File includes 52 letters including correspondence with G. Baden-Powell, J. Anderson, W. F. King, L. S.Stanley, W. C. Van Horne, C. H.Tupper, and George.A. Lee. Also contains memorandum on Behring Sea, 1892; report on Behring Sea Seal fishery signed by Frank A. Bauth, president of the Chamber of Commerce, 1892; and personal notes.

File consists of two diaries, one with entries dated between 5 May 1873 and 1 June 1873, and an observation book "H.M.B.C.M." dated between 1 June 1873 - 26 June 1873. Also included is a catalogue of specimens for the British North American Boundary Commission, Dufferin (June 1873).

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 diaries, one dated 1869 and one dated between 1871-1872. The 1869 diary begins 11 September 1869 contains entries describing his first year in England and contains remarks on sailing from Montreal to Ireland (September-October 1869), Edinburgh (October), church attendance, sightseeing and trips, accounts, etc. 1871-1872 notebook contains notes on geological findings, descriptions of Middlesbrough-on-Tees (July 1872), and coal mining in Pictou county, Nova Scotia.

File includes diary and general notebook from British Columbia, dated 28 May 1877-26 October 1877, 27 October 1877-13 November 1877.

File includes one volume with diary entries and general notes, including 211 vocabulary terms in Lillooet (St̓át̓imcets / Sƛ’aƛ’imxǝc), the language of the St’át’imc people. The volume is dated between 26 May 1876 - 20 October 1876.

File consists of a diary from 1874 (entries dated between 6 April 1874 and 19 May 1874); and a reference list of collected specimens for the British North American Boundary Commission (May 1874).

File includes a diary with entries dated 24 April 1877 - 27 May 1877; and a notebook recording the rise and fall of tides of Murray Bay dated 10-16 August 1877.

File includes a diary from George Mercer Dawson's tour in Europe dated 4 May 1882 - 5 December 1882 and notebook dated May 1882.

File includes three small notebooks: a diary from 1883 and two red pocket notebooks from 1883 documenting trips from England, France and Italy. One pocket book has a pencil accompanying it.