The majority of the fonds consists of records pertaining to John Mathieson's political career from 1903 to 1943. The collection also contains some of Mathieson's personal papers, as well as a miscellaneous document concerning the estate of Lady Wood, one of Governor Fanning's daughters.

This fonds consists of photocopies of seven letters written by Henry Douglas Morpeth to Viscount Melville and Lieutenant Colonel H. Dundas between 11 August 1840 and 15 October 1849. In these letters Henry discusses the relationship between landlord and tenant, the Escheat movement and the political, racial and religious unrest on PEI during the 1840s.

The fonds consists of the following four series of textual material, primarily professional correspondence and documents, and one photograph: Series 1 - James Bardin Palmer papers, Series 2 - Edward Palmer papers; Series 3 - Harold Palmer papers, and Series 4 - Palmer genealogy and miscellaneous papers.

The collection consists of correspondence to James Montgomery from a variety of individuals from London and PEI, including Thomas Desbrisay, Alex McPherson, Peter Stewart, Robert Gray, William and John Rae, and Robert Shuttleworth. These letters to Montgomery consist of news pertaining to the affairs of his land agents, tenants, and the Island in general, such as the establishing of a store in Georgetown and charges brought against Lieutenant Governor Fanning in 1792. The collection also consists of a letter to Montgomery from his daughter Miss M. Montgomery, dated 13 June 1798, a letter from an unidentified party to Robert Shuttleworth (n.d.) and a contract between Joseph Clark, millwright, and David Lawson for the building and operating of a grist mill, dated the 3 September 1785.

The fonds consists of correspondence of William Henry Pope from 1860-1880 dealing with politics of the day. In this correspondence there are letters from: Ellis B. Schnabel (1860), Theiddeus Nelles (1862), George Dundas (1863), Spencer Hall (1865), Charles Tupper (1866, 1869, 1870), Joseph Pope (1869), Charles Paget (1869), Alex Sutherland (1870), J.F. Whiteaves (1873), David Davies (1874), Duncan McGregor (1875-1877, 1879), E.H. Davies (1877-1878), Charles Duff (1875), and J. Bulmer (1879).

This collection comprises the papers of a family very prominent in the political and business affairs of PEI in general, and of the community of Cardigan, in particular. It has been roughly divided into three series: political and personal papers of Senator John Alexander MacDonald who, among other political activities served as the Provincial Director of National Service and Fuel Control Administrator during World War I and administered the Farmers Credit Arrangement Act in the 1930s; political and personal papers of John Augustine MacDonald who administered federal disability, old age and veterans pensions in the province; and records of the various business concerns of Senator MacDonald, the most extensive of which are those of the John A. MacDonald & Co. Ltd., a general mercantile enterprise organized by John A. Senior in 1903 but served by both father and son as president over its lengthy life. Other businesses include the Cardigan Dairying Company, the Cardigan Electric Company, the Cardigan Lumber (Milling) Company, The Cardigan Shipbuilding Company, the Cardigan Silver Black Fox Company and Lewis Marble and Granite Works.

The fonds consists of a mixture of the personal and public papers of the late Premier, Walter R. Shaw. Original order as evidenced by file folder titles was maintained; where papers were loose or otherwise unidentifiable as to source, an attempt has been made to fit them into the existing arrangement or to create new titles. The following nine series, arranged chronologically by W.R. Shaw's personal and public activities and by media have emerged: personal papers; civil service career; Premier's papers, Leader of the Opposition files; Legislative Assembly records; desk diaries; Sound recordings; photographic materials; and scrapbooks.

This fonds consists of the personal and political papers of Senator Elsie Inman spanning the years 1942-1986. The papers have separated naturally into the following series and have been arranged chronologically within each series: Speeches; Correspondence; Clubs & Associations; International Organizations; Senate Committees; Subject files on miscellaneous issues; Subject files re. P.E.l.; Newspapers and newspaper clippings; Photographs; and Papers of G. S. Inman & Miscellaneous historical items. The latter series spans the time period 1881-1935 with a few items dated between 1813 and 1874. A small amount of correspondence has been kept separate and access restrictions have been placed on it by the depositor.

This fonds contains 103 letters written from 1828 to 1843 by John Ready. One hundred of the letters are to Charles Lennox, the 5th Duke of Richmond, two are to the Duke's physician, and one is to the Duke's wife. Many of the letters seek the Duke's intervention or assistance in matters regarding Ready's career or that of his son, Charles. Other subjects include: administrative issues, the erection of a monument in Quebec to the 4th Duke of Richmond, and news of mutual acquaintances. Only the first six letters were written while Ready was resident on Prince Edward Island (although there is an occasional reference to Prince Edward Island in the later letters). The letters were written in various places: one in Halifax, fifteen in England, three in Scotland, one in Ireland, and the remainder on the Isle of Man.

This collection consists of a duplicate copy of a letter dated l5 April 1807 from Peter Magowan to John Stewart. The letter contains information on political activities on Prince Edward Island including the meeting of the assembly, the formation of the Society of Loyal Electors, the establishment of a Court of Quarter Sessions and proceedings before the Supreme Court including the irregular admission of lawyers.