The series contains textual records spanning the period 1908-1936 created by, collected by, or related to the immediate or extended McLennan family. This material might have been created and/or collected after the death of William McLennan, particularly by his son, William Durie McLennan, and does not appear to have been arranged by Hugh McLennan (1927-2004). Material includes correspondence, including a bound volume of World War I letters; histories of the MacLeod clan and William Stewart; and ephemera.

File contains correspondence from William Durie McLennan to his mother, Marion Paterson McLennan, and his sisters Alice (Patty) and Elizabeth (Betty).

The sub-series consists of textual records related to William McLennan’s work as a writer from the 1880s-1903. The series includes full and partial drafts of published and unpublished articles, short stories, novels, and non-fiction works; research and reference materials; incoming correspondence; and other materials. Writings are primarily about Montreal, including its history, physical environment, and historical figures. Historical figures treated include Raphael-Lambert Closse, Bénigne Basset, François Dollier de Casson, George Hardy, Pehr Kalm, Medar Jalot, Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis, Richard Hamilton, Louis de Montéléon, Marie-Anne-Josette L’Estringant de Saint-Martin, Jean-Baptiste Migeon de Branssat, Daniel Greysolon Dulhut, Benedict XIII, Octave Crémazie, James Johnstone, and John McDonell. Research and reference materials include notes from historical sources, character sketches and timelines, and copies of archival documents, as well as original historical documents. Among the historical documents, the series includes a copy of Daniel Greysolon Dulhut's will and testament dated 1710 and signed by Dulhut. Correspondence relates to the writing, research, and publication of McLennan’s works. Notable correspondents include Jean Newton McIlwraith, co-author of "The Span o’ Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec," historian Joseph-Edmond Roy, archivist Douglas Brymner, journalist and historian Ernest Myrand, and John S. McLennan, among others.

File contains a sketch of François Dollier de Casson, research notes, and related correspondence.

File contains drafts writings about Montreal, including its historical sites and figures, and sketches in the voices of Raphael-Lambert Closse and Pehr Kalm.

File contains a draft of "A la Gaumine," a work on the clandestine marriage of Louis de Montéléon and Marie-Anne-Josette L’Estringant de Saint-Martin in 1711.

File contains a typed draft of a tourist guide to Montreal.

File contains research materials and notes on Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis, including genealogical information, copies of archival documents, and research notes.

File contains copies of archival documents related to Louis Juchereau de Saint-Denis.

File contains the publishing contract for "In Old France and New" between Harper & Brothers and William McLennan.

File contains research materials on Daniel Greysolon Dulhut and drafts of "The Death of Dulhut," published in "Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada" in 1903. Research materials include copies of documents from the archives of the Superior Court in Montreal, including copies of a post-mortem inventory of Dulhut's possessions (L'apposition des scellés), his will and codicils, contracts, and other documents. Materials also include genealogical information and correspondence from historian Joseph-Edmond Roy. The file also contains a notarial copy of Dulhut's will and codicil dated 1710 and signed multiple times by Royal Notary Michel Lepallieur, each with his elaborate flourish or "paraph."

File contains a draft of the novel "The Losing Side," later renamed "The Span o’ Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec," part 2 (Margaret's story) and part 3 (Maxwell's story).

File contains a draft of the novel "The Losing Side," later renamed "The Span o’ Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec," part 2 (Margaret's story) and part 3 (Maxwell's story).

Correspondence from John S. McLennan to William McLennan regarding "The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec."

Correspondence from Jean N. McIlwraith to William McLennan regarding "The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec."

Correspondence from Jean N. McIlwraith to William McLennan regarding "The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec."

Correspondence from Jean N. McIlwraith to William McLennan regarding "The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec."

Outline by chapter of "The Span o' Life," part II: Margaret's narrative.

Correspondence from Jean N. McIlwraith to William McLennan regarding "The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec."

Correspondence from Jean N. McIlwraith to William McLennan regarding "The Span o' Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec."

File contains a draft of the novel "John McDonell of Scottos," later renamed "Spanish John," about the early life and adventures of John McDonell.

