The material dates between 1880-1971. This material includes copies of Department of Indian Affairs Annual Reports from 1880-1968; copies of treaty reports and general information about Treaty 8 and Treaty 11, copies of Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrol reports from the Mackenzie and Athabasca Districts (1919-1921); copies of relief policies; Band Rolls from the Yellowknife Agency (1959-1961), and Mackenzie District (1971), and a household survey conducted at Lac La Martre (Whatı̀) in 1959. In addition, there is a copy of an article written by Bishop Breynat called the "Blackest Blot" which appeared in the Toronto Star in the 1930s, several articles related to the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches in the Northwest Territories, and miscellaneous articles related to game laws and restrictions, land reserves and disease. The maps indicate the location of missions in the Mackenzie/Athabasca regions circa 1800s.
The material reflects several facets of John Anderson-Thomson's life in the Northwest Territories, including his geological and surveying business, his and Janet's personal and leisure activities, and his role as commanding officer of No. 7 Company Canadian Rangers, Magistrate and Justice of the Peace, and commissioner on the Great Slave Railway Royal Commission. The records include financial records, correspondence, field notes, survey and reference plans, survey instructions, photographs and scrapbooks, certificates, and articles.
The records have been arranged by the Archivist, usually in topical, then roughly chronological order where the original order was not apparent. File divisions and titles, where apparent, have been mostly retained.
A map showing the boundaries of various companies of the Canadian Rangers in BC, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories, and the locations of their headquarters.
A sketch of the Tartan Giant and neighbouring claims showing locations of claims and drill holes.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lots 16 and 17, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 67 and 68, lot 14, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 44 and 69, lot 13, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 54 and 55, lot 19, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 54 and 55, lot 19, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 44, 45, 47 and 165, lot 11, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 50, lot 3, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lots 4 and 5, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 43 and 71, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lots 2 and 3, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lot 4, block B, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lease 46, Lot 11, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lots 1 and 2, block 11, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 411 and 418, lots 10, 11, and 12, block 25, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of leases 65 and 66, block 2, Yellowknife.
A sketch showing the dimensions of lot 2, block 75, Yellowknife.