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.

Simpson's papers contain personal records, student materials, and lectures delivered by him. The personal materials consist of a file of letters of appointment to the Indian Commission, Bishop's University, the Montreal General Hospital, and various insurance companies, as well as testimonial letters from Robert Craik and G.W. Campbell. Simpson's outgoing letterbook contains copies of correspondence from his Indian Commission period concerning salary, accomodation, medical supplies and other aspects of his work. Included are two diaries. One describes his trip to Europe, 1857-1858, giving quite full descriptions of hospitals and clinics, as well as sight-seeing, in Paris and the British Isles. The second diary, from 1865 to 1903 is less detailed. Finally, there is a file of personal documents, e.g. his birth certificate and instructions concerning his funeral, 1897. Apart from lecture attendance cards, materials from Simpson's student days consist of a notebook for a number of medical courses, 1853-1854. Simpson's teaching career is documented by a lecture on phlebitis, ten lectures on veneral disease, 1878, five on syphilis, 1881 and a convocation address, 1884.

This typescript paper is entitled "A study of the absorption of fats in infants" by T.P. Shaw and A. Lorne C. Gilday, ca 1906.

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 fonds contains Macfarlane's papers, concentrating on his geological research and his professional work in mining. They comprise: geological and chemical notes made in Germany and England, 1855; geological notes on New Brunswick, 1855-1856, the copper mines of Upper Telemarken, Norway, 1861, Quebec, 1861-1862, and Eldorado Canyon, Nevada, 1887; laboratory journals and records of results, 1851-1856, 1859-1882, 1884-1889; and letterbooks, notebooks and memoranda on geology, 1863-1899.

Letter from the Royal Ontario Museum concerning J.W. Dawson's The Canadian Ice Age (1931).

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 fonds consists of a small black three-ringed binder composed of five sections (Quotations, Humor, Nonsense, Political, Information) which contain handwritten and typewritten quotations of prose and poetry (notably Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Yeats, among others), and news clippings of articles, cartoons and art, intermingled together on the pages. The last section, Information, contains lists of Latin, words and definitions and signs of the zodiac to name a few.

The collection consists of T.E. Montgomery's annoted copy of Notes on the Practice of Medicine (lectures by Dr. George Ross of McGill's Medical College), 1891-1892.

The fonds consists of Newton’s lifelong interest in the life and times of Daniel Defoe, and documents his teaching and research, not his diplomatic career. The bulk of the records consists of research notes, editorial notes and drafts of works about Daniel Defoe. Most important is an unpublished typescript on Defoe’s early career. This appears to have been completed in the 1970’s, and is based on research done in the 1930’s and resumed after Newton’s retirement. There are numerous research notes for this and other work on Defoe and 18th century journalism (1930-1975). Then also included are drafts and typescripts of works by Newton and extensive editorial notes, related correspondence between Newton and Chester N. Greenough relating to the facsimile edition (1930) of Defoe’s Review. In addition, there are Newton’s lecture notes for the courses given at McGill on English literature covering 1650-1900, as well as notes he took while at Harvard. There is a small amount of non-academic material such as articles on McGill sports and transcripts of radio broadcasts by Newton under pseudonym Ted Moorhouse.