as recorded by Wilcocke, but peacefully in Quebec City in 1821.

The fonds contains materials that Dr. M. Entin collected for his biography of Dr. Archibald. Mainly include articles relate to tuberculosis, pancreatitis, wound healing, history of surgery, and scientific writing. It also includes letters from Edward Archibald to Mrs. Archibald, letters to Archibald from William Osler and Sir Henry Gray, addenda of Archibald's world journey in 1936, and articles by Archibald.

Some draft chapters of the biography of Dr. Archibald and research data for 100th Anniversary of Royal Victoria Hospital can also be found in the fonds.

The fonds includes Dr. Archibald’s correspondence and reports pertaining to the Ministry of National Defence, 1940-1945; certificates and diplomas; and a photograph. The correspondents include family members, Dr. John McCrae and Sir William Osler. There is also a draft of a book on wound ballistics and gas gangrene; an Army Field Service book, 1916 and two notebooks on internal and external pathology, “matiere medicale et therapeutique,” and “medecine legale et toxicologie,” 1895.

Fonds shows Thomas Gibson's interest in history of medicine. It contains papers on John Palmer Litchfield and on the General Council of Medical Education and Registration of Upper Canada. Dr. Gibson's notes on the translation of Theodore Turquet de Mayerne of the Opera Medica of Joseph Brown, ed. 1700. Correspondence.

Fonds shows Herbert Frederick Moseley's relations with his editor for his book "Shoulder Lesions". It contains an original manuscript with the publisher's annotations for the 1945 edition and another complete copy.

The fonds contains the research work of Dr. Simpson in preparation of his biography of Austin Flint.

The fonds documents William B. Howell's poetry. The fonds contains a bound typescript of poems with two drawings by W.W. Francis.

This subseries consists of 11 volumes, correspondence files, and a box of notecards dated from 1921-1956 relating to Wood's publication “An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology” published in 1931 and collection development within the Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries at McGill University. The volumes and files contain correspondence, handwritten and typed annotated manuscripts, proof sheets, the publication, notecards listing recipients of the publication, prints, printed ephemera, clippings, financial and administrative records, book reviews, and McGill Library catalogue listings related to the works within “An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology.” Additional professional projects are also represented in the subseries including “Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon,” the Passing of John III, and Wood’s translation of Benevenutus Grassus’ de Oculis.
There are 1313 incoming and outgoing correspondence letters, telegrams, and cards; the largest volume in the collection. The correspondents are located internationally and include public, academic, government, and army libraries; museums, clubs and societies, literary journals, publishers, etc.. Some individuals and companies addressed include Lillian Bates, William Henry Mousley, Gerhard R. Lomer, W. W. Francis, Robert de Resillac Roese, S. R. Burrell, Robert Blacker, Miss Hanington, Elizabeth E. Abbott, John and Edward Bumpus Ltd., Oxford University Press, Sun Engraving Co., Parker & Sons Ltd., Herbert Putnam, George Iles, Colonel F. H. Garrison, Dr. Melville Black, W. J. Belcher, Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Maude Abbott, Dr. A. D. Blackader, R. R. James, Pierpont Morgan Library, Humphrey Milford, Basil H. Soulsby, William F. Petersen, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Natural History Museum, Dr. Robert A. Millikan, Douglas H. Campbell, A. J. Swann, Sir Arthur W. Currie, Alexander Wetmore, E. Cowles Andrus, and John Johnson.

This fonds comprises of the research work of C.A. Brodie-Brockwell. It consists of unpublished manuscripts and notes on early Mediterranean cultures and civilisation, pre-Christian Hebrew, Semitic and Arabian culture, as well as investigations into early calendars and methods of counting (boxes 1- 6, and box 7, files 1-8, 10). Other files include: hand-drawn maps of peoples of Europe in different times (box 7, file 9); lecture named “A New Interpretation of the Parable of the So-Called Unjust Steward” (box 7, file 11); correspondence (box7, file 12); dictionary notebook (box 7, File 13).

The binders with manuscripts are arranged by subjects, discerned from their titles and content.

Fonds comprises research notes, bibliographies, manuscripts, edited typescripts and proofs for In Caps and Gowns.