Fonds consists of correspondence, notebooks, journals and printed material, that demonstrate J.A. Roebuck's interest in Canadian affairs both from 1834 to 1836, when he was agent for the Assembly of Lower Canada, and during the period after the Rebellion when he worked for the release of the political prisoners sentenced to transportation. The correspondence includes letters from Louis-Joseph Papineau, 1835-1845, Thomas Spring Rice, and others; drafts of writings on colonial questions are frequently incomplete. Also included are manuscripts of Mrs. Henrietta (Falconer) Roebuck relating to Canada with diary notes and extracts from Roebuck's speeches, volumes 1-6. Fonds also consists of art material consists of an album of drawings by John Arthur Roebuck entitled: "Sketches in Canada" which include; views of Montreal from the Mountain near Ogilvie's farm; Port of Montreal from the Hill on St. Helen's Island; Port of Montreal from the Canal; view from Tanney Hill, Montreal; the Village at Cape Corbeau, Quebec, from the South Shore; views of the River from the Gate of Government House, Quebec; Lundy's Lane; views of Queenston; Island of St. Helena; Dockyards at Kingston; view of Niagara from the American Side; view of Fort Niagara, view from the ferry at Three Rivers; the forges, Black River; Cedar Village from the entrance to the rapids; Lake Beaufort; the Sawmill on Lake Nairne; North Bay from Point Fraser; views of Lake Nairre. Drawing of View of Beauharnois Church, 1842 (recto); view of Hever Castle, Kent (verso), by Unknown Artist 114, is also part of this fonds. Photographic material is also included and depicts Lord F. Paulet and staff, Montreal, Québec, 1862; Major-General James Lindsay and staff, Montreal, Québec, 1863. Photographs are by William Notman. Also included in this fonds is a watercolour by Helen Douglas, View of Quebec from the Island of Orleans, 1875.
Roebuck, J. A. (John Arthur), 1801-1879 : John Arthur Roebuck P.C., Q.C., M.P., British politician, author and lawyer. Between 1815 and 1824 he lived near York, Upper Canada. Roebuck acted as agent in England for the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, 1835-1837, during the dispute between the House of Assembly and the Executive Council. In 1838 he appeared before the bar of the House of Commons and the House of Lords in opposition to Lord Russell's Canada Bill. He sat in the British House of Commons as M.P. for the City of Bath from 1832-1837 and 1841-1847 and subsequently for the Borough of Sheffield, from 1849-1868 and 1874-1879.
He was the author of several works, including Pamphlets for the People, Colonies of England and History of the Whig Ministry of 1830.