Fonds consists of photograph albums, newspaper clippings, and manuscripts relating to the life of John Paterson.

Fonds consists of Thomas Cantley's materials accumulated and sometimes annotated by Catherine Campbell in the course of her research on Cantley's life, including correspondence regarding his political and professional activities; correspondence with family members; manuscripts and typescripts; speeches; photographs; financial statements; and other textual records. Fonds also contains records originating with Cantley's family, including correspondence between his children Charles L. Cantley and Marian Cantley, and a letter from Donald F. Cantley to E.W. Sutherland.