This series contains the correspondence and reference material created and accumulated by John Diefenbaker’s office from the time he ceased being Leader of the Opposition until his death.

This series contains correspondence, clippings, memoranda, reports, speech material and memorabilia generated during Diefenbaker’s second term as Leader of the Opposition from April 1963 to September 1967.

This series contains the press releases issued when Diefenbaker was Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition (1963-1967).

This series contains John Diefenbaker’s correspondence while Prime Minister, both incoming and outgoing, filed by his office staff. It contains correspondence with cabinet members, the Civil Service, other politicians, foreign leaders, personal friends and advisors, and the general public, all arranged in the same series of subject files. The topics covered include almost all the political and social questions of the period.

This series contains reference material collected by Diefenbaker and his office staff while Prime Minister and during his second term as Leader of the Opposition. It includes correspondence, reports, speech notes, press clippings, and some published material.

This series contains John Diefenbaker’s correspondence while Prime Minister, both incoming and outgoing, which was filed by his office staff. Together with the correspondence in MG 01/VI PMO Numbered Correspondence, it comprises the whole of Diefenbaker’s correspondence during the period, excluding that with his family. It contains correspondence with members of his cabinet, the Civil Service, other politicians, foreign leaders, personal friends and advisors, and the general public, all arranged in the same series of subject files. The topics covered include almost all the political and social questions of the period.

This series contains office diaries, itineraries, telephone lists and similar material used by Diefenbaker’s staff.

This series consists primarily of those files deemed too sensitive for processing in Diefenbaker’s regular office filing system due to political, personal or security considerations. VIP letters and other documents which Diefenbaker particularly valued are also included. Inter-filed with both categories of material is a body of more mundane documents which Diefenbaker and his staff wanted close at hand for a variety of reasons.

This series contains Diefenbaker’s papers for the six month period of his first term as Leader of the Opposition. Although Diefenbaker outpolled Donald Fleming and Davie Fulton after the first ballot, his rise to prominence had not been without its setbacks. This was his third try for the opposition which had escaped his grasp in 1942 and 1948. This series consists largely of post-convention correspondence and election material, but there are also files about headquarters organization, the appointment of advisors, and current political events such as the release of the report of the Gordon Commission on Canada’s Economic Prospects.

This series contains reference material collected by John Diefenbaker and his staff from 1940, when he was elected to Parliament, to 1957, when he became Prime Minister. A wide range of political and social subjects, both Canadian and international, are present.

This series contains those files which appeared to have been removed from their original order or created specifically for use in writing John Diefenbaker’s memoirs. It also contains correspondence about the memoirs project, notes, and drafts of the memoirs, One Canada. There are notes and annotations in Diefenbaker’s hand throughout this series.

This series contains motion picture film, video tape, phonograph records, and audio tape, and constitutes the sound and moving image records kept by Diefenbaker.

This series contains press clippings on a wide variety of Canadian and international social and political topics which John Diefenbaker collected.

This series contains the manuscripts of John Diefenbaker’s speeches as well as background material, drafts, suggestions from staff, and annotated delivery copies.

John Diefenbaker entered the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 1916, and was called to the Saskatchewan Bar in June, 1919. Upon graduating he opened a private practice in Wakaw, Saskatchewan and carried on a busy practice until 1924 when he moved to Prince Albert. The Wakaw office was managed by a succession of partners until its closure in 1929. Diefenbaker worked privately and in partnership until the early 1940s when he established a partnership with John Cuelenaere. They were joined by Roy Hall in 1947 and by Clyne Harradence in 1955. After his election to the House of Commons in 1940, legal material was forwarded to Ottawa. This arrangement continued until 1956 when he was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, and he thus gave up his legal practice. Diefenbaker became a King’s Counsel in 1929, and was also a member of the Bars of Alberta, British Columbia and Upper Canada.

This series contains those papers accumulated by John Diefenbaker in the course of his legal practice, although records are incomplete.