This fonds consists of materials used, created, and accumulated by the Westlund and McAusland families. The majority of the material consists of financial records related to the farming operations of Arthur Westlund and Clarance McAusland near Brownlee and Melfort, Saskatchewan respectively. Although broadly speaking, the story of agriculture in Saskatchewan is well known – cyclical environmental factors, changes in product prices and markets – this fonds provides evidence of the impact of those changes on the lives of a single family, over decades. How that family interacted within the local community is also revealed in terms of how and where they spent their income. The source material, in farm account books, vendor receipts, property tax assessments, banking and investment records, income tax returns, crop insurance documentation, and other materials generated from the farming operations, provides direct evidence of farm and community in the lives of one farm family over generations. In addition to the farming records, there is a small amount of correspondence, family memorabilia, ephemera, and artifacts. The fonds includes some material related to the Saskatchewan Liberal Party as the McAuslands were members of the party for a number of years. The fonds also includes records related to the operation of the Royal Winter Snow Plow Club, of which Clarance McAusland was a member. There is also a small collection of publications which are largely related to agriculture.

: This fonds contains the personal records of an extended family, including photographs, correspondence, and diaries. It documents their interests, careers, and family life predominantly two generations – the Ratcliffes and McConnells. The first accrual documents the interests, careers and family of John and Doreen McConnell and their daughter, Mary Ann. It includes materials related to McConnell’s work in communications, his work for the Canadian and Saskatchewan governments, together with materials relating to his interest in the environment and social and international development issues. It also includes materials relating to his wife, Doreen, who predeceased him. The second accrual adds the records of Doreen’s parents, the Ratcliffes, which includes documents related to their personal life and interests, Elma’s travel, James’ World War I service, and family life.

This fonds consists of the diaries of Thomas L. and Albert J. Loveridge of Grenfell, Saskatchewan. These handwritten diaries discuss weather, farming and day to day family matters. The second accessions includes correspondence, genealogical information, published materials and photographs relating to the Loveridge family, others, and the area in which they lived.

This collection includes 7 original photograph albums, primarily documenting life overseas for Canadian servicemen during World War I. In addition to the military images are photographs of the Canadian west, including the Better Farming Train, fairs and livestock exhibitions, and early images of Banff, the Rockies, and Vancouver.

Portraits and activities of a homesteading family, believed to be from near Springwater, Saskatchewan. Images include breaking the sod; travel with horse and buggy; threshing; and various portraits of family members.

Documents in the fonds relate to the National Research Council - International Biological Program Natural Area Survey - Conservation Terrestrial Saskatchewan Region. Most regions of Canada had an IBP Committee working toward the establishment of a Natural Area system. The Sask. provincial program started in 1968. Fieldwork began in 1969 with 95 areas were selected for the inventory.