Sub-series is arranged alphabetically by title - usually the subject, but occasionally correspondent's name. In addition to correspondence and memoranda, the sub-series contains announcements, speeches, notes, itineraries, reports, invitations, briefing material, clippings, and press releases. Most of the records were created between 1971 and 1979, while Gillespie was a cabinet minister; only one file, on his education, contains records earlier than 1968. These papers appear to have been controlled by Jeannine Enright who was Gillespie's private secretary for all eleven years that he was in Parliament, and if so they would be a continuation of the correspondence in volumes 7 and 8. Marginalia and hand written comments are evidence of Gillespie's personal use of these records. The subjects documented by this sub-series are his private affairs (such as clubs, family, and real estate), and his political activities, such as the 1979 elections and a range of energy issues. In addition, the sub-series includes sensitive documents such as classified records from the Permanent Joint Board of Defence, (Privy Council, vol. 363, file 1), some of which relate to NATO, air defence modernization, and airborne warning and control systems. Other records document the mismanagement of Atomic Energy of Canada (vol. 359, file 10), and The Voter Mood in Etobicoke Centre (vol. 360, file 13).
Gillespie's memoranda to self, personal notes, and personal correspondence (vols. 360 - 362) contain his private commentary and interpretation of political events, conversations, and meetings. Almost all his memoranda to self are about energy issues during his four years as minister. For example, his self-memo following a meeting with the United States Secretary of State responsible for energy and the two ambassadors (vol. 361, file 10, item 7 March 1973) documents his thoughts on Canadian and USA energy policy and relations. His personal notes document his interpretations of his meetings and conversations with provincial premiers on issues such as the jurisdiction of off-shore oil and mineral resources, the disposal of nuclear waste, natural gas and oil pricing agreements, and the closing of the La Prade Heavy Water Plant in Quebec. More generally, his personal notes include: a 'post mortem' of the 1979 election (Federal Election, 1979 - Personal Notes, vol. 360), notes and a draft letter to Trudeau of his decision to run again for office -Reflections on Running in 1978 (vol. 362, file 19), Thoughts on Bilingualism, and his reflections about the Parti Quebecois victory in 1976 (vol. 362, file 20).
The correspondence with Trudeau (volume 363, files 10 to 16) dates from 1975 to 1979, and is a continuation of the 1969 to 1974 correspondence in volume 326 (files 39 to 41). The subjects are almost all energy - nuclear energy, the revision of the Atomic Energy Control Act, nuclear safeguards, the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline - but also the constitution, government planning and priorities, and the General Election of 1979. The PMO responses to the reports in the previous two series on the Liberal Party's position in Toronto ridings are here. The last file (vol. 363, file 16) consists of copies of a private newsletter by John Turner critical of the Trudeau government. Correspondence about the newsletter is in volume 374.