The fonds consists of a typed transcript of Ainsworth's autobiography written between 1877 and 1892.

The fonds consists of the business records created and/or collected by Arsenal Pulp Press, predominately from the early 1980s to the late 2000s. These records consist of correspondence, manuscripts, proofs, reviews, catalogues, broadsheets, advertisements, flyers, clippings concerning Arsenal publications and the Press, artwork, financial and sales records, ledgers, legal records, minutes and other organizational material.

The fonds was originally divided into the following four series: Correspondence; Editorial; Administrative; and Special projects. The Correspondence series contains the following subseries: General correspondence, Editorial correspondence and Correspondent-specific correspondence. The Editorial series contains the following subseries: Early manuscripts, General literary manuscripts, Published/printed material, Artwork, and Supplementary editorial records. The Administrative series contains the following sub-series: General administrative records, History/operational records, Minutes/agendas and newsletters, Financial records, Ledgers, Legal records, Sales/service fee reports, and Marketing/distribution records. The Special projects series contains three sub-series: Three-Cent Pulp, Arsenal Collaborative Library and the 3-Day Novel Contest. A fifth series was added with the accrual made in 2011, titled Editorial and production.

The fonds consists of financial records (1934-1953), stock certificates (1899-1901) and correspondence relating to financial matters. It also includes financial records of Ashcroft Irrigated Lands Ltd. (1952-1960), stock certificates (1953-1961) and correspondence relating to the development of East Branch Irrigation (1952-1956), as well as a 1918 report which includes photographs and plans. There are also drawings pertaining to a power house and dam (1949-1953).

The fonds consists of photocopies of outgoing letters (1882-1885) and letter press copybook (1888). Also microfilm copies of diaries, deed books and address books (1887-1930).

The majority of the collection relates to mining in the Sandon, B.C. community and surrounding areas. Documents relating to mining claims and claim disputes are prevalent. Other records include financial books and receipts, business and personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, other legal records and court rulings, leases, payroll records, numerous receipts and invoices and various corporate documents.
Each of Harris’ businesses, Hotel Reco, Reco Mining and Milling Company, Sandon Water Works and Light Company, Star Mining and Milling Company, Slocan Power Company, and Wonderful Mines are represented in this collection. In addition there are records from the British Columbia Mining Association and the Silver-Lead Miners Association of British Columbia.

The W.B. Bailey series and the Clarence Cunningham series are relatively small. The Cunningham records include only financial records ca. 1916 to 1919, and newspaper clippings from 1939. The Bailey records are a grouping of telegrams from 1901 to 1902 with a complete inventory of each supplied by Mr. Barlee.

The fonds consists of textual records and artwork created by Ann Blades during the course of her career as an author and illustrator of Canadian children’s literature. The records date from circa 1967 to 2013, with particular concentration during the years immediately prior to the publication of Blades’ works. The fonds is especially strong in areas related to book production and sales, including, contracts, royalty reports, correspondence with publishers, literary agents and designers, layout materials, manuscripts, sketches, drawings and paintings. In addition, the creator has gathered a number of clippings and reviews which document the critical reception of her work.

The fonds is divided into 31 series. 26 of these series, the majority of the materials in the fonds, have been arranged by the creator according to book title (including both published and unpublished works) and therein according to textual records and artwork. This arrangement has been maintained by the processor with each title constituting a separate series. The remaining five series discuss Blades' personal activities, and her professional activities which were not related to a single book.

Book series include:
“Seasons,” Board Books - Production and Reviews (1986-1998),
<i>A Boy of Tache</i> - Reviews (1973-1977),
<i>A Candle for Christmas</i> - Production and Reviews (1982-2001),
<i>A Dog Came, Too</i> - Production, Reviews and Publicity (1989-2001, predominant 1989-1993),
<i>A Ride for Martha</i> - Production (1992-2001),
<i>A Salmon for Simon</i> - Production, Reviews and Awards (1978-1997),
<i>Adolph</i> - Production (1976?-1978),
<i>Anna’s Pet</i> - Production and Reviews (197?-1982),
<i>Anna’s Pet/Six Darn Cows</i> - Materials (1978-2006),
<i>Back to the Cabin</i> - Production, Reviews and Publicity (1993?-1999),
<i>By the Sea: An Alphabet Book</i> - Production, Publication, and Reviews (198-?-1994),
<i>Canadian Books for Children</i> - Production and Publication (1987-1988),
<i>Fowlini</i> - Production ([1971]-1978),
<i>Ida and the Wool Smugglers</i> - Production, Reviews and Publicity (1986-2001),
<i>Jacques the Woodcutter</i> - Production, Reviews and Materials (197?-1981),
<i>Mary of Mile 18</i> - Production, Reviews, Film (1971-2012),
<i>Mile 18 Summer Book</i> - Production (1970),
<i>Mother Goose: A Canadian Sampler</i> - Production and Publication (1992-1994),
<i>Pettranella</i> - Production and Reviews (1978-1994),
<i>Pond Seasons</i> - Production and Reviews (1994-2001),
<i>Six Darn Cows</i> - Production and Reviews (197?-1986),
<i>The Cottage at Crescent Beach</i> - Production, Reviews and Publicity (1974-1988, 2001),
<i>The Singing Basket</i> - Production, Reviews and Materials (1976, 1988-2004),
<i>Too Small</i> - Production and Reviews (1999-2001),
<i>Willemina's Christmas</i> - Production (1977-1982),
and <i>Wolf and the Seven Little Kids</i> - Production and Reviews (1998-1999).

General series include:
General Financial Materials (1981-2013), General Publicity Materials (1974-2004), Personal Materials (1967-2000), Presentations, Exhibitions, and Conferences (1975-2005), and Professional Correspondence (1970-2013).

The 2002, 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2014 accruals also included copies of Blades’ published works. All printed materials have been integrated with the library collections and are searchable via the UBC catalogue.

Since at least 2006, the creator has for many files left annotations or descriptions, which have been kept with the records. The 2011 accrual was well-organized and carefully labelled by Blades before it was officially gifted to the University of British Columbia in 2011. As a result, all file names are based upon the titles devised by the creator. Within each file, Blades grouped related materials and indicated the subject of the grouping with a labelled paper wrapper which she folded around a collection of documents. These paper wrappers have been preserved. File contents have been retained in their original order.