The fonds documents John Bell's activities related to his medical studies at McGill in Surgery, Materia Medica and the Institutes of Medicine, as well as his work as a private physician in Montreal. The fonds consists of notebooks, a photocopy of his MS McGill medical thesis, letters from his personal and professional life, one of his medical kits, receipts from merchants, various subscriptions, societies and clubs. The fonds also contains various reprints of Bell's articles, including the 1878 article, "Case of Diphtheria, Acute Laryngeal Symptoms", as well as the City of Montreal's "Mortality of Montreal" – a list of all deaths in Montreal in January 1878.

Files 34-36 were originally organized into one folder entitled, “John Bell – Personal Correspondence (Family & Friends).” Letters in these files are sometimes arranged by person, with letters by one correspondent originally folded together. Correspondents include a cousin Mrs. James Walker, Robert Bell (including one letter discussing the clothes necessary for John to start his medical practice, 1866), Bell’s sister Mary, a relative Dr. W. R. Malloch, step-sister Eliza Wilkie, members of the Notman family, Bell’s step-brother Andrew Bell living at Pointe Fortune, Quebec, Bell’s mother, step-brother William, and a cousin George Bell.

Files 31-33 originally consisted of letters folded for filing tied in a bundle with string. The files consist of personal correspondence with family members and friends. Most letters have original docket titles referring to the correspondent of the letter.

Files 34-36 were originally organized into one folder entitled, “John Bell – Personal Correspondence (Family & Friends).” Letters in these files are sometimes arranged by person, with letters by one correspondent originally folded together. Correspondents include a cousin Mrs. James Walker, Robert Bell (including one letter discussing the clothes necessary for John to start his medical practice, 1866), Bell’s sister Mary, a relative Dr. W. R. Malloch, step-sister Eliza Wilkie, members of the Notman family, Bell’s step-brother Andrew Bell living at Pointe Fortune, Quebec, Bell’s mother, step-brother William, and a cousin George Bell.

Files 34-36 were originally organized into one folder entitled, “John Bell – Personal Correspondence (Family & Friends).” Letters in these files are sometimes arranged by person, with letters by one correspondent originally folded together. Correspondents include a cousin Mrs. James Walker, Robert Bell (including one letter discussing the clothes necessary for John to start his medical practice, 1866), Bell’s sister Mary, a relative Dr. W. R. Malloch, step-sister Eliza Wilkie, members of the Notman family, Bell’s step-brother Andrew Bell living at Pointe Fortune, Quebec, Bell’s mother, step-brother William, and a cousin George Bell.

Files 27-28 were originally organized into one envelope entitled, "John Bell - Professional Correspondence, 2." These files contains correspondence as well as various notes related to his medical career, including a note recommending Bell for appointment as hospital surgeon from Dr. Donald Maclean, a professor at Michigan University in Ann Arbor; various notes supporting John Bell's application as a surgeon at the Montreal General Hospital; note from Dr. Ochterlony of LOuisville, Kentucky, to John Bell accompanying his testimonial supporting Bell's application as surgeon at the Montreal General Hospital; a note from John Gamble of Wyoming, Ohio, thanking him for his medical care; a 1866 note from W. Notman recommending against trying to enter practice in Durham, Ontario, as there are already two physicians there; lists of the sick from Montreal militia; a note about Bell's election as life governor of the Montreal Western Hospital (1875); 1863 note from Queen's University certifying that Bell passed his medical exams and will receive MD diploma when he turns 21; a 1864 certificate confirming Bell's Canadian birth; notes from Robert Bell on Geological Survey of Canada letterhead; and a note titled "God in Creation and Providence."

Files 27-28 were originally organized into one envelope entitled, "John Bell - Professional Correspondence, 2." These files contains correspondence as well as various notes related to his medical career, including a note recommending Bell for appointment as hospital surgeon from Dr. Donald Maclean, a professor at Michigan University in Ann Arbor; various notes supporting John Bell's application as a surgeon at the Montreal General Hospital; note from Dr. Ochterlony of LOuisville, Kentucky, to John Bell accompanying his testimonial supporting Bell's application as surgeon at the Montreal General Hospital; a note from John Gamble of Wyoming, Ohio, thanking him for his medical care; a 1866 note from W. Notman recommending against trying to enter practice in Durham, Ontario, as there are already two physicians there; lists of the sick from Montreal militia; a note about Bell's election as life governor of the Montreal Western Hospital (1875); 1863 note from Queen's University certifying that Bell passed his medical exams and will receive MD diploma when he turns 21; a 1864 certificate confirming Bell's Canadian birth; notes from Robert Bell on Geological Survey of Canada letterhead; and a note titled "God in Creation and Providence."

File consists of letters between John Bell, Robert Bell, Hon. John Young, and the Ministry of Militia regarding a property containing granite that was to be shipped to other parts of Canada. It appears that Robert and John Bell eventually withdrew from this venture.

File contains a number of handwritten family letters to John Bell, including from his mother and uncle, some old newspaper clippings, and a note from the militia about medical personnel including John Bell to review the physical condition of soldiers.