Fonds consists mainly of Perrin's typescript lectures (1922-approximately 1929). Some of the lectures are in series, and were probably used in teaching university courses. Some consist of introductory or graduation addresses to music students. Predominant topics include music education, music in Canada, national musical styles, formal and genre developments, aesthetics, and the work of individual composers. Perrin's correspondence comprises a general file (1912-1949) concerning faculty matters, concerts, publications, and personal affairs, a file regarding concert and speaking engagements (1911-1929), and a few letters about the publication of Perrin's Canadian Song Book (1918). Some essays and answers to examination questions stem from Perrin's student years.

Three scrapbooks document Birks' involvement with McGill, particularly with the Theological Colleges and the Faculty of Divinity. One contains newspaper clippings and correspondence (1912-1913) concerning the United College of Theology. The second scrapbook contains newspaper clippings and correspondence (1912-1948) on the establishment of the Faculty of Divinity at McGill. The third contains telegrams concerning the appointment of Sir Auckland Geddes as Principal in 1919, as well as newspaper clippings regarding the McGill Fund Campaign (1911) and the Patriotic Fund, (1914-1917). There is also correspondence about church matters and the Joint Theological Colleges and brief accounts of the establishment of the latter, correspondence, minutes, reports, reminiscences and notes document the establishment of the Faculty of Divinity in 1948. There is also a builder's contract and accounts for the Birks building on University Street and a draft fragment of a historical story or novel set in the 14th century about a Richard Birks.

The fonds consists of a file of correspondence regarding the publication of R.C. Fetherstonhaugh's McGill University at War 1914-1918 and 1939-1945: raised for use in the Comptroller's Office.

The fonds documents mainly Babkin's professional interests in physiology, especially glandular secretions and the nervous system. The fonds contains correspondence; lecture notes; citations; research notes and papers, including manuscripts sent to him by his colleagues; reprints of scientific articles mainly in Russian; and material used in the preparation of the biography of Ivan Pavlov. The latter contains correspondence with Ivan Petrovich Pavlov and members of his family, 1923-1948; photographs and portraits; and an unabridged typescript copy of Parts 1-3 of Pavlov: a Biography, with manuscript corrections, 1943-1946.

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.

The lodge's records consist of a registration book giving the member's name, address, occupation, age, birthplace, wife's name, children between ages of 5 and 15, name of beneficiary, and occasionally remarks on the death of the member of cancellation of membership. Registration books survive from Primrose Lodge No. 49, 1887-1945, Denbigh Lodge No. 96, 1889-1944, Brittanic Lodge No. 113, 1890-1937 and Monarch Lodge No. 182, 1893-1948. Stray items of correspondence from banks or businesses may be found between the leaves of some volumes. The archive also contains two charters from Primrose Lodge, 1887.

Fonds contains correspondence and manuscripts. The correspondence is largely devoted to the Tait family’s property in Nova Scotia and other domestic matters, but there are also files regarding Tait’s work at McGill (1928-1942) and at the Nova Scotia Summer School in Education (1927-1941). The fonds also contains a few letters to and from Vincent Massey (1926-1940). Approximately a third of Tait’s papers are drafts of publications on practical psychology, behaviour and behaviourism, educational psychology, psychopathology and social applications of psychology. (ca 1920-1930).

Correspondence 1921-1931 concerning Simon McTavish; official copies of legal documents including estate inventories, lawsuits over the McTavish estate, and Simon McTavish’s will; notes for Baylis’ study of McTavish; numerous petitions and newspaper clippings on the state of the McTavish monument and tomb (Peel St., Montreal), and a typescript of his text concerning Simon McTavish. Also two letters from Ignatius Donnelly, 1899, and a letter 1895, from J. Middleton to John Doyle about 19th century gardening in Montreal and the funeral of Judge James Reid.

Tobin's papers consist of a scrapbook and photo album containing programmes, menus and newspaper clippings concerning the "King Cook" celebrations, 1911-1927, newspaper obituaries and photographs of Medical Faculty professors, programmes for social events of the Medical Society, Pharmaceutical Society and the McGill Employees Association (of which Tobin was secretary) and letters of recommendation from the Medical Students Society, 1921-1931.

Abbott's papers reflect her family background, education and private life, as well as her research and publications on medical history. There are no materials relating to her work as a pathologist. Abbott's family background is documented by a printed history (1931) of St. Matthew's, Grenville, of which Joseph Abbott was the first rector, and glass negative views of the family home in St. Andrew's. Records of her education comprise notebooks (1886-1890) for courses at McGill in classics, philosophy, English literature, and science, her graduation photograph, and a photocopy of her address as Donalda Valedictorian in 1890. Private records include diaries (1930-1940), a commonplace-book (1929-1938), and a bundle of notes, clippings, poems, letters and invitations. Three versions of her autobiography survive: the finished "Autobiographical sketch" of 1928 (photocopy), part of an undated autobiography, and a brief autobiographical note. Records of Abbott's historical research and publications include extensive notes on the history of medicine in Québec as well as papers relating to the publication of her History. Other files contain notes on the admission of women to McGill and other universities, the establishment of the Medical Museum, the amalgamation of the medical faculties of Bishop's and McGill with some administrative records of the medical faculty. Dr. Abbott's professional correspondence is represented only by a file on the Federation of Canadian Medical Women, 1938.