The fonds includes a letter from Lex [i.e. Alexander Silbiger] to [Professor] Donald [Mackay] of the McGill Faculty of Music [now, Schulich School of Music], and a typed curriculum vitae [undated, but probably from 1974] detailing personal data, degrees and diplomas, performing experience, recordings, teaching experience, and compositional output. Also included is a printed concert program for a performance given by the Department of Music, Brandeis University in Slosberg Recital Hall on Sunday, April 27, 1975. In addition, the fonds comprises copies of scores of Gian Lyman’s compositions, including [Sonata for Organ?], Three Bagatelles for Piano (first performance, Montreal, 1959), Pieces for Oboe and Viola (first performance, Montreal, 1959), String quartet (first performance, Montreal, 1960), Essay for three Viols (first performance, Hartford, 1966), Trio for Violin, Viola, and Piano, Quaternions (flute, violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord), and miscellaneous pieces for choir and organ.

The fonds consists primarily of Logan's scientific work. A small percentage relates to the affairs of his family and to memorials to Logan after his death. The great majority of the papers consists of scientific correspondence from about 1820 to 1874, but mostly for the years following his appointment to the Survey in 1842. The letters deal with the collection, exchange and description of geological specimens, expeditions under the aegis of the survey, problems of research and scientific interpretation, scientific meetings, and visits by scientists. The number of correspondents, both individuals and learned societies, is very large, but the most substantial bodies of letters are from J.W. Dawson, geologist and Principal of McGill University, James Hall, paleontologist of the New York Geological Survey, Alexander Murray, Logan's chief assistant, and James Lowe of Grenville, Québec, who supplied Logan with specimens and appears to have been casually employed by him on surveying jobs and field trips. Other correspondents include Sanford Fleming, E.D. Ashe of the Québec Observatory, Thomas Sterry Hunt, and R.I. Murchison of the Geographical Society of Great Britain. Some letters pertain to political or social affairs, but usually in close connection with the scientific work of Logan or the Survey. These files contain copies of some of Logan's outgoing letters, as well as some letters addressed to other individuals, generally his assistants. Other scientific papers consist of field trip records (a journal kept during an expedition in 1845, a weather table kept on Lake Superior in the winter of 1846-1847, work records and astronomical readings for surveying projects, notes on mineral deposits, and lists of specimens), manuscripts of three scientific papers, as well as "Observations on the proposed Geological Survey", and manuscript and printed maps and geological schemata, including some by Logan of the Bay of Fundy, Labrador, and Hamilton, Ontario regions. Manuscript catalogues of specimens were prepared by Logan for the Paris Exhibitions of 1855 and 1867. Official reports include Logan's annual reports for 1842-1844, an overview of the work of the Geological Survey, 1866, two reports by Logan on prospects for mining on the north shore of Lake Superior, 1846, 1847, and one on mineral deposits around Rivière-du-Loup, 1853, as well as Logan's copy of his proposed Geological Survey Bill, 1844, and some copies of reports on mining and cartography prepared by others. Logan's financial records include expense accounts for Geological Survey expeditions, as well as other professional expenditures, such as books. His private and family life is reflected by a very brief diary of an Atlantic crossing in 1856, letters to and from his brothers James and Henry, his father, his uncle Hart Logan, and Hart Logan's partner John Fleming, covering the years 1772-1856. There are also baptismal and burial certificates, and legal documents, particularly bills of sale pertaining to James Logan's farm. Memorials to Logan after his death include J.W. Dawson's correspondence concerning the Logan Memorial Fund and Collection, 1881, and a manuscript biography by Alexander Murray. There is a chronological and author/recipient index to these papers.

Additional materials received from McGill Library's Rare Books and Special Collections consist of correspondence, 1837-1871; notices of admission to scientific and historical societies, 1842-1867; a history of the geological survey 1850; a report on mining locations addressed to B. Papineau, 1847; and correspondence with Robert Bell, 1861-1874.

Fonds consists of contemporary manuscript copies of various legal records and instruments relating to the Capacci family. Includes one manuscript written on parchment in pale brown ink, ruled in pale brown ink, and bound in full contemporary blind tooled calf with laid paper endpapers and remnants of ties on covers, as well as a smaller booklet, written on parchment glued into a laid paper wrapper. Documents appear to be dated between 1556 and 1583 and are written in Latin and Italian (sometimes alternating within document). The legal instruments appear chiefly related to the dowry of Orietta Capacci (the dowry is also referenced in an Italian note in a later hand (1650?) inside front cover). Some names found throughout the documents include Orietta Capacci (or Orietta de Capacci) and Annibale (or Anibal) Camillo de Capacci.

Fonds consists of one manuscript album of poetry, belonging to the Marchioness Townshend. Contains various genres of poetry in English, written between 1769 and 1771, including "comic poems on various occasions." Quarto manuscript written on laid paper in a neat scribal hand in brown ink throughout.

Fonds contains the log of the H.M.S. Bellerophon kept during a voyage from Spithead, England, to Italy and the Aegean. Inscription on front flyleaf: "Log of the proceedings of H.M.S. Bellerophon 18 Guns, R. L. Baynes Esq. CB Capt. Commencing October 7th, 1840 and ending April 21st, 1850. Kept by John P. Gardiner, Naval Cadet and Midshipman.

Fonds contains a character sketch in prose of "Aunt Mary." McLeod later published a chapter entitled "Aunt Mary" in his book, "Character Sketches" (New York: Dodd, Mead, & Company, 1876).

Fonds contains bound manuscript entitled "Pictorial stories of the Professions" by Miss M. Sinclair. The manuscript is written in brown ink in a cursive script and illustrated with cuttings from contemporary comic books, some likely hand coloured.

Rexford's papers comprise manuscript and typescript drafts of his High School of Montreal: the development of Secondary Education 1800-1932, ca 1932. For Rexford's collection of background material, see the Special Collection: Protestant Education in Québec.

The fonds consists of records documenting Selwyn Dewdney’s professional activities as a writer, artist, teacher, and student. In addition, there are also records documenting Dewdney’s personal activities. Records related to Dewdney’s professional careers and scholarly pursuits include: printed editions of published articles and books, manuscript drafts, research materials, reviews, essays and speeches, newspaper and magazine clippings, notes, exhibition catalogues, financial records, correspondence, sketches and drawings, notebooks, photographs and plays. The fonds also contains letters, photographs, notes, holiday cards, and invoices related to Dewdney’s personal activities.

This is a collection poems of Jaffier, 1810-1858. A signed note by Bertram Dobell on the covering leaf identifying Jaffier as James St.Aubyn.