The series contains photographs depicting the activities of Charles J. Chaplin and family, ca. 1900-1945; activities of Philip A.C. Chaplin and family, ca. 1945-1977; portraits of the following families: Allan, Bird, Chaplin, Geggie, Gugy, Graham, Grant, Grier, Grover, Harris, Hinton, James, Robinson, Roddick, Ryland, and Speirs; views of various places in Canada, Great Britain, the United States, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Sweden; British cathedrals and castles; photos by Philip A.C. Chaplin, Charles J. Chaplin, Gordon, A.C. McIntyre, Summerhayes & Walford, Davidson & Turnbull, J.L. Jones, Montminy & Cie., Pittaway, Newton, Notman, Desjardins, Archambault, Rice, Polyphoto, Paul Horsdal, Van Dyck, Canadian School Studios, and Sqan Photo Co.
Included in the photographs are photos related to Philip Alfred Conrad Chaplin's Family; one over painted; portrait miniature of unidentified man; industrial photos of equipment related to Forest Products Research Laboratory Princes Rosborough; amateur photo album showing summer activities of the Chaplin family in Kingston, Ottawa area, Niagara Falls, Ont., Montréal and Rougemont, Quebec; photos by The Swan Photo Co., Montréal, Quebec; William Notman & Son, Montréal, Quebec; J.L. Jones, Québec, Quebec; P.L. Brault, St-Jean, Quebec; Dunn Co., Brockville, Ont.; S. Barnett & Co., Niagara Falls, Ont.; Philip Conrad Chaplin.
The fonds also contains photos of a Polish immigrant family near Wilno, Ont., ca. 1890, photos by Edwards & Harrison; lumbering in the Capilano Valley, B.C.; views in and around Vancouver, the Rocky Mountains, Montreal, Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands, Rideau and Carillon canals, Frase Falls at Murray Bay, and Norwood Ont.; aftermath of collision of C.N.R. engines at Dorval, Que., 1 July 1922; McGill University; magnified samples o wood fibres of various species of trees; felling oaks on Sir George Courthope's estate, Wadhurst, Sussex, for the reconstruction of the roof of St. Stephen's Hall, Westminster, ca. 1927; group photo of the Ottawa Choral Society in concert, Ottawa, Ont., ca. 1950; majority of photos by Charles J.Chaplin.