This microfilm contains the Registers of births, marriages, and deaths, 1796-1869 and the minute books of the Presbytery of Québec, 1831-1842.

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.

This student notebook on Roman and International Law, 1875-1876, may have belonged to J.E. Fay of Abercorn, Québec.

Dr. Bell's papers comprise a notebook on medical cases and seven prescription books.

Most of the collection consists of Carpenter's notes and drawings of shells. There are printed catalogues of shell collections from the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean dating from 1857 to 1876. His incoming correspondence is mainly from collectors in the United States and deals with shells. It covers the period 1858-1876. The main letter writers are J.G. Cooper, a collector from San Francisco, William Dall of the Smithsonian, James Lewis of Albany, N.Y. and William Bairn of the British Museum. Some of the material deals with Carpenter's establishment of the shell collection at McGill in 1866. There are files of clippings dealing with the death of his aunt, Mary Carpenter (1787-1877) and that of his sister, also named Mary (1807-1877) who was involved in the establishment of reform schools for girls. Included are some of Carpenter's certificates and diplomas (1834-1843). As well there is a copy of a biography of Carpenter written by his brother, Russell, in 1880. The book quotes extensively from Carpenter's letters, covering not only his years in the ministry but also his travels in the United states prior to the Civil War. As well there are interesting details of life in Montreal from 1865-1877 .

Letters from Florence Nightingale to Maria Machin discuss her career, give advice about hospital conditions in Montréal and nurses suitable for work there, and expound Nightingale's ideals of nursing. The originals are at the Public Archives of Canada.

The fonds consists of correspondence primarily from Mary M. Francis to J. William Taylor, with one letter to a C. F. A. Markgraf Francis and one letter to Francis from Taylor.

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.

Description forthcoming.
Please contact McGill University Archives for further information: 514-398-4711 or refdesk.archives@mcgill.ca

Lochhead's papers comprise 20 pages of notes on the relationship of ferns and bryophytes, and a volume of notes of Sir William Dawson's lectures in ordinary and honours geology courses.