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Fonds consists primarily of family correspondence received by Mark Young Stark, and by his daughter, Mary Ann. There are also some letters written by Mark Young Stark, including a number written while he was studying and travelling in Europe as a young man. The letters date from c.1723 to 1917 and are primarily from family and friends. There are journals, notebooks, documents, essays, and newspaper clippings largely related to Mark Young Stark's family and Presbyterianism in Canada. The journals are written by Mark Young Stark from 1829-1831, Mary Bannatyne Stark from 1824, and Mary Ann Stark from 1860-1891. The fonds also includes a published book of sermons written by Mark Young Stark; two small files of receipts and financial documents dating from 1854; two scrapbooks comprised of postcards, pictures, and picture cut-outs, and some original pencil sketches, ink drawings (partially coloured), and small paintings, some of which are signed by Mark Young Stark; and a small case of architect’s tools labelled as being those of Geo. Ed. Street.

Most of the records consist of letters written to Mark Young Stark and his wife, Agatha, in Dundas. Correspondents include friends and family in Scotland or friends and colleagues in Upper Canada. Of the Scottish letters, those from Stark’s stepmother (Mary Bannatyne) and aunt (Grace Young) are the most numerous. Some letters predate Stark’s immigration to Canada in 1833. Other letters were written to his wife and to their daughter, Mary Ann, after Stark’s death in 1866. Topics addressed in the letters revolve around personal and family news but occasionally touch on current events, including politics and ecclesiastical affairs.