Fonds consists of biographical notes, clippings, articles, early educational records, research notes, draft manuscripts, field notebooks, reports, publications, correspondence, lecture and course notes, maps, photographic prints, and slides pertaining to M.Y. Williams' professional and personal activities.

Fonds consists almost entirely of materials created or acquired by John Knox over the course of his studies and professional life. The fonds is organized in the following series: Atmospheric blocking and Northern Hemisphere anomalies, Extended-Range and Analogue Forecasting, Climate Trends and Variability, Ocean Weather Station "Papa", Prairie drought ("Dry/Wet"), Cli-Red, and Miscellaneous Professional Activities.

The sous-fonds consists of miscellaneous personal correspondence and notes regarding Dr. Slaymaker's research interests. The Miscellaneous series is the only series in the sous-fonds.