This sub-series can be seen, in part, as an extension of the VI Prime Minister's Office: Numbered Files series (Diefenbaker Centre: MG 01/VI, Library and Archives: MG 26 M VI.) Like the VI Prime Minister's Office: Numbered Files series, files in this sub-series were organized by file room staff under the direction of Gordon Hetherington. Unlike the material in that series, files in the File room safe sub-series were mostly unnumbered. Those files that were numbered have been retitled and integrated into this subseries. Their file numbers appear in brackets after the title. These numbers will permit researchers to identify the original title by consulting the finding aid for the PMO: Numbered Files. (Diefenbaker Centre RSN 2248, LAC MSS 1218 VI). Further, some of the numbered files that were removed from the PMO series are indexed, at least partially, in the PMO Series card index.
In the File room safe sub-series, Diefenbaker's correspondence is largely found in two sections: Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John G - Correspondence; and Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John G. - Correspondence (V.I.P.). Among the most important sections of this sub-series are correspondence returned from PCO (Privy Council Office); VIP correspondence; judgeships; and Prince Albert, contracts and appointments files.
This sub-series consists primarily of subject files, correspondence files, and speeches. It includes some files marked secret.
Subjects range widely and include, among others, agriculture; the Avro Arrow; the Alberts Group; Atlantic Congress; Atlantic Power Authority; Bannerman family; boards and commissions; British Columbia Centennial; Cabinet Defence Committee; Cabinet documents; Canada - U.S. relations; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; Canadian missions abroad, Canadian National Railways; Canadian Pacific Railways strike; canals; civil defence; Couchiching Conference; Commonwealth Economic Conference; Defence exercises, D.E.W. Coordinating Committee; Dollar Export Council; Dominion-Provincial Conference 1957; elections, both federal and provincial; emergency measures; the economy, especially employment, unemployment and taxation; External Affiars; flood aid to Beauceville; foreign assistance to Greece and Ireland; Hays-Coffin report; hospital insurance; Hungarian refugees; immigration from Hong Kong; immigration policy; the Judges Act; Malton airport expropriation; Manfredo case; Masons; the Middle East; National Winter Employment Conference; Newfoundland loggers' strike; NATO; the oil and gas industry, including pipelines; Parliament; Parliamentary assistants; patronage; postal employees' letters; Prince Albert contracts and appointments, including mail contracts, appointment of postmasters, and files related to the National Park and the Prince Albert Penitentiary; Progressive Conservative Party, especially policy recommendations; Queen's Printer; Royal Commissions - Borden Commission; senatorships; social welfare, including medical care insurance and old age security costs; trade and commerce; veterans' pensions legislation; and visits of foreign dignitaries.
Subjects documented in subject files marked secret include the Canada - U.K. Air Agreement, Communist Party front groups, defence production, disarmament, the Far East, the Middle East, Panel on th Economic Aspects of Defence Production, the Royal Visit of 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway - Iroquois Dam, and uranium export policy.
Correspondence files include over 100 files titled Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John - Correspondence - followed by the name of the correspondent. Most of these correspendents are Canadian, among them many Canadian politicians and other Canadian notables. Correspondence files also include more than 180 files titled Diefenbaker - John G. - Correspondence (V.I.P.) followed by the name of the correspondent. Most of these correspondents are non-Canadians, and many are heads of state. Correspondence files also include a few more general titles such as Correspondence - Christmas and New Year greetings. Correspondence files marked secret include Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John - Correspondence - Igor Gouzenko, and Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John - Correspondence - Returned from P.C.O.
