This series consists of 399 incoming and outgoing letters and postcards, administrative and financial papers, catalogue lists, bookplates, and manuscripts pertaining to collection development and other library-related activities for the Emma Shearer Wood and Blacker Libraries from 1918-1941. The correspondence relates directly to collection development of these libraries from 1921-1941; however, the years 1931 and 1933 are not present.
Correspondence is primarily between Casey Wood and other individuals, such as Gerhard R. Lomer, Lilian Bates, Elizabeth Abbott, J. H. Fleming, McGill’s Order Department, Henry Mousley, V. C. Wynne Edwards, Margaret Hibbard, Otto Kals, and A. P. S. Glassco, as well as, book dealers, such as Messrs. Wheldon and Wesley and Messrs Bernard Quaritch, Ltd.. Other correspondence is also present between other individuals relating to McGill University Library collections including those donating materials to the libraries and others affiliated with Wood.
Subjects within the collection often concern financial and administrative information, purchases or material requests relating to ornithology, falconry, zoology, and Wood’s research and writing. Within the catalogue lists and manuscripts for the libraries, some relate specifically to medieval, medieval Persian, and fifteenth-century manuscripts. Additionally, this series also includes clippings and photographs exchanged between Wood and Library staff.
Notably, one volume within this series is dedicated to the evolution of the Emma Shearer Wood Library bookplate with the original drawing designed by United States government engraver G. F. C. Smillie and 7 other versions of the bookplates between 1918-1922. The later bookplate was by Bumpus of London designed by M. P. Barrett.