Fonds includes Alan Creighton's diaries, which cover many of the years from 1920 to 2000. Writings from the period 1920 to 1954 (many undated) are mainly short stories and poems. These writings include handwritten and typed, complete and incomplete, and published and unpublished works. There is also some correspondence throughout as well as copies of his two books of poetry. The fonds includes writings with titles such as "About Poetry," "Poetry Courses," "Thoughts," "Music & Art," and "Bedford Basin." His notebooks include evidence of a variety of courses taken, including French and Greek, music, poetry, and art (both practice and history, including Chinese art). There is also a record of his art sales from 1964 to 1999. Personal and family documents are included in the fonds.

Alan Creighton's artwork is extensive and primarily in the form of sketches and watercolours, with a few oil paintings. Many of his sketches are in albums, many of which are used exclusively for one particular aspect of his studies. For example, album labels include "People," "Trees," "Skies," "Rock Formations," "Buildings," "Railway Sketches" (scenes from train journeys), and "Outdoors." Others identify a place and time and include such labels as "At the Zoo," "Nova Scotian Sketches 1951," "South Shore 1982," and "Toronto 1996." Still others contain a mixture of styles and themes. There are also numerous loose sketches and watercolours which have been loosely arranged into similar groupings such as "Clouds," "Boats," "Flowers," and so forth. Photograph albums include photos of family and of scenes taken by Alan as a reference for future paintings.

Included with Alan Creighton’s personal items are papers, writings, art, and memorabilia belonging to his friend and roommate Christine Eyles, who died without heirs. Some relate to her employment as a violinist in England and in Toronto, Ontario and some contain her poetry, plays, and artwork (in sketchbooks and on loose paper). Published and handwritten music scores, mostly for the violin, are also included. A photograph album contains many formal portraits of family and friends taken in England in the early 20th century. Records also include papers by and about her father, Charles Eyles, a famous violin-maker. Such materials include advertisements, brochures, and letters attesting to the high quality of his craftsmanship.

Fonds consists of correspondence belonging to Mrs. Angus Morton and a copy of a poem written by Dr. Morton.

Fonds consists of three notebooks kept by Captain John E. Murphy. These include a log book and diary; a notebook of clippings and poetry regarding the Minister of Marine case; and a book of poetry written at sea. In addition, there are 9 photos of items that were brought back by Captain Murphy from his travels that still remain in the Murphy family.

Item is one poetry copybook, with entries made in various hands.

Item is a notebook kept between 1838-1839 by Amelia Davis, containing poetry excerpts, prayers, notes on history, and pictures of famous poets.

Item is a 19th-century notebook in copperplate script containing descriptions of geographical properties and racial attributes, with some associated maps or schemas. Some pages contain what appear to be later additions of poetry or notes and sketches in pencil by a different hand.

The fonds includes poetry, plays, short stories, and novel manuscripts which span Day's writing career; correspondence; speeches and essays; personal documents including various legal, financial, academic, and family-related materials; photographs; and various materials and manuals pertaining to his time in the military.

Collection consists of textbooks covering the subject areas of: Agriculture, Art, Business Education, Economics, Composition, Grammar, Rhetoric, Literature, Plays, Poetry, Prose, Readers, Spelling, Phonics, Stories, Geography, Health, History, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, General mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Logic, Psychology, Religion, Research, Methods, Manuals, Astronomy, Botany, Chemistry, Physics, General science, Zoology, Cooking, and Gardening. Includes two notebooks. The works found in the collection were published primarily between 1875 - 1940, although they range from 1801 - 1967, with an emphasis on History, all areas of Mathematics, Research and topics related to English or Language Arts. There are a number of works published in the nineteenth-century dealing with most of the collection's subject areas. The majority of the collection focuses on public and high school textbooks, particularly in relation to the province of Ontario, with some attention to university education.

The Goodwill, Bailey family fonds is comprised of several accessions. The fonds consists of personal correspondence and photographs of the Goodwill and Bailey families; papers connected with Rev. John Goodwill's work for the Church of Scotland; Dr. V. L. Goodwill's medical lectures and notes; some administrative records of the Falconwood Hospital dating from Dr. Goodwill's tenure as Superintendent; papers concerning Dr. Goodwill's military career and private medical practice; and Dr. W .L. Bailey's papers concerning his career as a university professor and his poetry. The Goodwill, Bailey family fonds divides into the following 13 series:

Rev. John and Mrs. Euphemia Goodwill papers. 1860-1917: copied 1980.
Rev. John and Mrs. Euphemia Goodwill photographs. 1860s-1920s.
Dr. V .L. Goodwill medical lectures and notes. ca. 1910-1930.
Falconwood Hospital administrative records. 1912-1929, 1933.
Dr. V .L. Goodwill military papers. 1917-1923.
Dr. V .L. Goodwill private medical practice papers. ca. 1906-1934.
Dr. V .L. Goodwill photographs. ca. 1890s-1920s.
Dr. V .L. and Mrs. Florence Goodwill personal papers/correspondence. ca. 1890s-1952.
Goodwill and Bailey family photographs. 1860s-1963.
Dr. W .L. and Mrs. Eva Bailey personal papers/correspondence. ca. 1920s, 1942-1983.
Dr. W .L. Bailey professional papers. 1923-ca. 1940s, ca. 1970s.
Dr. W .L. Bailey poetry. ca. 1940s-ca. 1970s.
Miscellaneous. ca.1940s-1954.

Fonds consists of materials related to the publication of the poetry periodical Germination. It includes manuscripts and proofs, editorial drafts, correspondence, sales and business records, and promotional materials.