The fonds predominantly consists of of James' research notes, grant applications, interviews, correspondence, articles and drafts for his book and exhibition (at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre) on Albert Chesterfield: A Fur Trader's Photographs: A. A. Chesterfield in the District of Ungava, 1901-04 (1985). There is also a draft of his book Locations of the Sacred and material pertaining to Arthur Twomey's Needle to the North, which James edited for Oberon Press in 1982. Also includes James' research for the Religious Diversity Project, documenting religious organizations in Kingston, Ontario.

Fonds consists of correspondence; subject files; memoranda; reports; published articles, papers, and addresses; and photographs, including a series of coloured 35 mm slides of various campus buildings, events, and scenes, taken by W.A. Mackintosh during his time as the 12th Principal of Queen's University. There are important files on the Anti-Combines Investigation Act, the 1945 Dominion-Provincial Conference, the Royal Commission on Dominion-Provincial Relations, the National Employment Commission, the Economic Advisory Committee, 1939-1944, and Queen's University.

Fonds consists of correspondence and awards.

Fonds consists of correspondence; subject files; articles, book and exhibition reviews; lecture notes; conferences, symposia, and colloquia attended, persented at, or put on; exhibitions mounted; research files relating to Van Gogh and Paul Gogin; transperiencies; and electronic records.

Fonds consists of a copy of Vernon MacDonald's, "Alfie Pearce: A Character I Have Met".

This fonds consists of correspondence (1952-2005); editorials in British papers (1946-1950) and the 'Winnipeg Free Press' (1950-1960); subject files relating to his time as advisor to the Liberal Party and Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson; notes on the development of social policy and the Canada Pension Plan; papers and lectures written by Kent; published articles and volumes; presentations to parliamentary committees; files relating to the Royal Commission on Newspapers (1980-1981); honours and awards.