Sub-series consists of general correspondence created or received by Patrick McTaggart-Cowan. Records document a wide range of activities, and concerns relevant to McTaggart-Cowan's personal and professional life.

Subseries comprises records relating to the activities of Operation Oil, including project management, liaison with the Ministry of Transport, salvage, clean-up, research, international correspondence, and liaison with the local community and general public.

Records consist predominantly of correspondence and memoranda, but also include McTaggart-Cowan's operations diaries, telegrams, reports, proposals, plans, drawings, press releases, claims sheets, and invoices.

Subseries comprises records relating to the regular meetings of Operation Oil personnel, including meetings of Task Force heads and meetings of the evening staff. Records consist of minutes.

Subseries comprises photographic records documenting the activities of Operation Oil. Records consist of photographs, a register of negatives and correspondence with the photographer.

Subseries comprises records relating to the communication of the activities and findings of Operation Oil. Records consist of reports received by McTaggart-Cowan from the various units of the Task Force, situation reports and progress reports sent to Ottawa by McTaggart-Cowan, and Operation Oil's published Final Report. Volumes I – III of the Final Report were submitted to the Minister in 1970; Volume IV covered the subsequent follow-up activities and was delivered in 1972 (published 1973).

Subseries consists of articles, presentations and correspondence relating to public speaking engagements by McTaggart-Cowan concerning his experiences, findings and opinions relating to the Chedabucto Bay oil spill.

Subseries comprises documents relating to the Chedabucto Bay oil spill which were received or collected by McTaggart-Cowan and retained for background, reference and information purposes. The authors of the material were not members of the Task Force and include academics, government and industry researchers, and journalists. Records consist of press clippings and published and non-published studies, reports and papers.

Sub-series consists of correspondence reflecting the relationship between McTaggart-Cowan and Simon Fraser University. Includes records that reflect his tenure as president, his resignation, the granting of an honourary degree in 1972, and his continued involvement with the university.

Sub-series consists of correspondence relating to specific subjects, such as acid rain and oil spills. Also includes correspondence relating to conferences attended by McTaggart-Cowan.