File contains a copy of Hugh McLennan's will.

File contains personal correspondence from Marion Paterson to William McLennan.

File contains personal correspondence from Pemberton Paterson to Marion Paterson.

File contains documentation of official complaints made before justice of the peace Neil Stewart. The file also contains Stewart's account summary from Armour and Ramsay booksellers and stationers.

File contains miscellaneous correspondence, ephemera, and photographs. Materials include plan of Fort Senneville; photos of an unknown house interior; correspondence from William Kingsford regarding a Shakespeare club; photo of Charles Lamb's cottage; Numismatic and Antiquarian Society event invitations and related correspondence; newspaper clippings; a sketch of an unknown house exterior; a letter from Betty McLennan to her grandfather Hugh McLennan written on birch bark; a sample of Henri Georges Stephane Adolphe Opper de Blowitz's notepaper; a collection of bookplates; certification of Christopher McLennan's graduation from McGill University; and notes on the history of Vankleek Hill, Ontario.

Picture of an unknown library with bookcase, chairs, and end tables.

Picture of building facade viewed through closed iron gate. Sign reading "Lamb's Cottage" is visible hanging from the gate.

File contains correspondence from William McLennan to daughter Alice (Patty) and correspondence from the Royal Society of Canada to William McLennan regarding his election.

File contains plates of historical figures and scenes; reproductions of historical documents; reproductions of maps and plans famous battles locations; and a printed list of those killed, wounded and missing during the siege of Quebec and Plains of Abraham .

File contains historical documents presumably collected by William McLennan. Folder one contain a letter from [DesGatines?] to [François Desjordy Moreau de Cabanac?] and documentation of a loan agreement between Sir John Johnson and Joseph-Maurice Lamothe.

File contains historical documents presumably collected by William McLennan. Folder two contains a commission appointing commissioners for the management of the Jesuit Estates. The document lists existing commissioners, Francis Baby, Thomas Dunn, Jenkins Williams, and Herman Witsius Ryland, along with the dates of their original appointment, and names new appointees Pierre-Amable De Bonne, John Mure, William Bacheler Coltman, and John Stewart.

File contains historical documents presumably collected by William McLennan. Folder three contains a grant of 200 acres of land in the District of Newcastle in the county of Durham, Ontario, to Margery McIntosh, wife of Alexander McIntosh and daughter of Charles Rose.

File contains financial documents related to the estate of the late Donald McLaren of which John McLennan (1789-1866) was executor. Documents include account balance sheets, an indenture for the lease of land, and promissory notes and receipts of payments received.

File contains a journal and memoranda book belonging to Edward Vennor. Vennor was a provincial customs clerk in Montreal and was married to Harriet Ann Hall. The book contains memoranda of letters received from England; addresses of family and acquaintances; a diary of a sea voyage from Portsmouth; various account balances for the years 1838-1864; assorted memoranda; and notes on the weather and temperature in August 1873. A number of items are interleaved throughout the journal, including a copy of the 1844 annual report of the British American Land Company; a 1838 list of special councillors present at an unknown meeting; lists of expenses; notes; loose account balance sheets; and a Montreal City & District Savings Bank deposit book dating 1882-1884.

File contains business correspondence addressed to Frederick Griffin in his capacity as a lawyer and solicitor. Some correspondence is annotated in Griffin's hand with the date and details of receipt, draft responses, or other notes. Much of the correspondence is from the Bank of Montreal and notable correspondents include F.W. Primrose, E.H. King, Lewis T. Drummond, Richard Bladworth Angus, George O'kill Stuart, Hewitt Bernard, Frédéric-Eugène Globensky, David James Greenshields, Ogilvy Moffatt, Robert LeMoine, among others. File also contains financial and legal documents related to Griffin's work as solicitor and executor of estates, including bank deposit receipts; property tax assessments and receipts; promissory notes; powers of attorney assigned to Griffin by the St. Lawrence Inland Marine Assurance Company and the Bank of Montreal; bills of exchange and protests of bills of exchange; among other documents.

