Series consists of correspondence with friends, acquaintances and members of the Southam family regarding personal matters and financial affairs, Canadian politics and diplomacy, arts and culture, and other subjects. Included are copies of some of Hamilton Southam's own letters.
Among the many correspondents are the following: Robert Anderson 1985-1990; Mona and Mario Bernardi 1973-1992; J. Burgon Bickersteth 1953-1978; B.C. Binning 1983-1992; Jean Sutherland Boggs 1968-1972; Zbigniew Brzezinski 1960, 1968; Donald Buchanan 1960-1963; Ludmilla Chiriaeff 1976-1992; Gabriel Chmura 1958; Charles Comfort 1961-1962; Peter Dobell 1956-1963; Bud Drury 1959-1975; Davidson Dunton 1949-1964; Ferdinand Eckhardt 1966-1971; Thomas Enders 1976-1989; R.A.D. Ford 1951-1990; Lawrence Freiman 1974-1976; Lillian Freiman 1958-1969; Arthur Gelber 1971-1983; Nicholas Goldschmidt 1963-1964; David Haber 1974-1980; Dag Hammarskjold 1952-1953; Jean Herbiet 1973-1989; John Hirsch 1969-1989; Lotta Hitschmanova 1936-1948; Robert Hyndman 1968-1974; Watson Kirkconnell 1960-1962; Joseph Victor Laderoute 1939-1979; Brian Law 1978-1988; Jules Léger 1950-1976; Alfred Manessier 1967-1972; Franco Mannino 1984-1991; Paul Martin 1939-1976; John Meisel 1987-1991; Roland Michener 1968-1975; Giovanni L.A. Mowinckel 1984-1991; Slawomir Mrozek 1967-1974; Brian Macdonald 1971-1988; Donald MacSween 1977-1991; Louis Negin 1970-1974; Andrée Paradis 1970-1977; Lester B. Pearson 1947-1965; Jacques Plasse Le Caisne 1966-1987; Jack Rae 1965-1990; Bob Rae 1968-1986; Saul Rae 1948-1989; Escott Reid 1949-1960; Charles Ritchie 1953-1971; Norman A. Robertson 1951-1967; Mstislav Rostropovich 1975-1988; Jean-Louis Roux 1986; Murray Schafer 1972-1979; Arnold Smith 1956-1978; I. Norman Smith 1950-1977; Graham Spry 1946-1981; John Starnes 1952-1985; Victor Tolgesy 1957-1975; Allan Wargon 1985-1991; Ossip Zadkine 1966-1969; and many others.
Among the correspondents in the miscellaneous files are the following: Alex Colville 1971-1978; Roloff Beny n.d.; Robertson Davies n.d.; Amelia Hall 1977; William Hutt 1970; Nicholas Ignatieff 1951; Alan Jarvis 1949; Augustus John 1946; Yousuf Karsh 1968-1987; Richard Monette 1971; Isabel McLaughlin 1983; Thomas Niles 1987; Jean Palardy 1966-1986; Elizabeth Smart 1966; Jane Smart n.d.; and many others.
Further correspondence is scattered throughout the various series in the fonds.