Subseries contains personal records including notebooks, autobiographical writing, scrapbooks, memo books, and sketches. Dawson's juvenile writings are largely essays on philosophical and religious topics, but also include his fictional story "Indian Tale" (c.22-c.23). Some scientific lecture notebooks survive from his student years in Edinburgh (c.29). Dawson composed a short autobiography as well as a memoir of his father (c.22), but the major biographical document is his scrapbook of "Family Records" (c.37), containing genealogical materials, Dawson's Edinburgh lecture tickets, his marriage certificate and letter of appointment to McGill, his C.M.G., certificates from learned societies, letters from scientists and public men, printed articles and reviews, and domestic mementos. There is also an obituary scrapbook compiled by his children Anna and William. Dawson's skill as an amateur artist is revealed by 18 cm of pictorial materials, largely pencil or ink sketches of Nova Scotia or Scottish landscapes. His travels in Europe and North America from 1855 to 1886 and briefly noted in pocket memorandum books (c.30), but his journey to the Near East in 1883-1884 is more thoroughly documented in his "Eastern Travel" scrapbook (c.39)

The subseries contains manuscript essays and addresses on scientific subjects. Ten of Dawson's scientific notebooks are also represented in the subseries as well as some scientific scrapbooks compiled by Dawson.

Subseries consists of Sir William Dawson's letters from a range of correspondents including family members, scientific and university colleagues, business and tradespeople, and friends and acquaintances. Of the 3.2 m of Dawson's general correspondence (c.1-c.19) covering the years 1837-1899, about 5,000 letters are on scientific subjects. With the passage of time, and particularly from the late 1870s onwards, the character of the correspondence becomes less substantially scientific, and more administrative, institutional and formal; at the same time, there is a marked shift towards North American correspondents. Perennial topics are geological exploration, the exchange of mineral specimens, and research or theoretical problems, but these are eventually outweighed by the business of learned societies, government science policy, demands for Dawson to lecture or write, and reactions to his publications. In the 1880s, the Darwin and Eozoon controversies are especially prominent. In 1891, there is correspondence relating to the meeting in Montréal of the Royal Society of Canada. Dawson's correspondents include academics, officials of learned societies, and a number of prominent researchers. There are substantial numbers of letters from Sir Charles Lyell, J.J. Bigsby, Sir William Logan, Spencer Baird, James D. Dana, David Penhallow and J.S. Newberry. Drafts of some of Dawson's outgoing correspondence are included. Dawson's correspondence also contains some items, largely from the Nova Scotia years, on his involvement with church affairs, missions and tract societies. Some clergy, such as the Rector of Little Metis, where Dawson kept a summer house, are amongst his regular correspondents. In later years there are inquiries from the general public on matters of science and faith, and the occasional letter from a religious eccentric. Some items amongst his general correspondence also relate to his education career as the Superintendent of Education in Nova Scotia, as well as to his applications to the University of Edinburgh; most, however, stem from his years as Principal of McGill. These letters discuss educational legislation and the activities of the Protestant Committee of the Council of Public Instruction, consult on points of information and policy with other universities and inquire about McGill's programmes. Noteworthy are the draft letters to Chancellor James Ferrier on the administration of McGill during Dawson's absence in Europe and the Near East (1883-1884), and an exchange of letters with Daniel Wilson of the University of Toronto on the question of co-education. Dawson's 30 cm of family correspondence include letters from Margaret Mercer Dawson, 1842-1845 and later; his son, George Mercer Dawson, on geological and personal matters; and other family members, ca 1869-1899 (c.48-c.49). Finally, his financial affairs are illustrated by letters amongst his general correspondence concerning his mining interests in Nova Scotia, particularly with his agent Howard Primrose and his partner E.A. Prentice. The numerous invoices and receipts are largely for domestic expenses, but include the subscriptions for his lectures to the Natural History Society of Pictou (1849), and bills for the printing and distribution of Dawson's publications.

Dawson's family correspondence include letters from Margaret Mercer Dawson, before their marriage between 1841-1845 and also later; his son, George Mercer Dawson, on geological and personal matters; and other family members, between approximately 1869-1899. There are 74 letters exchanged between Sir William and Margaret Mercer Dawson whose topics range from geological excursions to family matters and religious ideas. Letters also give interesting accounts of mid-nineteenth century medical procedures during Margaret's illness.

Subseries consists of records kept while Dawson was Superintendent of Education in Nova Scotia, administrative materials, and other records related to his educational career. As Superintendent of Education in Nova Scotia, Dawson kept two notebooks of journal entries and general observations on Nova Scotia schools (box 39). About 35 cm of purely administrative materials (boxes 41-44) were retained by Dawson in his private papers. Most of the correspondence concerns routine matters of Corporation business, staff and student affairs, fund-raising and buildings, but there is a special file on the controversy with Prof. J. Clark Murray over co-education in 1888. Other materials include copies of documents on the early fortunes of McGill, Dawson's Normal School record book, with lists of students and some financial accounts (1859), an office memorandum book (1863-1878), and manuscripts of addresses delivered at university functions, including his resignation speech and a substantial address on the education of women. Dawson also assembled an "Educational and Biographical" scrapbook, largely of news clippings by him or about his principalship (box 39).

Subseries consists of manuscript essays and addresses on science in relation to Biblical criticism, theology and archeology, on his travels in the Middle East, and on missions and temperance.

This subseries contains records related to properties owned by J.W. McConnell or by companies that he worked for.

Material in this subseries includes deeds of sale, correspondence, blueprints, indurance documents and other related documents.

This sub-series includes various materials documenting Madeleine Parent's family and friends. Several documents relate to Parent's father, John B. Parent, such as his American citizenship, Michigan record of birth, and registration for American military service. Also included are documents related to the Hogue and Forest family. There are signed funeral guestbooks for Parent's mother, Rita Marie-Anne Hogue, and Parent's second husband, Robert Kent Rowley, and a file of sympathy letters and tributes for Rowley. There are also related materials to Rowley's death in the last series of this fonds, the Robert Kent Rowley papers (MG 4269 H).
Also documented are Parent's marriages, including her divorce from her first husband, Val Bjarnason, and marriage to her second husband, Rowley. Moreover, there is correspondence from Parent to Rowley, mostly from her trip to China in 1960. The sub-series also contains various membership cards and passports that belonged to Parent. There are photographs of Rowley's funeral, John B. Parent, portraits of Madeleine Parent, Parent's mother's family portrait (1899), and unidentified friends and family. Finally, this sub-series also contains a file of correspondence and four audio recordings related to Parent's retirement in 1983.

This subseries contains records related to J.W. McConnell’s career between 1900-1930. The records in this subseries are scattered and do not necessarily reflect McConnell’s full role in the various companies he worked with during this period.

Material found in this subseries includes ledgers and record books of various companies in which McConnell was involved, personal ledgers used by McConnell for his finances, charter and minute extracts from the Standard Chemical Company, and financial and bank statements.

This subseries contains records related to J.W. McConnell’s involvement in St. Lawrence sugar refineries between 1912 and 1977.

Material in this subseries includes federal and provincial income tax statements and annual statements, and minute books of the executive and general meetings.