Bacon's papers are grouped in two series. Materials from his student days include notes on geology, chemistry, hydrographic surveying, magnetism, electric motors and economics. Files stemming from his work for the National Fire Proofing Co. comprise contracts, architectural specifications, cost notes, and memoranda concerning construction of various buildings in Montréal (e.g. Windsor Station, the Sun Life Building) and elsewhere.

The D'Aigle papers fall into three series: diaries, correspondence and a scrapbook of photographs and memorabilia. The diaries (1912-1914, 1927, 1935-1952) are largely devoted to a day-by-day account of prospecting journeys. Correspondence with members of his family, partners, prospective financial backers and government mining bureaus covers the years 1900-1959. The scrapbook contains personal mementos, newsclippings about D'Aigle, photographs of his journeys, lists of supplies for prospecting trips, and maps, some drawn by D'Aigle himself.

Adams' papers are largely concerned with his experiments on the mechanical deformation of rocks. Glass lantern slides, both for lectures and private record, are also included, as well as some materials on his interest in religion and in the history of geology. His scientific research is documented by working papers and experimental materials on rock deformation, 1896-1912. These consist of ten notebooks and one scrapbook recording his experiments, as well as notes, photographs, and carbons of typescript chapters on background literature, equipment used, and specific minerals. There are also graphs recording results, and over 1,000 photographs, glass negatives, and petrographic microscope slides. Adams' index-card bibliography lists articles and reports on Canadian geology and mining (ca 1900-1920). Adams' collection of glass slides and negatives were used for teaching geology and as a private record of his travels and family life. These slides number approximately 1,000, and show mines (particularly in Canada) volcanoes and glaciers, a large collection of views of Mexico, the Laurentians, China, the Rockies, England and Palestine, as well as family and vacation scenes. Also included are two essays, and an outline for a third on the Christian life (1937), short reflexions on his activities from 1937 to 1942, a photocopy of his will (1943), clippings of articles where he is mentioned (1919-1942), and notices of his history of Christ Church Cathedral (1941). Adams' interest in the history of geology is reflected in a manuscript biography of A.R.C. Selwyn, for the centenary of the Geological Society of Edinburgh, and a handful of letters and notes on the early use of the word "geology" (1932). His post-retirement travels resulted in a manuscript essay on mining in Malaya.

The bulk of Girdwood's papers concern his work in forensic medicine. Other materials cover his research in photography, and his general medical and scientific interests. Girdwood's career as medical-legal consultant is documented by 24 cm of his notes and reports, together with some correspondence, on four poisoning trials: People vs Emma Davis (Malone, N.Y., 1881), Queen vs Provencher and Boisclair (Sorel, 1867), Queen vs Joseph Ruel (St. Hyacinthe, 1868), and Queen vs David Prevost and Damase Brunet (L'Orignal, 1881). There are also coroner's autopsy reports and notes for four cases; Girdwood's memoires of ten cases on which he served as consultant; Rogers and Girdwood's submission to the Home Office, London, on the strychnine test, together with letters to Lancet and the Times on the same subject; and notes on the counterfeiting of stamps (1893). His interest in medical photography is reflected in lists of X-rays taken by him (1898-1899) and reprints of three articles. His general scientific and medical activities are represented by a scrapbook of newsclippings on cholera (1854), a lecture on gold presented to the Natural History Society of Montréal (n.d.), essays on strychnine (1864) and water filtration (1869), a review of a textbook in physiology (1864) and some reprints, including convocation addresses to the Medical Faculty. Finally, there is a manuscript copy of an address to the graduating class of Applied Science in 1881 and a small scrapbook of printed articles by Girdwood's father, G.F. Girdwood, M.D.

This material features a small amount of medical papers: a manuscript of Bell's address on the subject of nursing training to the Alumnae Association of the R.V.H. School for Nurses, 1910; a letter introducing Bell to Dr. Viktor Hueter of Marburg, Germany, from Francis Shepherd, 1891; and a laboratory report to Bell from R.F. Ruttan, on kidney stones, 1900. Bell's map of the Riel Rebellion, 1885, is also included. A series of five lectures and papers on intestinal ailments, syphilis, rodent ulcer of the face, cancer of the larynx and kidney disease is supplemented by 19 case reports, 1896-1907, 7 of patients whose primary symptom was abdominal pain, and 12 suffering from sore or swollen throat. The remainder of the papers consist almost entirely of obituary notices, newsclippings and resolutions in memory of Bell and about half a dozen lettes of sympathy, including one from Sir William Osler.

