The bulk of Gill's papers concern his consulting work for the mining industry and for government. Only two small files relate to his teaching career. Gill's work as mining consultant is documented by 124 maps, 48 designed by Gill himself, showing structural geology of various regions in eastern Canada, and mineral deposits of gold, iron, zinc and molybdenite, not only in Canada, but also in the Malartic gold fields in Peru (1929-1968). The papers also contain his report on iron ore in Labrador (1929) and two reports by W.F. James and J.E. Gill to the Newfoundland government, assessing prospects for gold in the Rainbow and Kayak Concessions, Labrador (1933), areas prospected by R.B. D'Aigle, see his papers, Section IX: Professions And Trades. IX). Three field notebooks record summer research expeditions (1935, 1947-1948). Three reports by Peter Eakins, a former student of Gill, describe the Malartic mine (1951, 1955-1956); there is also a report by Eakins on the Wasa Lake Goldfield (1950), and one by J.B. Gilliatt on the Wabana Iron Mines (1949). Gill also raised a file of correspondence and reports on Newfoundland mineral resources (ca 1955-1969). Finally, there are two boxes of petrographic slides, one with laboratory reports, a box of mineral samples collected for the Québec Ministry of Mines, and 4 photographs of mining concerns with which Gill was involved. His teaching activities are reflected by a file of plans, reports and memoranda on the organization of the Geology Department Map Library (1959-1969) and an outline with some draft chapters of a student's thesis (1969).

The fonds consists of manuscript travel journals, engravings, and letters of naturalist, artist, and author James Forbes. The fonds containsa five-volume fair copy of a manuscript travel journal prepared by Forbes describing his travels and stays in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland during 1796 and 1797. Entries describe the climates, cultures, art, monuments, and historical sites of the places he visited. Some entries also reflect current events, such as the French Revolution, and comparison between the places he visited and his native England. The journals were prepared by Forbes ostensibly for his daughter, to whom the first volume contains a dedication. The fifth volume contains an addendum dated 1799. The The fonds also contains two letters, one a letter to Forbes from his grandson, the Count of Montalembert, and one a letter from Forbes to his sister, Eliza Fothergill, dated 1788. The final materials in the fonds are two hand-coloured engravings of illustrations created by Forbes in 1771 and 1783, and published by Richard Bentley (London, 1834).

Collection consists of 57 illustrations of birds, eggs, snakes, and plants by James Forbes chiefly to illustrate his work "Oriental Memoirs," published in four volumes between 1813 and 1815. The majority of the illustrations are either engraved or hand-drawn and then coloured, and have been cut out and mounted on paper. In many cases, a background has been drawn in and coloured or partially coloured. Approximately thirty of the images depict tropical birds, many from the Indian subcontinent, as well as some from Brazil and Australia. A number of these drawings also feature insects, particularly butterflies, and trees and flowers. Fifteen drawings depict bird eggs, including many of forest birds. The images generally contain captions by Forbes or a contemporary, identifying the subject of the drawing. Some birds are unidentified. Numerous drawings also contain species identifications or annotations in pencil by Henry Mousely, librarian of the Blacker Wood Library at McGill University during the 1920s and 1930s. These drawings are tentatively dated to approximately 1811. A note on one drawing indicates that it was originally based on drawings created during Forbes's voyages during the 1780s, then recopied in 1811. Items 44 through 57 depict snakes and reptiles and are tentatively dated to between approximately 1811 and 1818, based on a small number of drawings which are signed and dated. Many of these drawings of snakes and reptiles feature as plates in Patrick Russell's "A Continuation of an Account of Indian Serpents: Containing Descriptions and Figures, from Specimens and Drawings" (1801).

The fonds documents his activities as a federal judge in Montreal and Ottawa and consists chiefly of judgments, 1972-2007 and bench notebooks, 1972-1999 with some congratulatory correspondence concerning his appointments as well as related certificates, and photographs. These records reflect the extent of his records keeping activities in textual form. Later records were created only as electronic records. These were not acquired.

The fonds consists of bound book of company records from the years 1893 to 1897. Later on the book was used as a scrapbook including newspaper clippings from the wars (1914-1951).

McGill's papers are of both a personal and a business nature. Personal materials consist of almanacs, 1801, 1802, 1812, containing short, dry diary notes; a power of attorney from McGill to Duncan Cameron, 1809; photocopies of two letters to his business associates John Askin and Isaac Todd, 1812; and copies of his will, 1813. His business interests are represented by the journal of the firm of James and Andrew McGill, 1797-1814. Four documents concerning McGill's property and its boundaries, 1798, 1803 are contained in McGill University Administrative Records, Record Group 4, c.437-c.438.

These McGill papers are entirely concerned with his property and estate. They comprise legal documents and copies of letters (some in McGill's hand) concerning his land holdings on St. Paul St., Montréal, in Stanbridge, and in Detroit. McGill's cash book, 1809-1815, and copy by W.D. Lighthall of a deed of conveyance to McGill of some land formerly occupied by the city fortifications, 1805, are also included, as is a blue-print and sketch by W.D. Lighthall of the site of McGill's St. Paul St. house. Estate papers comprise a probate of McGill's will, copied by Alice Lighthall, and his executor's cash book.

These papers comprise copies of addresses delivered to the Society.

The fonds consists of two letters from James Mills to Principal Sir Arthur Currie dated July 31 and August 5 1922. Both letters refer to the appointment of a principal to Macdonald College and the July letter has a typed copy with lines underlined in red ink. Included is a note from Currie to E.W . Beatty stating that a copy of the Mills letter was enclosed.