The material in the collection consists of administrative records, including a meeting minute book containing the proceedings of the Managing Committee of the Hamilton and Gore Mechanics' Institute, a register recording the names of members and the books loaned by the Institute, rules and regulations of the Institute, memberships and subscriptions, lending cards, and an annual election card. There is also some publicity and newspaper clippings pertaining to the Institute and its events and holdings, as well as records created by Dr. Freda Farrell Waldon, former Chief Librarian of the Hamilton Public Library, who researched the history of the early libraries and mechanics' institutes. The records include correspondence, research notes and resources, as well some publications.