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relate chiefly to Wood’s “Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology” (1921-1956), falconry (1930s), his unpublished memoir (1930s), the development of McGill University’s Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries (1918-1941), the history of ophthalmology (1925-1936), “Fundus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 subseries consists of other research, writing, and correspondence files related to Wood's research and writing activities (1852-1925), writings of others assisting in Wood’s research projects or written about Wood (1936-1943), and volumes containing multiple publications by Casey Wood from 1852-1943, but predominantly 1920-1938. Some of these volumes include writings of other authors as well. The subseries is composed mostly of publications, manuscripts, and correspondence, along with photographs, clippings, book dust covers, feathers from John III, and printed materials pertaining largely to ornithology, falconry, and Wood's research.
Included in this subseries are 661 incoming and outgoing correspondence (1914, 1927, 1933-1940) including letters, postcards, and telegrams. Some of the individuals represented within the subseries include G. R. Lomer, Elizabeth E. Abbott, Margaret E. Hibbard, Dr. Maude Abbott, Dr. Cresswell Shearer, Marjorie Fyfe, Alan H. Wood, Samuel Casey Wood III, Arthur William Head, H. Gronvold, H. Kirke Swann, Alexander Wetmore, Dr. Andreas Nell, Elliott Coues, George Arliss, Duke of Wellington, Professor Arthur Willey, Dr. Witmer Stone, John Still, E. C. T. Holsinger, Dr. Burton Chance, Wladimir Ivanow, John M. McWilliam, Dr. Max Meyerhof, W. L. Sclater, Harry Harris, Dr. Arnold C. Klebs, Professor Alonzo Taylor, Dr. Harold Gifford, David Nutt, William Wrigley Jr., Professor W. P. C. Zeeman, Eileen Thompson, William Thornwall Davis, H. S. Swarth, E. Edward Newton, Joseph Pearson, R. T. Gunther, Dr. Jon Pearson, Sir George Perley, J. Wilkes, Edward Von S. Dingle, George Edwards, W. E. Powell, L. J. Griffin, Robert Moore, and Major Chester Davis. Book publishers and dealers represented include Wheldon and Wesley, G. E. Stechert and Co., Bernard Quaritch Ltd., R. Friedlander and Sohn, K. F. Koehler’s Antiqarium, Foliophiles, Sotheby and Co., Francis Edwards, Vitty and Seaborne Ltd., Sun Engraving Co., Dulau & Co., Ltd., Samuel N. Rhoads, and Franklin Bookshop.
Topics and research projects within the subseries include ornithology, aviculture, bird protection, fossil eggs, zoology and sea life, collection and financial records for McGill Libraries and other institutions, McGill Library exhibits, the Feather book, travel and research, professional and personal lives, Wood’s ancestry, events Wood attended, politics and crime, Dr. Joseph Grinnell, Sir Henry and Elizabeth Gwillim, James Graham Cooper, John III’s painting and life, Emma Shearer Wood library boo plate, bird and zoology prints and other artwork, the dodo bird and related art, Sinhalese Olas, coins, and Persian manuscripts, ayurvedic medicine, Dominion Parliament building, “Fundus Oculi of Birds,” “An Introduction to Literature of the Vertebrate Zoology,” “Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon,” Benevenutus Grassus’ de Oculis, Tadhkirat of Ali ibn Isa translation, Frederick II’s de Arte Venandi cum Avibus and falconry, “Catalogue du Fonds de Paul Lechevalier,” “James Craw Portrait of Alexander Wilson,” “Monograph of the Birds of Prey,” and other manuscripts.
Places referenced in this subseries include the British Museum, McGill University, Emma Shearer Wood Library, San Francisco, England, Barbados, New Zealand, Fiji, Oceania, Switzerland, India, Sri Lanka, and others.

This subseries consists of many of Wood's major publications in various iterations such as manuscripts, typescripts, page proofs, and galley proofs. Additionally, this subseries contains other manuscripts, research notes, photographs, prints or illustrations, correspondence, book reviews, and other materials relating directly to Wood's research projects and publications. The material is dated from 1904-1942 but focuses predominantly from 1913- 1934. Much of the subseries is composed of bound volumes, some of which contain multiple record types, either bound or mounted within the volumes.
The research and writing projects focus on the following topics and geographic regions: ornithology, Fundus Oculi (1911-1934), Wood’s family history (1920-1940), South America (1920-1921), Fiji and Fiji Islands (1920-1931), fossil eggs (1923-1925), flowers and meadows in Switzerland (1924-1934), “An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology,” aviculture (1925-1928), New Zealand, medieval Persian manuscripts (1927-1934), Benevenutus Grassus’ de Oculis (1930), John III, Kashmir and North India (1921-1934), Ceylon (1925, 1928, 1934), "the Art of Falconry" (1938?-1942), and Ali ibn Isa (1935-1936).
Other contributors to some publications and manuscripts include Marjorie Fyfe, Alexander Wetmore, Wladimir Ivanow, Arthur William Head, Dr. Andreas Nell, W. J. Belcher, William C. Morgan, and Marion C. Tallmon.
This subseries also contains 145 incoming and outgoing pieces of correspondence including letters and notes. Some individuals addressed include Arthur William Head, Christopher Leggo, Lillian Bates, Elizabeth E. Abbott, Cora Raymond, Dr. Richmond, W. J. Belcher, C. S. Walis, Theodore Hamblin Ltd., James R. Slonaker, and R. R. Donnelley and Sons Co.. This subseries also includes photographs of Wood’s family, professional colleagues and friends, and research and publications.

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.