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John Douglas Leechman, anthropologist and author, was born in London, England on December 20, 1890. Educated in the United Kingdom, Egypt and Switzerland, Leechman emigrated to Canada in his youth, served with the Canadian Mounted Rifles in the First World War and, after demobilization in 1917, apprenticed at the Victoria Public Library. In 1918, Leechman enrolled at the University of Washington to pursue a degree in Library Science but left the university prior to completing his degree. In 1924, while residing in Victoria, he applied for and won a position with the Anthropology Division of the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa, where he remained until 1955. During his thirty one years in Ottawa, Leechman spent part of his free time teaching evening courses in journalism at Carleton University and acquiring his BSc., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. In 1955 Leechman left the National Museum to become the first Director of the Glenbow Foundation in Calgary. He retired from this position in 1957, moved to Victoria and was shortly thereafter engaged by the Federal Government to aid in the restoration of Fort Langley and Fort Prince of Wales. When asked of his recreational activities and favorite pastimes, Leechman replied "writing". His years teaching journalism at Carlton and his extensive bibliography of about five hundred titles, attest to his leisure time pursuits. Leechman's co-authorship of the Dictionary of Canadianisms (1967), his activities, since 1968, as a Canadian consultant for the Oxford English Dictionary and his compilation of an extensive glossary of fur trade terms, found within this body of papers, are further testimony to his recreational pursuits and lexicographical interests. Dr. Leechman, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, died in Victoria in 1980. The bulk of the records consist of Leechman's theses dealing with native peoples and literature, his personal correspondence files (1925-1978) and typescripts of material submitted for publication including articles, books, radio scripts, and reviews. The records also include an extensive unpublished glossary of fur trade terms, the "Dictionary of Canadian English" which never appeared in print as a unit but became part of the Dictionary of Canadianisms; glossary notes for the Oxford English Dictionary and journalism lecture notes. Historical subject files which include material relating to Fort Langley, domestic files, diplomas, certificates, and some of his wife Ruth's general correspondence and committee files have been preserved. The records also contain some archaeological field notes relating to Leechman's study of the Cape Dorset Inuit culture as well as his field notes of archaeological sites in B.C. and the Yukon. Artwork comprising 157 pieces was removed from the fonds in 1987 and moved to the PDP collection under the PDP number 06180. In 2023 they were intellectually moved back to the fonds and added to this description. The artworks consist of drawings of Indigenous tools, botanical subjects and Indigenous peoples; many of which were used for the books, 'Edible Wild Plants' and Native Tribes of Canada'. Some of the artworks were done by artist Ted Noram. The BC Archives library has catalogued some of Leechman's publications.

SUMMARY: "Not all Indians live on reserves. What are their chances in the city? Are they equipped to compete with the white man in his world? And what is the attitude of employers?" (description from CBC Times;, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8);

SUMMARY: "Life on the protected land of the Indian Reserves. The Indian may not live in luxury or even in great comfort on the reserve, but it preserves for him the kind of environment in which he can be himself, free of the the pressures of the white man's world." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8)

SUMMARY: "Adult education is extremely important for the Indian. Many who left school at an early age are unable to cope with even ordinary jobs. Adult classes give them an opportunity to learn technical subjects, and help them to find their place in the modern world." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8)

SUMMARY: "The Indians since the coming of the white man. How has increasing contact with the white man affected the Indian and his way of life?" (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8);

SUMMARY: "The Indian has an impressive culture, but how much is generally known of it? His music, dance, art, legend and humor will always remain a distinctive feature of our Canadian heritage." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8)

SUMMARY: "The situation reviewed. Indians and others voice their opinions and suggest how the way of life of all Indians might be improved. We look ahead to the day when the Indian may, without loss of identity, enjoy full acceptance as a Canadian citizen." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8)

SUMMARY: "A short history of the Indian before the coming of the white man, when he lived in all his ancient glory as a free hunter of wildlife." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8);

SUMMARY: "The Indian child at school. His opportunities in life and what he can make of them depend ultimately on his education. Because of seasonal employment, some Indian children can attend school for only short periods. Home-life often makes study difficult. This raises the question of higher education and the Indian's attitude to education in general." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8;)

SUMMARY: "What exactly is an Indian? What, in particular, is his legal status, his position in society, and his property rights?" (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8);

SUMMARY: "Indians hold a variety of jobs and their standards of living vary a great deal. In this program, Indians from business executives to the unemployed talk about their different ways of life." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8)

SUMMARY: "An examination of Indian Treaties and the Indian Act. In what ways, if any, has the white man violated the Indian's natural rights, or betrayed his trust? What does the Indian want? How could his present lot be improved?" (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8)

SUMMARY: "Indian problem or white problem? Perhaps both. Is integration the solution? Will the Indian ever achieve unrestricted social acceptance? Does he want to retain his special privileges? And how does the white man feel about these issues?" (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8);

SUMMARY: "How the Indian is governed. A description of the system of tribes and band, the responsibilities of chief and council, the role of the Indian superintendent, and the privileges allowed under the Indian Act." (description from CBC Times, 1 July 1961, pp. 2-8);