File contains a letter from the Reverend Andrew Balfour regarding the purchase of shares in the Canadian Loan Company.

File contains documents relating to the court cases of Pierre v. Gabriel S. Chouteau and Mary Charlotte v. Gabriel S. Chouteau, which were heard in St. Louis, Missouri, and the resulting examinations of prominent Montreal judges James Reid, Samuel Gale, and William Badgley. The file notably contains investigative research on the legality of slavery in Canada under French rule and subsequent British rule, with a particular focus on the transition of laws and customs between the two periods during the 1760s-1790s. Documents relate to Griffin's role as counsel for the plaintiffs in Montreal during these examinations and include notes on legal history and precedent; incoming correspondence; drafts of outgoing correspondence; draft memos; questionnaires completed by Samuel Gale, James Reid, and William Badgley; copies of historical legal documents and correspondence relating to the history of slavery in Canada; summaries of evidence on the subject of slavery in Canada; the deposition of Samuel Wentworth Monk; newspaper clippings regarding the cases; and other documents. The majority of incoming correspondence is from Alexander J.P. Garesche, a St. Louis attorney and counsel for the plaintiff in Mary Charlotte v. Gabriel S. Chouteau. Other notable correspondents include Alexander P. Field, David N. Hall, Richard Alexander Tucker, the office of the Governor General, William Badgley, Christopher Dunkin, James Reid, Samuel Gale, and Jacques Viger.

File contains surveyor reports and other documents related to a case in the Court of King's Bench for the District of Montreal regarding a legal dispute between the Crown and four defendants over the dividing lines between properties in southwestern Quebec. The properties concerned in the case were the augmentation / second concession of Mille-Isles, the first concession of Mille-Isles (Blainville and Riviere du Chene), the seigniory of the Lake of the Two Mountains (Lac des Deux Montagnes), the seigniory of Argenteuil, and Chatham Gore (Gore de Chatham). The defendants named in the case were Eustache-Nicolas Lambert Dumont, Jean-Henry-Auguste Roux for the Seminary of Montreal, Janvier-Domptail Lacroix, and Catherine Jordan (widow of William Claus). The Crown was represented by Charles R. Ogden. Documents include a copy of the judgement, surveyors reports, procès-verbaux, accounting of costs owed for survey work, and an inventory of documents.

File contains correspondence to Stephen Sewell regarding a legal dispute between John Dimond and R. Olcott.

The fonds consists of photographs and textual records spanning the period 1710-1984, predominantly 1850-1940, related to business and personal lives of five generations of the McLennan family (immediate and extended), as well as to the work of Montreal lawyer, Frederick Griffin. McLennan family materials consist of photographs; incoming and outgoing correspondence; genealogical information and family histories; diaries and remembrances; newspaper clippings and ephemera; official documents; obituaries and tributes; drafts of writings, research notes, and sketches; and other documents.

The McLennan family materials includes a series reflecting William McLennan’s writing career, personal interests, and family life. William McLennan’s materials include full and partial drafts of published and unpublished works; research and reference materials; incoming and outgoing correspondence; legal and official documents; collected historical materials and documents; notes; sketches; journals; newspaper clippings and ephemera; photographs; and other materials.

The fonds also consists of a series reflecting Frederick Griffin’s occupation as a lawyer and his role as founder of the Canadian Loan Company. Frederick Griffin’s materials include incoming correspondence and draft responses; various financial and legal documents; legal research notes and drafts of legal documents; memoranda; meeting minutes; land and property documents and surveyors reports; newspaper clippings and ephemera; and other documents.

Finally, the fonds contains a series consisting of William Durie McLennan’s records, which were primarily created between 1914 and 1915 and pertain to his military service during the First World War. Record types in this series include the following: a handwritten, personal notebook; a typescript of this notebook; correspondence; service records from the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces; news clippings; black and white photographs; collected signatures from Canadian dignitaries; and materials from the 5th Battery Association of 1914.

Portrait of Hugh S. McLennan with a newspaper clipping on the back regarding his death.

Picture of a house with a man standing in the doorway.