Series comprises Ronald St. John Macdonald's records regarding his academic activities, including his involvement as a faculty member of York University Osgoode Hall, University of Toronto, Dalhousie University, and other institutions. Series also includes records and research materials regarding the development of Macdonald's publications, unpublished papers, and other materials.

Fonds comprises Ronald St. John Macdonald's records regarding his personal, academic, and professional activities as a jurist, judge, and professor. Records include those related to Macdonald's involvement with Osgoode Hall, University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto, Dalhousie University, the European Court of Human Rights, the Hague, Peking University, World Academy of Arts and Science, Canadian Council of International Law, United Nations, Institute of International Law, African Society of International Law, British Institute of International Law, Canadian Institute of International Law, International Law Association, and others. Records types include correspondence; meeting minutes and agendas; research materials; photographs; newsletters; newspaper clippings; manuscripts; and off-prints.

Subseries consists of Ronald St. John Macdonald's research and publication records, including subject files, book reviews, meeting minutes, clippings, reports, offprints, interview transcripts, periodicals and newsletters.