Sir John A. Macdonald papers held by PAC
- MS-1433
- Series
- 1827-1910
Part of Sir John A. Macdonald fonds
Political, personal and family papers. Vols. 1-569 of the Macdonald papers held by the National Archives of Canada (NAC). The Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald (1815-1891) was born in Scotland and was raised and educated in Kingston, Upper Canada. He was a lawyer, but during most of his life political duties left him little time for his law practice. He married twice and was survived by his second wife and two children. He entered provincial politics as a Conservative in 1844, becoming a member of the Executive Council in 1847. Macdonald played a major role in creating the Coalition of 1854 which he moulded into the Liberal-Conservative Party which dominated much of the succeeding half century. He was the central figure in the creation of the Canadian Confederation of 1867. Becoming Canada's first Prime Minister in 1867, he retained that post until 1873. He was Prime Minister again from 1878 until his death on 6 June 1891. Besides being Prime Minister, Macdonald held numerous important cabinet posts. Macdonald was central to many Canadian political developments such as the Northwest Rebellions, the Pacific Scandal, the Canadian Pacific Railway and the National Policy. Fonds consists of a microfilm copy of the political and personal papers of the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald. The majority of the records are post Confederation, although there is extensive correspondence pertaining to Confederation and the events leading up to it. The political papers document the shaping of a new nation, and cover such key events as railway construction, determining national boundaries, and a wide range of other topics including government administration and native affairs. The personal papers provide insight into Macdonald's personal life, his legal practice, financial affairs, and the management of his estate. Family papers include the personal papers of Baroness Macdonald, and correspondence with close friends and other family members, including Macdonald's mother, and his sister Louisa. The following series were microfilmed and form part of the diffusion package: Political Papers: Correspondence arranged by subject, 1851-1891. (Vols. 1-185, pages 1-77165). Microfilm reels A00281-A00344 Correspondence arranged by correspondent's name, 1843-1891. (Vols. 186-296, pages 77166-135856). Microfilm reels A00344-A00396 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1836-1891. (Vols. 297-335, pages 135857-152372). Microfilm reels A00396-A00409. General letters, 1832-1891. (Vols. 336-503, pages 152373-253163). Microfilm reels A00410-A00482 Letterbooks, 1855-1891. (Vols. 504-536). Microfilm reels A00483-A00500 Personal Papers: Correspondence, 1835-1891. (Vols. 537-545, pages 253164-258360). Microfilm reels A00501-A00505. Miscellaneous, Notebooks, Invitations, Finances, 1827-1891. (Vols. 546-557, pages 258361-269219). Microfilm reels A00505-A00514. Family Papers: Baroness Macdonald, 1845-1910. (Vols. 558-568, pages 269220-276080). Microfilm reels A00514-A00519. Other Family Members, 1852-1889. (Vol. 569, pages 276081-276646). Microfilm reel A00520. Finding aid consists of a volume list (Vols. 1-569), a nominal index to the authors in the Personal Correspondence series (Vol. 537), a subject index for the Miscellaneous Correspondence series (Vols. 297-335), a microfilm conversion list (Vols. 1-569), and a list of additional finding aids created by the Library and Archives of Canada which are available on reels A00531-A00529. These finding aids consist of nominal, subject and chronological indexes for Vols. 1-545, 558 and 569. Each index contains approximately 150,000 entries. Printed copy of the finding aid also contains a subject index for the personal financial records contained in Vols. 552-555 and an author/subject list for the letters in Vols. 552-555. Additional records not microfilmed are available to researchers at the Library and Archives of Canada. Volume List: Nominal index to Volume 537 Subject index for Vols. 297-335 Microfilm conversion list: Source: MS Finding Aids
Macdonald, John A., Sir, 1815-1891