Fonds consists of the following series of textual records: general correspondence, n.d., 1879-1948; political career files, n.d., 1894-1927; material relating to the activities of the Royal Society, n.d., 1891-1940; manuscripts including handwritten and typed drafts, notes, resource material, galley proofs, and printed copies of Lighthall's various writings, n.d., 1877-1944, 1973-1977; financial papers, n.d., 1933-1942; subject files, n.d., 1892-1938; printed material, n.d., 1809, 1863-1943; memorabilia, n.d., 1879-1938; and clippings, n.d., 1885-1944. Also included are photographs showing homes and portraits of D.W. Lighthall's family; Charlie Caldwell's children; Ile d'Orleans, Quebec, Manitou, Tremblent, Quebec; Fernie, Vancouver, B.C.; Medicine Hat, Calgary, Alta.; Fort William, Sault Ste. Marie, Port Arthur, Ont.; a group of Cree in a Pow-Wow, Medicine Hat, Alta., 1910; photos of works of art by Frederick William Lock and William Busby Lambe, n.d.; and a photograph of a portrait of La Corne (Chevalier de), n.d. Included in the fonds are electroplate printing blocks used in W.D. Lighthall's Royal Society paper entitled "The False Plan of Hochelaga" (Toronto University Press, 1932), and photogravure printing plates of an unknown subject, n.d. Also included is an oil painting of La Corne Saint-Luc, [ca. 1763]. The work is by unknown artist #212. Fonds also consists of a poster, entitled, 'The False Chevalier.' This is an oversize record and is located in horizontal storage (vol. 15). Fonds consists of 24 maps and plans pertaining primarily to Montreal and Hocelaga. There are also maps relating to anthropology in North and South America.
Lighthall, W. D. (William Douw), 1857-1954 : William Douw Lighthall, born in Hamilton, Ontario, was educated at McGill University. He practised law until 1944. Lighthall was mayor of the Town of Westmount from 1900 to 1902, founded the Union of Canadian Municipalities in 1901, served as school commissioner and as a trustee of the Montreal Public Library, and was a commissioner for the Metropolitan Parks Commission of Montreal. Lighthall was also a charter member and president of the Canadian Authors' Association, an originator of the Society of Canadian Literature, and a member of a number of other literary societies. In 1902, he was elected to the Royal Society, and served as its president, 1917-1918.
His non-fiction writings include historical sketches such as "Montreal After Two Hundred and Fifty Years" (1892), "An Account of the Battle of Chateauguay" (1889), and "Thomas Pownell - His Part in the Conquest of Canada" (1904), as well as philosophical works such as "Sketch of the New Utilitarianism" (1887), "Canada: A Modern Nation" (1904), and "Superpersonalism: The Outer Consciousness, A Biological Entity" (1926). As well, he also wrote historical romances. In addition to compiling a collection of his own verse "Old Measures", Lighthall contributed poems to several anthologies and edited two volumes of poetry.
See: Encyclopedia Canadiana, Vol. 6, p. 140.
