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Title

Fonds consists of

5 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Accession

1. Richard Bedford Bennett collection [graphic material]
2. Richard Bedford Bennett collection [graphic material]
3. Richard Bedford Bennett fonds [object]

Bilingual equivalent

Fonds R.B. Bennett [document textuel (surtout des microformes)]

Date(s)

1878-1947

Place of creation

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent

1 cm of textual records.
597 microfilm reels negative and positive.

Language of material

English

Scope and content

Fonds consists of the political and personal papers of R.B. Bennett, with the majority of records pertaining to his time as Prime Minister. Bennett's ministry was dominated by the Depression. Among the matters with which the government was concerned were: tariff revision, trade, finance, unemployment relief and farm relief. Other prominent subjects include banking, civil service, the Imperial Conference in 1930, the Imperial Economic Conference of 1932, the workings of the Conservative Party, requests for assistance, grain and railways. Fonds consists of political series, 1878-1947, microfilm, 435 reels; personal series, 1877-1960, microfilm, 47 reels; invitations series, 1927-1946, microfilm, 10 reels; clippings series, 1870-1949, microfilm, 105 reels; additional accessions, 1939-1942, 1946, originals, 0.01 m. This material is located on microfilm reels M-888 to M-895, M-907 to M-999, M-1012 to M-1033, M-1035 to M-1115, M-1172 to M-1185, M-1204 to M-1229, M-1247 to M-1302, M-1305 to M-1348, M-1397 to M-1434, M-1442 to M-1490, M-1497 to M-1500, M-3140 to M-3186, M-3859 to M-3868, M-4476 to M-4580.

Conditions of access

Finding aid

Textual records The finding aids to the Bennett Papers consist of five parts. Part 1 contains file lists to the Political Series and Personal Series. Part 2 contains file lists to the Invitations Series and Clippings Series. Part 3 is a detailed computer index to the Political, Personal and Invitations Series, arranged alphabetically by keyword. Part 4 is a variation of part 3. Instead of being sorted alphabetically, the computer index is arranged by volume number. This will be of particular assistance to researchers using the file list, as it shows the significant contents as well as the titles of each file. Part 5 contains a list of additional Bennett manuscript items received by the National Archives. MSS0434 90 (Electronic)
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000002512.pdf

Textual records The Bennett Index (Parts 3 and 4) is also available on line. MSS0434 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Parts 1-4 of finding aid 434 are available on microfilm. Parts 1 and 2 are filmed together on reel C-4495, part 3 is on reels C-10855 to C-10858 and part 4 is on reel C-10859. Researchers are urged to read carefully the introductions to each part of the finding aid to determine which part will be of most help to them. MSS0434 90 (Microform)

Creator / Provenance

Bennett, R. B. (Richard Bedford), 1870-1947.

Additional name(s)

Canada. Minister of Finance.

Biography / Administrative history

Richard Bedford Bennett was born at Hopewell Hill, N.B., 3 July 1870. He taught at Douglastown, N.B., 1888-1890. After studying law at Dalhousie University, 1890-1893, he became a partner in the law firm of L.S. Tweedie in Chatham. In 1897, Bennett moved to Calgary as a junior partner of Senator James Lougheed. The partnership was dissolved in 1922 and Bennett established the firm of Bennett, Hannah and Sandford. He remained a member until 1937. Bennett was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories in 1898, and to the Alberta Legislative Assembly in 1909 and 1911. In the House of Commons, Bennett represented Calgary, 1911-1917 and Calgary West, 1925-1939. At the first convention of the Conservative Party in Winnipeg in October 1927, Bennett was elected leader. Following the defeat of the King government in July, 1930, he became Prime Minister. Bennett also held the offices of Minister of Finance, 1930-1932 and Secretary of State for External Affairs, 1930-1935.

After the Conservative defeat in 1935, Bennett served as Leader of the Opposition until 1938 when he retired from active political life. In 1939 he moved to England and settled on an estate in Surrey where he lived until his death, 27 June 1947. In 1941 he was created Viscount Bennett of Mickleham, Calgary and Hopewell. He never married.

Additional information

Subject heading

1. Lawyers - Canada, 1887-1937.
2. Depressions - 1929 - Canada, 1929-1935.
3. Banks and banking - Canada, 1930-1935.
4. Canada - Officals and employees, 1930-1935.
5. Agriculture - Canada, 1930-1935.
6. Farms - Canada, 1930-1935.
7. Farmers - Canada, 1930-1935.
8. Farm relief - Canada, 1930-1935.
9. Finance - Canada, 1930-1935.
10. Grain - Canada, 1930-1935.
11. Railroads - Canada, 1930-1935.
12. Tariff - Canada, 1930-1935.
13. Unemployment - Canada, 1930-1935.
14. Unemployed - Canada, 1930-1935.
15. Bennett family, 1872-1960.
16. Richard B. Bennett - Finance, personal, [1890-1947]
17. Speeches, addresses, etc., 1927-1946.
18. Canada - Foreign relations, 1930-1935.
19. Premiers ministres
20. Canada.
21. Prime ministers
22. Politics and government.
23. Canada
24. Politique et gouvernement .
25. Politicians
26. Canada. Secretary of State for External Affairs.
27. Canada. Minister of Finance.

Source

Private

Other system control no.

MAINS23732

Related control no.

1. 1966-108 NPC
2. 1982-015 MED
3. 1982-061 PIC

MIKAN no.

105122