George Mercer Dawson's papers comprise professional, scientific and family correspondence, some scientific manuscripts, drawings and photographs of Western exploration, juvenalia, student materials, and poetry. His scientific correspondence (boxes 54-55) commences in 1872, but drops off sharply after the early 1880s. The letters, and his occasional draft replies, document the political and administrative fortunes of the Geological Survey, the North American Boundary Commission, and various learned societies. As well, they report on field research, particularly on mineral deposits, arrangements for equipment and assistants for expeditions, and the exchange of specimens. The correspondents include other members of the Survey, government officials, and business concerns, especially railways and mines. Dawson's scientific manuscripts fall into two groups: notes and reports on Western exploration, geology, mining, and Indigenous communities, 1870-1875, and 5 cm of general lectures on physical geography delivered to the Montreal Ladies' Educational Association, 1880. Closely allied to his scientific and exploratory work are an album of photographs taken in western Canada in 1894-95 (box 70), and about 10 cm of pencil sketches, sepias and watercolors of landscapes, many produced during exploratory trips in 1873-1874, and 1881 (box 59). Materials of a more personal nature include juvenalia (short essays, drawings, and two diaries from 1861 and 1865) and 16 lecture and laboratory notebooks from his student years at the Royal School of Mines, 1869-1872, together with pocket diaries, memorandum books, and notes of geological field trips during the same period (boxes 57-59). Dawson also wrote poetry, of which 10 cm of manuscript is extant (box 56), mostly reflections on states of mind, the Canadian landscape and seasons, and the vanity of human society, endeavour and love. There is also a small notebook of poems and reflections during an European trip in 1882 (box 58). Family correspondence includes 22 letters from his grandfather James Dawson, 1856-1857; 5 cm of letters from J.W. Dawson, 1856-1899; 15 cm from Margaret Mercer Dawson, 1865-1901; 3 cm from Anna Dawson Harrington, 1869-1901; 3 cm from William Bell Dawson, 1865-1899; 2 cm from Rankine Dawson, 1870-1900; and a handful of items from other members of the family.

Other papers primarily concern Dawson's geological interests, and consist of a diaries and general notebooks, 1873-1899; miscellaneous articles on geological subjects, 1887-1894; papers connected with explorations in the Yukon and with the Boundary Question between Alaska and British Territory and with sealing regulations in the Bering Sea, 1887-1897; correspondence, 1883-1898; and poems.

This series contains graphic materials depicting McGill students, staff, and buildings, created between 1857 and 1993. Also includes some photos of views of Montreal.

This series is described at the file level. Graphic materials include photographs, prints of lithographs and engravings, slides, stereoscopic photos, cartes-de visite, architectural drawings, original sketches, and some printing plates and blocks.

This series contains published material written by members of the Buxton family or related to Noel Noel-Buxton's interests between approximately 1860-1932.

The arrangement of the series reflects the structure of the fonds when it was described by McGill

The series consists of chiefly of letters written by Osler that Cushing collecting during the preparation of his biography, The Life of Sir William Osler, between the years of 1920 and 1924. The letters in the series include both originals and transcriptions. The series also contains accompanying notes (both by Cushing and by Osler), clippings, articles, and other ephemera related to Osler.

The accounting series consists of three account books detailing different financial dealings and assets of the Natural History Society of Montreal. The accounting details are varied, one being the treasurer’s ledger of income and expenses kept by Treasurers James Ferrier Jr. and E. E. Shelton (file 13.7); another showing closing account balances for 1905, 1914, 1915, and 1916 and sales clippings for properties: 52 University Street Property, 152 & 154 Drummond Street Property, and the 365 Mountain Street Property Diagram of the property of the Natural History Society (file 15.1); lastly an address book shows an alphabetical list of assets and their value, as well as a note in the front tracking “Field Day” surpluses and deficits from 1882-1890 (file 16.3).

This series contains notes, drafts, research files, and correspondence pertaining to the funding, research, writing, and publication of Something Hidden and its spin-off film concerning Dr. Penfield’s life and work. This series is divided into four subseries: correspondence, research files, manuscript drafts, and memorabilia. The bulk of this section is various drafts of Something Hidden. Some primary material of the Penfields is interfiled with material in this series, presumably consulted in the preparation and editing of various portions of the manuscript.

Series consists of John Bell's textbook for McGill course Medical Jurisprudence, taught by Professor Duncan C. McCallum, M.D., in fall, 1864. Textbook is listed on the “Books Recommended to Students” list in the course calendar. Signature on inside cover: "John Bell October, 1864."