This collection consists of materials dated from approximately 1850-1981, but predominantly from 1913-1940, relating to Dr. Casey Albert Wood’s research, writing, correspondence, and personal interest concerning ornithology, vertebrate zoology, memoir and family history, Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Library collection development, ophthalmology, politics, and current events. Materials relate chiefly to Wood’s “Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology” (1921-1956), falconry (1930s), his unpublished memoir (1930s), the development of McGill University’s Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries (1918-1941), the history of ophthalmology (1925-1936), “Fundus Oculi” (1911-1934), his travels and research expeditions studying birds in their natural habitat (1920-1940), political interests, and correspondence relating to these activities and subjects.

There are approximately 2902 incoming and outgoing pieces of correspondence including letters, postcards, notes, telegrams, and cards. Series 1) Research and writing, contains the largest volume of correspondence relating to “the Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology.” While Series 2) Research trips, contains the largest portion of photographs. Other materials in this collection include research notes, manuscripts, page and galley proofs, book and article reprint publications, postcards, artwork, glass plate negatives, book plates, palm leaf manuscripts, artefacts, printed ephemera, clippings, journals, and administration and financial records relating to Wood’s publications or the Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries.

There are gaps within this collection relating to geographic locations, as not all locations Wood is known to have visited are represented or are only minimally represented. Asian countries, such as China or Japan, are not represented in this collection. While geographic locations that are prominent within the collection are Fiji, Sri Lanka and India.

The series consists of 1) research and writing (ca. 1850-1956); 2) research trips (1920-1937); 3) scrapbooks (1887-1946); 4) collection development (1918-1941); 5) published books (1907-1981); 6) artefacts (191-?, 1920-1937); and 7) glass negative plates (1924, 1927, 1930, 1956).

This series consists of 14 scrapbook volumes and files of material collected by Wood that were of interest to him either professionally or personally, dated between 1887-1955, but predominately 1926-1941. The scrapbooks and files contain newspaper and periodical clippings, correspondence, printed ephemera, photographs, postcards, palm leaf manuscripts, prints, paintings and other artwork, manuscripts, bookplates, place cards, and textile badges. There are also a few items within the volumes relating to Wood’s research trips and minor writings.
Overall topics within the series include ornithology, Wood’s parrot John III, zoology, naturalists, current events (1927-1941), poems, politics and war, British culture and people, health, obituaries, education, tourism, science and medical research, McGill Library and other institution collections, bird sanctuaries, and bird, ancient, and medieval artwork.
Printed ephemera from Wood’s travels include invitations, programs, brochures, tickets, visitation membership cards, business cards, etc.. There are two volumes (1925-1932) with Saturday Evening Post articles written by Hal G. Evarts, Stewart E. White, David Newell, Bozeman Bulger, Lord William Percy, Donald R. Dickey, and others.
There are 63 incoming and outgoing correspondence, including letters, notes, cards and telegrams. Individuals addressed include Dr. Axel Munthe, Irving Thalberg, Major Allan Brooks, Edith Swan, William Beebe, Chester W. Davis, F. L. Struthers, Elizabeth E. Abbott, W. H. Poole, Thos. Cook and Son Ltd., Margaret E. Hibbard, National Audubon Society, Senator William E. Borah, Stuart Baker, T. S. Palmer, Samuel Casey Wood III, Alan Wood, E. E. Chambers, McGill University, C. F. Martin, George Perley, Emma Shearer Wood, and Wheldon and Wesley. Some topics discussed within correspondence include bird protection, ornithology, travel, holidays, politics, and a speaking event during World War One.
Other individuals represented in this series include Archibald Thorburn, Robert Ridgway, Joseph Addison, M. K. Wisehart, Charles D. Stewart, Dr. George Harlet, Charles Livingston Bull, Dr. Harding, W. J. Belcher, Doris Rosenthal, Marquess of Tavistock, Francis Moore, Karel Fabritius, John Burroughs, T. C. Harrison, R. L. Gallienne, W. H. Bartlett, Harvey Cushing, John H. Sage, Alexander Wetmore, Dr. Andreas Nell, and John G. Howard.
Some locations either visited by Wood or represented in the series include England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, India, Sri Lanka, Italy, British Guiana, British Museum of Natural History, Notre Dame Cathedral, Victoria Albert Museum, and Bodleian Library.

This subseries focuses on the unpublished memoir of Casey A. Wood, which consists of manuscripts, typescripts, notes, research project notes and publications, correspondence (1888-1939), photographs, clippings and printed material, and journals (1891, 1930-1931) from approximately 1850-1939. Wood had assistance from family members, professional connections, and friends to compile his biographical information for the memoir. Wood was living in Rome during the mid- to late-1930s, so much of the Canadian research was conducted by family members Samuel Casey Wood III, Alan Wood, and Edith Hayes. There is correspondence between Wood and his family on the progress of the memoir, their family, and personal lives. The subseries consists of approximately 110 letters and 1 telegram with additional correspondence, clippings, and other materials integrated into the memoir’s manuscript and typescripts.
Individuals addressed within the correspondence and other materials include Alan Wood, Samuel Casey Wood III, George Iles, H. Clay Evans, Dr. George H. Mathewson, Francis J. Shepherd, Harvey Cushing, Dr. George H. Simmons, Casey Hayes, Josephine Seymour, Dr. Charles P. Small, Ms. Slaughter, Major J. C. Dawson, Dr. J. C. Simpson, J. R. Slonaker, Irving S. Cutter, Dr. H. D. Birkett, Dr. Franck Brawley, Dr. Maude Abbott, Elizabeth E. Abbott, Dr. W. W. Francis, Harry Harris, G. R. Lomer, Dr. Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann, Dr. C. F. Wylde, V. C. Wynne Edwards, Dr. Andreas Nell, Sir William Osler, C. F. Wylde, Frank Allport, and Norma Shearer.
Throughout the subseries common topics include providing information for the memoir, travel, careers, education, Italy during the late 1930s, politics, ornithology, zoology, donations of materials by Casey Wood, family, Emperor Frederick II and “the Art of Falconry,” Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Library collections, aviculture, John III, the Feather book, animal protection, history of medicine, “Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon,” Ali ibn Isa, and Wood’s research, career, and health.
The printed material includes a variety of leaflets, brochures, cards, invitations, tickets, bookplates, booklets, clippings etc. from or about various current events, travel experiences, publications, etc.. Within the subseries' photographs are images of Dr. Thomas Woodruff, Emma Shearer Wood, Casey Wood, Marjorie Fyfe, James Shearer, Eliza Shearer, Dr. Richmond, Dr. Ridgway, other family members and friends, and from research trips. Places related to Wood’s life mentioned in this subseries include the United States, Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka, England, Italy, Ethiopia, Vienna, France, Afghanistan, British Guiana, Australia, Fiji, McGill and Emma Shearer Wood Libraries, Bishops’ College, Western General Hospital, Stanford University, and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society.