The fonds consists of the records of the Zoological Society of Montreal for the entirety of its existence, from 1964-2016. These records were generated in the pursuit of the Zoological Society’s goal to enhance public awareness of wildlife conservation issues through speakers, film screenings, field trips, special events, and large projects. The records also reflect the Society's charity to zoological, ecological and conservation causes. The administration of the Society, its interactions with its members, and its projects and events are documented through minutes, correspondence, communications, published articles, financial documents, reports, and proposals. The Society’s interests and activities are also reflected through books, objects from their offices, audio and video materials, and 5243 photographs, most of which are stored in photo albums. The fonds also contains the records of the Zoological Society of Canada, which were created to administer the Canadian Society similarly to the Montreal Society, with the goal of expanding the organization’s reach nationally.

The fonds is comprised of the following series: 1) Activities (1965-2013); 2) Administration (1964-2016); 3) Artifacts (1980-2004); 4) Books (1967-1991); and 5) Newsletters (1967-2016).

Relating to AGMs including minutes, notices, bylaws, Letters Patent Incorporating, reports, financial statements, lawsuit against Society and dissolution of Society notice. Also contains Canadian Society minutes. Originally in binder rehoused into 3 folders including (c1.f5) and (c1.f6).

The series consists of documents produced in the day-to-day managing of the Society. These records were created by various bodies within the Zoological Society including most prominently, the Executive Committee, the Project Committee and the president. They reflect the mandate and creation of the Society through by-laws and letters patent incorporating, and the operations of the Society including meeting minutes and notices, correspondence, reports, financial records, member information, event and project planning documents, and donations. Newspaper advertisements and published articles on the Society or its activities have also been gathered and documented. Correspondence records are primarily with the Society president, but also contain member and guest speaker correspondence with the Executive Committee. The Project Committee administrative records deal largely with field trip planning and associated communications to members. The series also contains the administrative records of the Zoological Society of Canada (1969-2011), which contain the same types of documents.
Notably, this series contains correspondence with Prime Minister’s Jean Chrétien and Brian Mulroney (MSG1164.c2.f2 and MSG1164.c4.f11).

Relating to AGMs including minutes, notices, bylaws, Letters Patent Incorporating, reports, financial statements, lawsuit against Society and dissolution of Society notice. Also contains Canadian Society minutes. Originally in binder after (c1.f4) and (c1.f5).

Relating to AGMs including minutes, notices, bylaws, Letters Patent Incorporating, reports, financial statements, lawsuit against Society and dissolution of Society notice. Also contains Canadian Society minutes. Originally in binder between (c1.f4) and (c1.f6).

Overview of Society and its goals and Letters Patent Incorporating.

The series consists of records created in the fulfilment of the Zoological Society’s mandate and goals to host events, trips, speakers, and to donate to and support worthy causes. This includes event and project planning records with related financial documents and reports, guest lists, communications to members, and correspondence. A large part of this series is concerned with the Society’s whale watching excursions and their whale conservation efforts. These files include an annual pamphlet called Whales Alive! = les Baleines!, flyers, newspaper advertisements and published articles, all promoting whale watching field trips. Others include donations, correspondence, and financial documents relating to issues surrounding conservation. Other types of activities covered in this series are field trips (primarily around Quebec but also a few internationally), film screenings (known as theatre nights), art shows, fundraisers and lectures. The field trips and some events of the Society are documented in 5193 photographs stored in 24 photo albums (1989-2009). Apart from events, projects undertaken by the Society are included, such as their efforts to build a wildlife park in Montreal’s West Island, the conservation of owls, lynxes, birds, turtles and flowers, and their wildlife pavilion at Man and His World.
There are large gaps in the Activities series. The Society’s founding project, the Montreal Aquarium and Dolphin Arena, and their proposal for an ark at Expo ’67 are only included briefly in these records. For more information on these projects, see the Administration series files MSG1164.c5.f11, f12, f13. Also, there are few photos documenting the Society’s activities before 1989.

Member's art exhibit at Eatons titled "Nature on Display" including Art Exhibit Committee minutes, communications, correspondence, and event planning documents.

Exec. Committee minutes with related correspondence, reports and studies, by-laws, newspaper articles, project proposals, financial statements, invoices, field trip planning documents, communications, Expo '67 correspondence, Dolphinarium creation administrative records and Zoo Committee minutes. Includes letters from Jean Chrétien and John Turner. Originally in folder followed by (c5.f1) and (c5.f2).

Exec. Committee minutes with related correspondence, reports and studies, by-laws, newspaper articles, project proposals, financial statements, invoices, field trip planning documents, communications, Expo '67 correspondence, Dolphinarium creation administrative records and Zoo Committee minutes. Includes letters from Jean Chrétien and John Turner. Originally in folder between (c4.f26) and (c5.f2).