Fonds consists of documents of Gamble's personal, political and public life. On the public side, the fonds contains documentation on his career with the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Department of Manpower and Immigration. The fonds also contains material on his involvement with the Progressive Conservative party, the Unionville Home Society, Project Concern Canada and a variety of other organizations and associations such as Operation Eyesight Universal and Help the Aged. On the personal side the fonds contains material relating to his religious activities and writings, and his son's struggle with schizophrenia. The fonds is organized into fifteen series relating to the following subjects: industrial and race relations; human rights; mental and public health issues; and the pharmaceutical industry.
The fonds also contains sound recordings of Paper No. 3, "The Role and Preparation of the General Practitioner" by Dr. Beverley Mean at the Ontario Conference on the aftercare of the psychiatric patient, Niagara Falls, Ontario, 12-13 November, 1965; and discs of speeches and talks related to mental health and its promotion.
The fonds also includs photographs of George Alvan Gamble's wedding, 3 August 1940; opening of the Dr. Bernard T. McGhie Pavilion, Ontario Hospital, Orillia, 1963; individual and groups such as George Alvan Gamble; Hugh M. Gamble; George Alvan and John Gamble; Margaret Maedel, Aircrew training class No. 5 Initial Training School, RCAF, Belleville, Ontario, 1943; personnel, aircraft and operations of No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School, RCAF, Jarvis, Ontario; No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, Saskatchewan; No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario.
Gamble, George Alvan, 1916- : George Alvan Gamble, executive administrator and public servant, was born in Guelph, Ont. and grew up in Toronto. Following service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, 1940-1945, he became a labour and public relations executive in industry. He served on the Toronto Welfare Council's Committee on Problems of the New Immigrant, and participated as well on labour conciliation boards chaired by Professor (later Chief Justice) Bora Laskin. From 1952 to 1956 Mr. Gamble was employed by the American Friends (Quakers) Service Committee in a racial equality program in Indianapolis, Indiana. He organized that city's Equal Job Opportunities and Merit Employment programs, the positive results of which were recognized in two citations presented to Mr. Gamble on his leaving Indiana.
On his return to Canada he took a position with the Canadian Mental Health Association where, as Information Chief, he increased the organization's fund-raising capability and public visibility. He was subsequently employed with the pharmaceutical industry, 1962-1971. Mr. Gamble served in the federal Department of Manpower and Immigration, 1971-1980. In 1967 he was elected a fellow of the American Public Health Association, and made a member of the Order of Canada in 1974. Mr. Gamble was also active with the Canadian affiliate of Project Concern, the Unionville Home Society, and the Baptist Church.
In addition, he and his wife Jean adopted three children with different racial backgrounds (a Black, a Métis boy, and a Native girl). The family was recognized by the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews in 1966 when they were nominated as the symbol of Brotherhood Week.
