The files contain a copy of McPhail's Inaugural Address to the trustees of Davidson College upon receiving the office of presidency, handwritten copies of his lectures on religious topics, several miscellaneous papers, a handwritten copy of his prayer book with prayers for each hour of the day, and two folders full of handwritten copies of his sermons. McPhail had several of his sermons bound and put into volumes. His "Sermons on Important Topics" Volume I-II, VII-VIII, and X-XI were placed in an archival box with the collection. His "Notes on the History of the Church" was also placed in the box. Each of these books are handwritten. The following books that were in the collection (but not handwritten) were placed in the Davidsoniana Room cases: "The Presbyterian Faith: A Tract for the People" (by Rev. G. W. Belk), "A Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans" (by John Calvin), "A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges" (by Albert Harkness), "The Works of Flavius Josephus," "The Socttish Reformation: A Historical Sketch" (by Peter Lorimer), and "Loyalty of Presbyterian Principles."