Fonds documents over forty years of public policy formation from the administrations of William Lyon Mackenzie King to Pierre Elliott Trudeau and provides a link between the civil service, government and the private sector through the career of a key political figure, Mitchell Sharp. Sharp's civil service career which began during the Second World War is documented through reports, correspondence, and memorandum created primarily during his appointments as Associate Deputy and Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce. Over 80 per cent of the fonds documents his political career including his involvement with the Liberal Party, his role as Member of Parliament and his tenure in some of the key cabinet positions during the 1960's and 1970's. This fonds includes records concerning his postings as Minister of Trade and Commerce, Secretary of State for External Affairs and President of the Privy Council Office, and gives excellent insight into Sharp's involvement in international affairs, trade and parliamentary reform. It also illustrates the political process, from the constituency level, to Sharp's 1968 bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party. In and of itself, this fonds provides valuable information on the organization and policies of the Liberal Party during this period, at the national level and to some extent at the provincial level. Also documented is Mr. Sharp's post-political career as Commissioner of the Northern Pipeline Agency and as a consultant with Strategico Inc. and his continued interest in such issues as trade, international relations, cooperation between business and government, conflict of interest, ethics and parliamentary reform. This fonds consists of seven series: Trade and Commerce, 1951-1966, 6.00 m., volumes 1-30; External Affairs, 1963-1976, 13.00 m., volumes 31-95; Liberal Party, 1962-1974, 3.16 m., volumes 96-111; Privy Council Office, 1966-1976, 2.40 m., volumes 112-123; Member of Parliament, 1942-1978, 4.75 m., volumes 123-146; Personal, 1937-1993, 1.60 m., volumes 146-154; and Post-Political, 1969-1993, 3.70 m., volumes 154-174.
One of the photo acquisitions consists of three photo albums; the first one is a trip to Brussels with Governor General of Canada, Mr. Roland Mitchener when Mitchell Sharp was Minister of External Affairs in 1971; the second one is entitled "Souvenir album of the State Visit of the Excellencies of the Governor General and Mrs. Mitchener to the Netherlands, 14-17 April,1971" and the third one is entitled " La conférence sur la sécurité et la coopération en Europe, Helsinki, Finlande, 1973". The content includes individuals photographs of all members, including a photograph of Mitchell Sharp for Canada plus one group photograph.
Another photo acquisition also consists of three photo albums documenting Mitchell Sharp's state visit to Israel in 1969 (20 b&w photos) and the USSR in 1974 (25 b&w photos) and an official visit to the North-West Territories in 1972 (10 colour photos).
Also included in fonds are photographs relating to the career of Mitchell Sharp. Photos taken by Capital Press, National Film Board of Canada, Dominion-Wide, David Harris, and others.
Also consists of fourteen photographs of Mitchell Sharp and political colleagues such as Lester Pearson, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Edward Heath and others.
Also included in fonds are moving image and sound recordings of several interviews with Mitchell Sharp about his career as a member of the federal public service, cabinet minister and about his career after leaving politics, 1956-1999.
Also included in this fonds is a series of 21 editorial cartoons by the following artists: James Reidford, Kuch, Ed Franklin, Rusins Kaufmanis, Ed McNally, Duncan Macpherson, Bob Chambers, Yardley Jones, Aislin, and Jan Kamienski. The caricatures lampoon Mitchell Sharp as a federal public servant in various Liberal governments. Also includes 19 caricature drawings by various Canadian caricaturists dating from 1955 to the 1960s covering various controversial events during Sharp's political career.
Also included in this fonds is one (1) nylon flag being a proposed design for the 1964 National Flag Competition.
Fonds also consists of two oil paintings of Mitchell Sharp by Bernard Aimé Poulin and one Inuit engraving showing Hunter with animals, laid down, produced in 1963.
Also includes a portfolio containing 24 masterpiece drawings by Utamaro [Tokyo, 1963]. Reproduction.
Also consists of the publication "The Loyalists of New Brunswick", 1955, signed, first edition. It has has been catalogued within the Portrait Program's reference library.
