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relate chiefly to Wood’s “Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology” (1921-1956), falconry (1930s), his unpublished memoir (1930s), the development of McGill University’s Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries (1918-1941), the history of ophthalmology (1925-1936), “Fundus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).

Fonds consists of a scrapbook largely devoted to McGill affairs. It contains correspondence addressed both to Fleet and to other members of the McGill community such as B.J. Harrington, C.H. McLeod and A.F. Gault, largely on administrative and ceremonial business of the university. There are a few communications from J.W. Dawson, including Dawson's draft for the Peter Redpath memorial tablet. Also included are newsclippings on McGill events including numerous invitations, announcements,
addresses, programs and memorabilia from convocations, university dinners, athletic meets and musical performances.

Fonds consists of correspondence and literary manuscripts, documenting all aspects of MacMillan’s career. Biographical background is provided by his own notes on his life and family history. From his student years come certificates and testimonials in support of his application for a Rhodes Scholarship (1904-1909). His war experience is recorded in letters from the front preserved by his family, and by a personal diary for 1917. There are also approximately twenty photographs of Macmillan and his family taken between about 1905 and 1940.

Macmillan's correspondence includes files of letters to his wife (1917-1936) on his war service and political affairs; personal and social letters (1923-1929); political correspondence, including several letters from McKenzie King (1926-1946); letters concerning McGill, including a number from Sir Arthur Currie and from Stephen Leacock (1920-1947); post-retirement correspondence on McGill and public affairs; and correspondence concerning his publications (1920-1960). There are also files of invitations to events at McGill and elsewhere.

The manuscripts fall into two categories: political speeches and literary manuscripts. Besides notes and texts for his own speeches, there are also texts of, and newspaper clippings about speeches written by Macmillan for Sir Arthur Currie and others (1920-1950). Drafts and typescripts of his literary works are supplemented by notes, clippings and correspondence.

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).

These papers contain Forbes' personal files of correspondence and clippings, some design materials and films of McGill football games. The personal files contain biographical materials such as his birth certificate, military commission and service records, and letters concerning his employment at McGill. Other files concern Forbes' designs for decorations for the 1951 Royal Visit, the McGill C.O.T.C., the Forbes Trophy for athletics, Forbes' involvement with McGill athletics and museums, and the career of his brother Kenneth Forbes, a painter. A number of diplomas and certificates awarded Forbes, as well as a photograph album, complete this series. Materials for designs include files on heraldry, a collection of illustrations from 19th century periodicals, designs for the Royal Visit decorations (a few, by Percy Nobbs, were used for the 1939 visit), maps, linocuts, bookplates, and programmes designed by Forbes for McGill events, ca 1925-1950. Thirty-four reels of motion picture film record McGill extramural football games (1947-1951). Films with sound track show the construction of the Currie gymnasium (1939-1940), and demonstrate the swimming techniques of Matt Mann. Additional biographical material is provided by obituary notices and letters of condolence to Mrs. Forbes, and by clippings of articles about Forbes.

These papers concern the work of the committees on which Beach served from 1962 to 1969, and contain correspondence, memoranda, proposals, and reports, mostly for the Academic Policy Committee and the University Libraries Committee.

Fonds consists of papers (originals and printed materials) falling into three series: speeches; files relating to McGill committees before Ross was Chancellor; and personal and biographical materials.

Apart from formal speeches delivered as Chancellor at the opening of buildings and convocations, Ross's addresses and articles reveal his interest in professional development and research in accountancy and questions of national economic policy. These were written for, or delivered to McGill conferences, meetings of professional organizations of chartered accountants, financial analysts and business executives.

Files on McGill committees contain minutes of the Committee on Fraternities (1959-1962) and of the Committee on Chartered Accountants at McGill (1950-1951).

Ross's biographical files contain degrees and certificates (1927-1977), programmes and other memorabilia from Oxford (ca 1930-1932), news clippings about Ross (ca 1963-1968) and a few items of personal correspondence (1964-1974). His trip to Russia is documented by correspondence, notes and printed materials (1967-1969), and he wrote formal accounts of his journeys to South America and the Far East. A personal financial account book covers the years 1964-1969. These materials are supplemented by obituary clippings and letters about Ross written to his wife after his death (1974-1979).

The content of the fonds includes letters, photographs, and official documents surrounding the Norman Bethune McGill-China Professorship Exchange at Peking Medical College, in addition to medical pamphlets, typed addresses, several commemorative Norman Bethune items. There are various Chinese tourist brochures and maps that McGregor collected during his travels in China, as well as newspaper clippings, reprints, and copies of articles collected by McGregor about China and medicine in the mid-1970s.

The fonds consists of textual records including proposal letters, guidelines, budget documents, and the six original VHS tapes made in 1984-85. Preservation copies of DVDs and mp4s made in 2016 are also included.

A large portion of the collection is concerned with the growth of the Medical Library at McGill. Other than the Catalogue of Books from the Library of the Medical Faculty of McGill College which dates from 1845, the earliest preserved records are the handwritten Library Committee reports of Dr. Francis Shepherd, dating from 1880. The textual material includes early library reports, surveys, information about library staff, finance, gifts, procedures, as well as information regarding the Osler Library and departmental building plans and renovations. The collection also includes correspondence, notes, photographs, and artifacts associated with 'McGill Medical Men' including: James "King" Cook, Robert Palmer Howard, William Wright, Robert Lea MacDonnell, Richard Lea MacDonnell, Herbert Stanley Birkett, and others. There are many reprints in the collection – some bound into volumes, and many that include signatures and written notes. The collection also includes photographs, scrapbooks, and glass lantern slides (some of which are from World War One), books, and theses. The Medical Library's accession records, index cards, and journal cards are also preserved in the collection, still housed in their original catalogue drawers (see Series 7). The collection includes various announcements, university calendars and directories related to the Faculty of Medicine, as well as communication, meeting minutes, and essays belonging to the McGill Medical Society (1884-1907), the McGill Reporting Society (1926-1951), and the Montreal Dermatological Society (1930-1951). Lastly, the collection includes miscellaneous textual materials related to McGill and the Faculty of Medicine, for instance McGill student attendance cards from 1828-1872 (with course name and professor details).