Fonds consists of microfilmed material which includes: legal correspondence, 1872-1907; Canadian political correspondence including sub series on special correspondents; general correspondence, letterbooks, and telegraph book, 1867-1908; Irish political correspondence, including sub series on special correspondents, and general correspondence, 1892-1910. This material is located on microfilm reels M-237 to M-270. There is also original material including addresses, commissions and correspondence, n.d., 1871-1924.
Graphic material consists of photographic portraits of the Hon. Edward Blake, members of the Blake family, and various political contemporaries of Blake. Photographs are by H.E. Simpson, R.D. Ewing, William James Topley, and Elliott and Fry. Also included is one portrait painting of Edward Blake by an unknown artist after a Topley Studio photograph.
Blake, Edward, 1833-1912 : (Dominick) Edward Blake was born in Adelaide township, Upper Canada and educated at Upper Canada College and University of Toronto. A prominent equity lawyer and constitutional authority, he was a Liberal member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, 1867-1872, serving as leader of the Opposition, 1869-1871 and premier, 1871-1872. He became a member of the House of Commons, 1867-1891, serving as minister without portfolio, 1873-1874; minister of Justice, 1875-1877; president of the Privy Council, 1877-1878, and leader of the Opposition, 1880-1887. He became an Irish Nationalist member of the United Kingdom House of Commons, 1892-1907.