This fonds contains documents pertaining to the life of William Hespeler, such as confirmation of attending the Polytechnic Institute in Karlsruhe (1847-1849), of deferment from military service in 1850, of immigration to Canada, and of naturalization as a British subject. The fonds includes the items taken to Russia in 1872 (i.e. responses from Ottawa to the Russian Mennonite inquiries about priveledges been sought such as exemption from military service). The fonds also contains various items with the autographs of individuals such as Otto von Bismark, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia, and the British monarch, Queen Victoria. The documents pertain to Hespeler's service to Canada or Germany.

The fonds consists of Dr. Joan Finkle de Peña’s manuscripts, articles and lecture notes pertaining to her academic teaching career at St. Louis University, and the University of Manitoba. The fonds also consists of material pertaining to her research in Puerto Rico when she was a graduate student, as well as a her academic research work with her studies of the Inuit of the North, during her tenure as a faculty member with the Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba. In addition there are textual records pertaining to her involvement with various national and international professional associations, including the Sigma Xi Scientific Society. The collection also contains a total of 4624 photographs, 90 negatives, and 1,125 photo slides.