The fonds consists of Newton’s lifelong interest in the life and times of Daniel Defoe, and documents his teaching and research, not his diplomatic career. The bulk of the records consists of research notes, editorial notes and drafts of works about Daniel Defoe. Most important is an unpublished typescript on Defoe’s early career. This appears to have been completed in the 1970’s, and is based on research done in the 1930’s and resumed after Newton’s retirement. There are numerous research notes for this and other work on Defoe and 18th century journalism (1930-1975). Then also included are drafts and typescripts of works by Newton and extensive editorial notes, related correspondence between Newton and Chester N. Greenough relating to the facsimile edition (1930) of Defoe’s Review. In addition, there are Newton’s lecture notes for the courses given at McGill on English literature covering 1650-1900, as well as notes he took while at Harvard. There is a small amount of non-academic material such as articles on McGill sports and transcripts of radio broadcasts by Newton under pseudonym Ted Moorhouse.
The fonds comprises of records generated by John Herd Thompson during his years as a Professor at McGill University in the History Department. It consists mainly of correspondence with students and other professors, departmental memoranda, notes, committee minutes and reports.
The Aileen Ross fonds consists mainly of correspondence (1935-1990), research files, a brief autobiography (1940-1980), biographical material (1920-1990), and specific talks (1942-1973). Included are personal diaries (1918-1962), appointment books (1946-1992), and Matthew Ibbotson's correspondence to Ross (1921-1927). Books, original and printed articles, newspaper clippings, and reviews of books and articles are also part of the collection. Non textual records consist of several photographs.
The fonds comprises of files including letters to Jean Purvis in Montreal from her mother Jennie Purvis and father Henry Purvis in Paisley Scotland, and letters to her from relatives from the United Kingdom (1930-1944). Included is also one letter to Jean from Lalla Stanhope addressed to the Recruiting Office in Paisley in 1918. The fonds also contains the accounts of the execution of the will of the late John Purvis (1954), brother of Jean’s father Henry Purvis.
The George Johnston fonds consists mainly of his lecture notes for his courses in New Testament and Laity courses given at the United Theological College (1969-1983), notes for the Bruce lectures (1943), drafts and clippings of his published articles. Lecture notes on various topics on church, church society and church union are also part of the fonds.
The Althea Douglas fonds consists of her student papers, class notes, exams, her husband’s letters and newspaper clippings of Althea and her husband. Althea’s notebook with notes from Costume lectures, diagrams, clippings and a notebook mostly on courses given by Stephan Pater, director of the Department of English Dramatic Productions (1952-1958), programs of English Department of Drama (1945-1960), and J. Creighton Douglas’ class notes from English (1946-1947), engineering exams and notes (1952 and 1963) are part of the collection. Included are as well Cedric S. Douglas’ notebooks on history of education, chemistry, public health and psychology courses from the years 1912 to 1914, Phyllis Bridgette’s notes from Macdonald Teacher’s College from 1922 and Marjorie Bridgette’s nature study specimens from Normal School of Macdonald College from 1911 and 1912. Family descriptions with notes on the Douglas family and the family tree chart are in the collection. Non textual records consists of slides, photographs, Althea Douglas’ drawings of costumes, and photographs that Althea Douglas rescued from McGill Daily for the courses she gave in stage make-up.
The fonds document Humphrey's role in the United Nations, academic and professional activities as a McGill professor and advocate of human rights, both in Canada and internationally, mainly 1960-1995, and after his career at the United Nations.
The fonds consists of bound book of company records from the years 1893 to 1897. Later on the book was used as a scrapbook including newspaper clippings from the wars (1914-1951).
The fonds is entirely concerned with applied psychology and vocational guidance and is comprised of typed drafts of articles, most were published (1930-1951), correspondence reflecting his involvement in professional associations and regarding his work (1930-1955). Included are also numerous psychology magazines, pamphlets on job analysis, catalogues and price lists, brochures, tests and material for orientation for psychology (1941-1955), diary (1929), petty cash books (1946-1955), typed radio broadcast files (1937-1938), lecture notes (1942-1946), Dr. Tait’s articles (1925-1929), lectures and speeches (1938-1946) for the Protestant Employment Bureau (1925-1954), and minutes of meetings and reports. There are also records of his earlier work as a newspaper photographer and reporter, a social worker in the Canadian Patriotic Fund (1914-1921), member of the Federated Charities (now Centraide), Emergency Unemployment Relief Committee and Protestant Employment Bureau. Certificate from McGill University Extension Courses and other professional certificates (1922-1948), scrapbook of newspaper clippings (1909-1934) and a book of salary expenses (1914-1945) are part of the collection. Non textual records contain photographs from a conference at Queen’s University and Protestant Employment Bureau.
