Series comprises manuscripts, typescripts and notes for speeches and broadcasts given by Lord MacDonald in his role as Governor of Newfoundland.

Files relating to Gordon MacDonald's tenure as Governor or Newfoundland; primarily dealing with the administration of the dominion, official engagements and the arrangements for deciding its future which resulted in Confederation with Canada in 1949. The Sub-fond includes correspondence, drafts for speeches and radio broadcasts, employment, relations with the Newfoundland Commission of Government, groups campaigning for and against confederation and negotiations with the Canadian Government.

The papers of Gordon MacDonald, 1st Baron MacDonald of Gwaenysgor (1888-1966) comprising correspondence, copies of documents, speeches, transcripts for radio broadcasts, diplomatic dispatches, diaries, photographs and ephemera. They relate mainly to his political career as Labour Member of Parliament for Ince, Regional Controller for the Ministry of Fuel and Power for the Lancashire, Cheshire, and North Wales Region during WW2, Governor of Newfoundland and Paymaster General as well as his political interests in the Labour Party and international affairs and his Christian faith. The papers from his period in Newfoundland deal extensively with the negotiations and referenda related to confederation with Canada as well as the resulting political fallout.

Series comprises files related to the negotiations on the terms of confederation between Newfoundland and Canada following the referendum on confederation 1948, along with documents created by the Responsible Government League of Newfoundland who were opposed to confederation and associated correspondence.