Apart from student laboratory notes in physics, 1919, Shaw's papers consist of printed and mimeographed reports on a miscellaneous group of chemical topics, but with a significant percentage on ethylene, propylene, acetylene and ethers, together with some of Shaw's manuscript notes and charts. Also included is his report to Canadian Electro Products on acetaldol formation.

The bulk of the Hunt papers consists of scientific correspondence, with a fairly large component of notes on scientific subjects. Most of the material dates from after Hunt's departure for the United States. With the exception of a letter of appointment to the Geological Survey of Vermont in 1845, all Hunt's correspondence (incoming, with copies of some outgoing) dates from the period 1863-1891, with the majority of items from the 1880s. There are a few letters of a social or personal nature, but most concern scientific matters: geological and chemical research problems, exchange of specimens, Hunt's theories and the controversies they stirred, his publications, negotiations for patents on some of his discoveries, the business of various scientific societies, and in particular the organization of the Geological Congress. Amongst his correspondents were James D. Dana (with whom he engaged in a heated quarrel over scientific theory), James Hall, Persifor Frazer, J.W. Dawson, and various members of the Geological Survey of Canada, such as G.M. Dawson, Robert Bell, Henry Y. Hind, and George Iles. Hunt's scientific notes mostly deal with special topics in chemistry, geology, mineralogy, railways, coal products and the controversy with Dana. There are also reading notes for geological texts, lecture notes for courses in geology, 1876, and chemistry, and indexes, apparently for Hunt's books. A manuscript on "Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography: an episode in its history", notes for a lecture on "People I have met", and sketches of family history represent Hunt's wider interests. There are also clippings of reviews of books and lectures by Hunt, biographical notices, reports on scientific themes and institutions, and news of the Geological Survey.

An address on "The primitive use of poisons" read before the Osler Society in 1921.

These papers consist of a typescript entitled "The origin of life on earth" by Macallum, apparently a chapter of a book, with a covering letter to Prof. A.S. Eve, 1930, and three binders of biographical material photocopied from books and journals, with photographs, sketches and bibliographies, prepared by his son A.D. Macallum, ca 1969-1972.

The Lyman-Scrimger Family Fonds consists of the papers of the Lyman, Scrimger and Johnston Families. Reverend John Scrimger's daughter married Walter Ernest Lyman and their daughter, Elizabeth, in turn married Wyatt Galt Johnston. Elizabeth's sister is Mary Minta Turnor.

The Lyman-Scrimger papers largely consist of approximately 42 cm of photographs. Two albums contain family portraits, while two others assembled by Albert Clarence Lyman (B.A., 1878) and Walter E. Lyman (B.A., 1881) also include pictures of McGill classmates. The large collection of unbound photographs contain a number of views of Western Canada taken ca. 1900, Montreal scenes, and travel snapshots taken in Europe (ca. 1905-1910). Two scrapbooks compiled by the Reverend John Scrimger contain newsclippings, poems, cards, letters, photographs, and memorabilia of a family or sentimental nature. The reminder of the papers consists of newsclippings, programmes and so forth related to members of the family as well as a few scattered items of correspondence, probably collected by Mrs. Walter Lyman.

The Johnston Family papers comprise Wyatt Galt Johnston’s laundry lists and grocery accounts, ca. 1899; a letter to Elizabeth Johnston from her mother in Lennoxville, 1906; H. Wyatt Johnston’s school reports, 1907-1911; and letters of sympathy and memorial cards sent to H. Wyatt Johnston on the death of his mother Elizabeth Johnston, 1943 and his aunt Mary Tunor, 1945.

Mary Minta Turnor’s papers consists of correspondence, largely with members of her family in the Eastern Townships on domestic news. A few photographs of houses and pets, as well as some recipes, are also included.