The fonds consists primarily of Thomas Brayshaw’s fishing diaries (1932-1964) and correspondence, manuscripts, and subject files (1907-1967). This is largely reflective of Brayshaw’s work and related interests. The fonds also contains a collection of documents and research related to the Brayshaw family, containing genealogical research, and family photographs, personal records and artefacts. This includes some personal records of Thomas Brayshaw, notably war service records, and some photographs and fishing flies related to his work and interests.

The collection consists of five letters (1863-1871); a diary belonging to Charles O. Eaton of Boston; a list of clothing and other garrison camp equipment of Lt. William McKinley, Jr.; two broadsides; a printed report of a meeting of the citizens of Bobb County, Georgia (1860); a publication of the Manchester Union and Emancipation Society; a lock of Mrs. Robert E. Lee's hair and an engraving of General Ulysses S. Grant and family.

The fonds consists of minutes, correspondence, financial records and printed material from various Vancouver-based organizations (including the Vancouver Vietnam Day Committee and the Vancouver Committee to End the War in Vietnam) opposed to the war in Vietnam (1966-1972).

The fonds consists of correspondence, much of it by or addressed to Sheila Young, concerning various international issues. Among the addressees are Prime Ministers Trudeau, Pearson, and Diefenbaker; various cabinet ministers; international heads-of-state; the United Nations; newspapers, commissions and organizations; government departments and agencies, and businesses. The fonds includes records of the 11th, 13th-18th, and 20th International Congresses of the W.I.L.P.F., as well as printed material on military expenditures, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, peace, and the polar regions, and also contains evidential records pertaining to W.I.L.P.F. operations. An accrual was added in 2007 containing printed material, minutes, correspondence from 1988-1997, financial and other operations records, ephemera, and records relating to the creation of the Canadian section and the drafting of its constitution. An additional accrual was added in 2015 including video recordings of W.I.L.P.F. and affiliated organizations events, and other organizational records.

The collection consists of photography of every aspect of World War I - from cadet training to soldiers' graves. Every theatre of war is represented, but the majority of prints were taken in Europe, particularly on the battlefields of France and Belgium. In Britain, there are prints of Gibson Girls welding ships or carting coal. There are prints of royalty and military commanders, including Greek, Belgian and Japanese aristocracy. The technology of war is illustrated in the numerous prints of planes, ships, tanks and guns of all kinds. The collection is strong in portraying the average "Tommy" and his role in the war.