Series consists of six boxes of index cards, seven volumes of speeches, and about fourteen volumes of correspondence, all arranged by PCO subject numbers. This series was once much larger than it is now, but in 1973 large parts were re-organized and re-filed. Many of those records are now in the Early Records Re-classified by the Energy Mines and Resources Subject Number Series. In addition, it is likely, but not certain, that some of the original series is now lost.
The index cards (vols 43 - 48) are arranged alphabetically; however all cards for letters A and B are missing. Each card contains the name of the correspondent (individual or organization), the date each letter was received, a brief description of the subject of the letter, and the file number where the item was filed. Cards were created for the 1968 - 1970 correspondence in the original PCO series, for some 1967 correspondence, and for some correspondence in the Citizenship Case Files Sub-series. Thus the cards can function as a nominal finding aid to the two remaining groups of records in the PCO series (Speeches, and the Parliamentary correspondence) and as an incomplete nominal finding aid to the Citizenship Case Files Sub-series. In addition, the cards provide an overview and a summary not only of correspondence that is now in the series, but also of correspondence that was originally in the series, and is now not here.
The speech files (vols 49 - 55), which include text, drafts, research notes, and correspondence, are arranged chronologically from 22 October 1962 until July 1972. Subsequent speeches, beginning August 1972, are filed as subject 167 in three later series that are arranged by EMR subject number. (See vols 134 to 136, 181 to 182, and 278).
Almost all the correspondence (vols 55 - 69) is about the reform of Parliament and its procedures when Macdonald was President of the Privy Council, from 1968 to 1970.
