Accession GA426 - William Lyon Mackenzie King collection.

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

William Lyon Mackenzie King collection.

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Accession

Reference code

SCA368-GA426

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

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Statement of scale (cartographic)

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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Physical description area

Physical description

21 cm of textual records
22 photographs, b&w, 26 x 21 cm
1 object in box 53 x 43 x 9 cm

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1874-1950)

Biographical history

"William Lyon Mackenzie King had a long political career. He was leader of the Liberal Party for 29 eventful years through the buoyant expansion of the 1920s, the depression of the 1930s, the shock of World War II, and then the post-war reconstruction, and for 21 of these years he was Canada’s prime minister. His decisions during this time contributed significantly to the shaping of Canada and to its development as an influential middle power in world affairs. During his lifetime his achievements were sometimes obscured by a style notable for its compromises. After his death his political career was sometimes overshadowed by the revelation of his unsuspected personal idiosyncrasies."

Custodial history

Scope and content

Collection consists of material relating to William Lyon Mackenzie King from the estates of his brother Dougall Macdougall “Max” King and of his nephew (Dougall’s son) Arthur Macdougall King. Its major component is correspondence from Mackenzie King to Arthur King and also to Arthur’s wife Kathleen, over a period of twenty-seven years from 1923 to 1950.The first letter is dated 1923, a scant three years after the death of Max King, when Arthur and his twin brother Lyon were 10 years old and the last in the series is dated July 5, 1950. The collection also contains documents and ephemera relating to King’s death, funeral and will, received by Arthur King as a participant in those events; also present are issues of major Ontario newspapers that covered Mackenzie King's death and funeral as events unfolded day-by-day. A small selection of photographs, some formal and some snapshots, are also present. A selection of books retained by the family, among them works written and presented by John King and Dougall Macdougall King, also works owned by Mackenzie King as a boy, present a tangible reminder of the intellectual legacy of the King family.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Donated by John English in 2019

Arrangement

Arranged in six series:
1. Correspondence
2. W.L. Mackenxie King: death, funeral, and estate
3. W.L. Mackenzie King: Newspapers and Clippings
4. King Family : Photographs
5. Objects
6. King Family: Published Material

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

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Description record identifier

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Status

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Dates of creation, revision and deletion

2019-07-03 JBR

Language of description

  • English

Script of description

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