The Dawson-Harrington Families Fonds follows the family of Sir John William Dawson, geologist and Principal of McGill University from 1855-1893, through four generations, including both personal and scientific papers of John William Dawson, his son-in law, B. J. Harrington, and his son, explorer, geologist, and Director of the Geological Survey George Mercer Dawson. Other family members include James Dawson, father to Sir John William Dawson, a Scots immigrant to Nova Scotia, printer, stationer, unsuccessful investor and zealous Presbyterian; John William's wife Margaret Mercer; their children William Bell Dawson, an engineer, Rankine Dawson, a physician, and Anna Lois Dawson. Also represented are Anna Dawson Harrington and B. J. Harrington's children, Eva Dawson and her husband, Hope Atkin, and their families

Fonds consists of primarily financial and legal records related to property transfers and the estates of members of the Dawes and Leishman families. It includes land sale deeds, court documents, invoices, receipts, and wills. Business and legal affairs of James P. Dawes, his wife Elizabeth Leishman, and their son Albert F. Dawes are represented in the fonds. Business deals associated with James P. Dawes include with Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada. Many legal documents in the fonds are related to land holdings and property in Lachine, Quebec.

These papers consist of four autographed menus of Medical Class and Reunion dinners, 1902-1905, 1921, and his M.D., C.M. diploma, 1903.

Most of this small file of correspondence concerns the work of various Jewish relief agencies collecting funds to assist European Jews during and after World War I.

Fonds contains manuscript of "Cours de réligion en vers," 1797.

"Architectural Drawings, 1918, 21 drawings." Drawings of plans, elevations, and sections document the design of the Y.W.C.A. Building on Dorchester Blvd. (now Boul. René-Lévesque) and Stanley St. in Montreal.

"Dessins architecturaux, 1918, 21 dessins." Des dessins, des plans, des élévations et des coupes témoignent du projet de construction de l'immeuble du YWCA, boulevard Dorchester (maintenant boulevard René-Lévesque) à l'angle de la rue Stanley, à Montréal.

Fonds documents the development of Dr. Boyd's career in trauma care and emergency medical services systems, beginning at the University of Maryland in Baltimore and Cook County Hospital in Chicago, where he became interested in hemorrhagic shock and other clinical investigations, through his work in establishing national emergency medical services systems and his experience with the Indian Health Service. Also includes publications and clippings honouring Boyd's contributions as the founder of emergency medical services systems. Fonds largely comprised of reprints and copies of articles for scholarly and popular publications. Also contains some manuscripts of unpublished works and one draft of published work.

These scientific papers consist of an autograph article (with photocopy) on 'Nematophytoncrassum' (ca 1897), and an undated manuscript statistical table.

Fonds contains copies of two essays, “My Life as a Student and Teacher at McGill: 1934-1974 (1974)”, and “Innovation and Personal Strategies: A Study of Work in a New Outpatient Clinic”, co-authored with Anita Heller (1976).