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A Real Companion and Friend:
The diary of William Lyon Mackenzie King
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Behind the Diary
A King's Who's Who Biographies
Lillian Breen
Lillian Breen worked as Secretary to Ward C. Pitfield, President of W.C. Pitfield & Co. Ltd., Investment Dealers, Montreal, from 1929 to 1940. Mr. Pitfield died in 1939. Miss Breen served as Assistant Private Secretary to the Honourable J.L. Ralston, Minister of National Defence, from 1940 to 1944. She then worked for private companies for several years. She was Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Washington, from 1947 to 1949.
In early 1949, King hired Miss Breen as his Secretary-Stenographer. Among other duties, she was to sort out the family letters. King was impressed with her competence and intended her to help in writing his memoirs. She prepared a chronology of King's life.
She was originally hired for one year but she continued her work with the King Papers until 1957. Later she became Secretary to the Canada Council.
In his will, King bequeathed $500 to Miss Breen.
