Mintzberg's papers comprise student materials, office files, and papers relating to his publications. Student materials contain course notes from both the engineering (1956-1961) and management (1961-1968) phases of Mintzberg's education, as well as research notes and drafts for his doctoral thesis "The Manager at Work". His McGill office files contain reports, minutes and memoranda for various faculty committees (1968-1976); correspondence, particularly regarding the M.B.A. programme (1970-1976); course outlines (1968-1973); and files on his Ph.D. students (1974-1976) (Restricted). Papers relating to publications include research notes, working papers, and drafts of articles and books, as well as correspondence about his writings (1968-1978).

This fonds documents the administration, research activities, and development of the McGill Sub-Arctic Research Laboratory and its successor, the McGill Sub-Arctic Research Station. Records include administrative and operational files, research project documentation, scientific data, publications, correspondence, and related papers generated through the station's activities.

The fonds is particularly significant for documenting the establishment and early years of the laboratory, including records relating to its founding, organization, and initial operations. The records provide evidence of the evolution of sub-arctic research at McGill University and the station's role in supporting scientific investigations in northern Quebec.