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Title

Fonds consists of

246 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Accession

1. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
2. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
3. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
4. Lester B. Pearson fonds [graphic material]
5. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
6. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
7. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
8. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
9. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
10. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
11. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
12. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material] (123-040409-0)
13. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
14. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material] (123-040410-4)
15. Lester B. Pearson collection [graphic material]
16. Lester Bowles Pearson Collection [graphic material]
17. PEARSON, Lester B
18. PEARSON, Lester B
19. PEARSON, Lester B
20. PEARSON, Lester B
21. PEARSON, Lester B
22. Lester B. Pearson fonds [textual record] (1999-00144-3)
23. Lester B. Pearson [textual record, graphic material] (2000-01589-1)
24. Lester B. Pearson fonds [textual record]

Bilingual equivalent

Fonds Lester B. Pearson [supports multiples]

Date(s)

1881-1973

Place of creation

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent

435.71 m of textual records.
1 microfilm reel negative and positive.
3124 photographs b&w.
61 photographs col.
11 albums (427 photographs).
273 audio reels.
98 medals
45 drawings
25 audio discs.
17 audio cassettes.
4 paintings oil.
3 pictures
2 film reels (45 min).
2 prints aquatint.

Language of material

English

Scope and content

Fonds consists of the official and personal papers of the Rt. Hon. Lester B. Pearson. The fonds contains information on almost all aspects of Pearson's diplomatic and political career, including his winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the flag debate, lasting accomplishments and the political scandals that plagued his terms in office. Although all of Pearson's life and career are documented, the fonds places a particular emphasis on his years and his work as Prime Minister. It also contains extensive documentation on Canada's foreign policy and involvement in international affairs. The fonds is arranged chronologically to reflect the different stages of Pearson's career, from his diplomatic career in the Department of External Affairs to his post-political work. The fonds contains extensive correspondence, both official and private, reference material, a comprehensive set of Pearson's speeches, and a small amount of personal memorabilia. The fonds also contains sound recordings of speeches, press conferences and interviews with Lester B. Pearson and other Canadians and foreign politicians and personalities or heads of state about Canadian and international affairs, and Canada's Centennial and reports by René Lévesque, Michel Robida, Raymond Marsillac and Roland Lelièvre on the visit of Vincent Auriol, President of France to Canada, 1951-1968. As well, there is a short documentary film entitled He is a good man promoting Pearson's 1962 campaign and a television interview of Maryon Pearson, [ca. 1964].

Conditions of access

Terms of use

Photographs: Copyright expired. Credit: Name of photographer / National Archives of Canada / Copy negative number.
Moving images and sound recordings: Reproduction and use in any form require the written permission of the copyright holders.
Graphic material: art No restriction. Copyright: various copyrights. Credit: National Archives of Canada.
Object: No restriction. Copyright: various copyrights. Credit: National Archives opf Canada.

Finding aid

Textual record Each series has its own finding aid identified by series number (ie: MSS0877 N1). Most finding aids are in paper format, however some also exist in electronic form. Consult the Archivist for any possible finding aids in process. MSS0877 90 (Paper)

Moving images and sound recordings: See MISACS for item level descriptions. (Electronic)

Creator / Provenance

Pearson, Lester B., 1897-1972.

Additional name(s)

Canada. Prime Minister (1963-1968: Pearson)
Carleton University (Ottawa, Ont.), .
Pearson, Lester B., 1897-1972
Pearson, Lester B., 1897-1972
Pearson, Edwin, ca. 1881-1931.
Pearson, Lester B., 1897-1972
Pearson, Lester B., 1897-1972

Biography / Administrative history

Prime Minister of Canada

Lester Bowles Pearson was born at Newtonbrook, Ontario near Toronto on 23 April 1897. He was educated in Ontario public schools and at the University of Toronto (B.A. 1919) and Oxford (B.A. 1923, M.A. 1925). After service in World War I, he became a member of the Faculty of the University of Toronto. He married Maryon E. Moody of Winnipeg in 1925. In 1928, he joined the Department of External Affairs and served in a number of responsible positions with that department including service at Canada House in London, 1935-1941 and at the Canadian Legation in Washington, 1942-1945. He was appointed Ambassador to Washington, 1945-1946 and Deputy Minister of External Affairs 1946-1948. He was named to the cabinet of the Rt. Hon. Louis St-Laurent as Secretary of State for External Affairs, when he was first elected to the House of Commons in 1948. Pearson held that post from 1948 until 1957. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.

Mr. Pearson was elected Leader of the Liberal Party in 1958 and served as Leader of the Opposition from that date until 22 April 1963 when he became Prime Minister. He retired from politics in 1968, assuming the chairmanship of the Commission on International Development, whose report was issued in 1969. Mr Pearson was Chairman of the International Development Research Centre from 1970 until his death in 1972.

Additional information

Subject heading

1. Ambassadors, 1945-1946.
2. Canada. Dept. of External Affairs.
3. Prime ministers
4. Canada.
5. Premiers ministres
6. Politicians
7. Algoma East (Ont.)
8. Canada. Prime Minister (1963-1968: Pearson)
9. Politics and government.
10. Canada
11. Canada. Secretary of State for External Affairs.
12. Canada. Privy Council Office.
13. Carleton University (Ottawa, Ont.), .
14. Autobiography.
15. Pearson, Lester B., 1897-1972
16. Notebooks, sketchbooks, etc., .
17. Pearson, Lester B.,
18. Cabinet ministers
19. Nicholson, Alexander M., b. 1900.
20. Commission on International Development.
21. Pearson, Edwin,
22. Speeches, addresses, etc., Canadian.
23. Diaries.
24. Funeral, etc.
25. Foreign relations
26. Relations extérieures

Source

Private

Other system control no.

MAINS23734

Related control no.

1. 1964-155 PIC
2. 1969-0004 MISA
3. 1969-107 NPC
4. 1976-024 PIC
5. 1976-037 NPC
6. 1976-143 NPC
7. 1978-188 NPC
8. 1980-0135 MISA
9. 1980-222 NPC
10. 1982-160 PIC
11. 1983-0163 MISA
12. 1983-0272 MISA
13. 1983-084 NPC
14. 1983-127 PIC
15. 1983-152 NPC
16. 1984-132 NPC
17. 1988-199 DAP
18. 1989-0499 MISA
19. 1989-167 DAP
20. 1995-210 X DAP
21. 1995-211 X DAP
22. 123-040409-0
23. 123-040410-4
24. 1999-00144-3
25. 2000-01589-1
26. MG26-N
27. MG26-N13

MIKAN no.

105124