Previously known as the "Ethel Johns Research Collection", the fonds consists of records generated during Street's writing of the biography of Ethel Johns. It includes correspondence (1969-1974) with publishers and the Canada Council which funded the project; transcripts of interviews with students, friends and associates (1969-1970); copies of Johns' addresses and publications (including portions of an unfinished autobiography); and draft manuscripts for the book "Watch-Fires on the Mountains".

Fonds consists of personal correspondence, newspaper clippings and manuscripts; as well as, memorial tributes, cards and letters of sympathy pertaining to the passing of Sonthoff. The fonds is arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Essays and Criticisms and Memorial Tributes.

The fonds includes the following series: correspondence, theses, speeches, lecture notes, printed materials, clippings, photographs, student memorabilia and manuscripts. Photographs are stored separately.