The fonds consists of books, letters, documents, drafts, publications, photographs, and several artifacts collected by W. W. Francis and Marian Francis Kelen over the course of their lifetimes. Many books and documents relate to Sir William Osler and the Osler family including several personal letters, the Deed of Trust documents regarding the Bibliotheca Osleriana, drafts of Osler's works, and a wooden travelling trunk that belonged to Edward Revere Osler. The fonds also includes original poetry written by Marian Osborne, W. W. Francis, and Marian Francis Kelen.

Interleaved with blank unnumbered pages for copy-editing purposes.
Numerous manuscript editorial corrections and annotations by W.W. Francis on margins, endpapers, back flyleaf verso, and interleaved pages.

Page 63 poem titled "William Osler."

Fonds consists of personal letters between Howard family members and close relations (C. P. Howard, William Osler, Grace Osler, the Wright family etc.). Subjects range from wedding engagement congratulations for C. P. Howard and Otillie Wright, personal introductions from Grace Osler, to professional appointment letters. There are original photographs (as well as a few copies) of candid Osler family moments, formal family portraits, hospital photos of Osler at work, as well as several professional portraits of William Osler by prominent Montreal photographers. The fonds also includes miscellaneous reprints, booklets, and various other publication materials such as R. P. Howard's valedictory addresses to several graduating classes, personal copies of medical case studies, Olser's handwritten medical notes from 1875-1878, as well as original caricature sketches by Edward Revere Osler. In addition, there is a small photo album (in its own presentation box) with John Hopkins Hospital staff portraits (names included) from 1902-1903. The photo album is stamped "C.P.H." on the front cover.\nIncluded in the fonds are the following books: The Holy Bible (Oxford, 1912), The Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (Diamond Edition, New York, 1881), and Robert Bridges The Spirit of Man (Longmans Green and Co., London, 1916).

The fonds contains original and typescript letters, manuscript notes, newspaper clippings, journal extracts, reminiscences and more, assembled by Harvey Cushing chiefly between 1920 and 1924 during the course of his research for the biography of William Osler. For the biography, Cushing collected and retyped over 7500 pieces of Osler's correspondence, among which are some original letters.

The fonds is separated into three series: Manuscripts, Working Notes and Osler's Correspondence. It also contains photographs, annual reports, publications, clippings, one watercolor painting, one postcard. Osler's correspondence is further arranged in three subseries based chronologically.

Letter to J.A. Ormerod from William Osler, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Osler has just learned of the existence of the "Family Encyclopedia of Medicine," in connection with which the use of his name was unauthorized. Osler explains that he had been contacted by Dr. Riddle of Cambridge about a paper, for which Osler made some helpful suggestions. Osler has informed Dr. Riddle that he misused his name and abused his kindness. Includes manuscript notes.

Letter to J.A. Ormerod from William Osler, The Athenaeum, London, England. Osler's resignation as Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Includes manuscript notes.

Letter to Sir Thomas Barlow from William Osler, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Osler explains to the President of the Royal College of Physicians the fraud that was perpetrated against him by Dr. Riddle. He resents the accusation that he dragged the fair name of the College through the mud, for his conscience is clear in the matter. He feels he has no choice but to resign from the College. Includes manuscript notes.

Letter to J.A. Ormerod from William Osler, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Osler demands that the Royal College of Physicians defend himself and the other Fellows implicated in the "Family Encyclopedia of Medicine" affair by having their names removed from the publication and by securing a public apology from the publishers.

Letter to William Osler from Lawrence F. Flick, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Flick is confident that Osler will be satisfied with the results of the recent meeting of the Tuberculosis Committee when the United States Society for the Study of Tuberculosis is fully organized. Flick is worried about raising the necessary funds to sustain a new Journal of Tuberculosis.