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 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.

Gould's papers fall into two series. Family correspondence covers the years 1856 to 1860, when Joseph and his brother Charles were travelling in Europe, and consists of letters home from both young men, and their parents' replies. Manuscript music comprises two volumes of church anthems, with some organ music; some are original compositions by Gould and Samuel Warren. Related to this is Gould's brief manuscript account of the origin of the Mendelssohn Choir. Some family photographs are also included.

Madame Fischer's papers are evenly divided between records of her own career as a performer and material on the Sarah Fischer Concerts. Her performing career is documented by newsclippings, tributes and programmes, reports from the Royal College of Music, and publicity photographs in opera costume. Most of the approximately 50 items of correspondence date from the last five years of her life and concern the disposal of her papers. Taped interviews, in which she discusses her career, include recordings from 1918 and 1925. Material connected with the Sarah Fischer Concerts comprises 143 programmes (1941-1975), press notices, announcements, and a report for 1973-1974. Photographs from this period show Fischer with government and musical celebrities.

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.

This is an archive of family memorabilia, with no records of the professional careers of the Grants. Amongst the family memorials are Angelina Grant's brief notes on Grant family history, 1962, and the school-girl albums, assembled in 1910 by Bertha and her sister Edith, on the history of Grantville and the physical and human geography of Truro. As well, there is a memorial album of callers at Angelina Grant's funeral and five Bibles, most of which contain family obituaries. Family photographs are grouped in a large album of formal portraits, mostly by Boston photographers, ca 1875-1900; a small album of snapshots, ca 1935-1950; and about a dozen mounted or framed portraits, ca 1890-1930. None are identified. Private memorials include an autograph album and birthday book, ca 1887-1890, belonging to Jamima (Jenny) Dowring Grant, Bertha and Dolly's aunt; Bertha's scrapbook, ca 1960-63, largely of obituaries, wedding notices and items of religious interest; and Angelina's diary and address book, ca 1962-74, with her notes on the weather and the deaths of her friends and members of the family.

The records of the History Association comprise minute books, 1963-1970, membership lists, the Treasurer's receipts and correspondence, and general files on programmes, guest speakers, outings, liaison with other societies, and the Adair Prize.

These Leacock papers are almost entirely concerned with the literary side of his career. The literary manuscripts include his copies of "Teaching the Unteachable" (n.d.) and "The Truth about the College Girl" (1927, with covering letter), as well as a single page of an undated murder mystery. His speaking engagements are briefly recorded in a pocket diary for 1925; a single letter from 1933 declines an invitation to address a club. Pictorial materials portray Leacock in a more academic setting: a snapshot of a Commercial Society luncheon (1931), a photograph of F.M.G. Johnson's sketch, now in McGill's Faculty Club (1932), and a pencil portrait by Kathleen Thatcher.

Most of the Livinson papers consist of lecture notes taken between 1905 and 1914 for undergraduate courses in philosophy, literature and history, and for courses in the Law Faculty. Two scrapbooks of clippings and photographs reflect Livinson's interest in Wilfred Laurier, approximately 1916-1949, and Abraham Lincoln, 1923-1937; there are also two 'notebooks' of clippings on books on the art of writing, memorable quotations, and speeches, 1936. Livinson's journals, sometimes kept under his own name and sometimes under the pseudonyms 'André Penuel' or 'André Charles' consist primarily of philosophical reflections and aphorisms, 1936-1942, 1947-1948, 1952. A short essay on Barbados, 1936, is accompanied by photographs, and there are also a number of photographs of Montréal scenes. Livinson's autograph collection consists of letters from prominent men, largely Montrealers, in business and government.

Photocopies of typed transrcripts of O'Brian's letters to his family during his years at McGill describe student life and amusements, as well as the perennial theme of lack of funds.