Series documents John G. Diefenbaker's work as Leader of the Opposition in 1956-1957. On 14 December 1956, Diefenbaker won the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party. Six months later on 10 June 1957, Diefenbaker's Conservatives were elected to a minority government. This series documents the six months between the 1956 leadership convention and the 1957 election. Files consist primarily of post-convention correspondence (congratulations, suggestions, requests for patronage) and election-oriented material (campaign strategy, policy statements, correspondence with candidates and organizers). Additional files concern Diefenbaker's shaping of the Progressive Conservative National Headquarters and the selection of a team of advisors. The files contain correspondence, memoranda, itineraries, working papers and published material. The series also contains a number of P.C. Party Research Department reports covering a wide range of subjects.
The series is arranged in a sequential subject-numeric classification system. This organization reflects the arrangement used in the office of the Leader of the Opposition, however, when the material arrived at the National Archives there were a number of loose documents which emerged from other sources. Some had classification numbers pencilled in, while others had no such identification. These loose documents were assigned to appropriate subject files and the subject files were then integrated into the existing block of numbered files. An asterisk was used on the file tab and in the finding aid title to identify these items.
A card index for the series is available on microfilm reels M-5900 and M-5901. This index covers only about 60% of the documents in the series, and very few of the additional "loose items" appear in the card index. The cards identify the author, date of the incoming letter and reply, file number and a brief summary of the content. Some card entries relate to material dated prior to or following this Leader of the Opposition period. Other cards refer to documents which no longer exist, because they were either misfiled, brought forward, lost or destroyed. Researchers should exercise caution when using the card index for this series.
Available on microfilm reels M-5549 to M-5562 and M-5900 to M-5901.
