Fonds consists of textual records including correspondence, subject files, briefing material, memoranda, invitations, itineraries, agendas, constituency documentation, speeches, interviews, transcripts of scrums, and staff files relating to the Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell's early life, her service as Member of Parliament (1988-1989); Minister of State for Indian Affairs (1989-1990), Minister of Justice (1990-1993), Minister of National Defence (1993), and Prime Minister (1993); and her post-political career (1993-2004).
Also included in the fonds are moving images and sound recordings documenting the political career of Kim Campbell, commencing with her win as the Progressive Conservative Member for Vancouver Centre in the 1988 federal election. The material covers the time she served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, as Minister of State for Indian and Northern Affairs (1989-1990); Minister of Justice (1990-1993); and Minister of National Defence (1993). Also documented are Campbell's win as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in June 1993, the short time she served as Canada's first female Prime Minister in the summer and fall of 1993, and the federal campaign and election loss in October 1993, and her post-political career. The recordings include news conferences, scrums, interviews, campaign speeches and rallies covering all major political issues of the day including: UN peace-keeping, Quebec separatism, abortion, women's issues, human rights, Free trade, Canada-US relations, the GST, amendments to the criminal code, the Gulf War, and Meech Lake. Recordings from Ms. Campbell's post-political career include audio tapes of lectures, speeches, an interview given by Ms. Campbell, and a videotaped promotional trailer related to the Millenium Dinners. The lectures were recorded during two courses given by Ms. Campbell at the Kennedy School of Government, PAL 267, Democratic Transition and Consolidation and PAL 234B, Gender and Power.
Photographic material includes events, activities and individuals associated with the career of the Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell as Minister of Justice and as Prime Minister, 1987-1993 (including the official Prime Minister Albums). Photos by Ken Ginn and other photographers. Also included are photographs related to wardrobe planning, and photographs from Ms. Campbell's post-political career.
The fonds also includes a 2002 Golden Jubilee medal, and an wardrobe planning album that includes photos, designer sketches and fabric swatches.
Campbell, Kim, 1947- : Kim Campbell was born 10 March 1947 in Port Alberni, B.C. Her original name was Avril Phaedra Douglas Campbell, but at age 12, she changed her name to Kim. She was educated at the University of British Columbia and at the London School of Economics in London, England. She received her Bachelor of Laws degree from U.B.C. in 1983. She then articled with, and worked for, the Vancouver law firm Ladner Downs, 1983-1985.
Meanwhile she had begun her political career, serving two terms with the Vancouver School Board, 1983-1985. She was the Executive Director in the office of Premier Bill Bennett, 1985-1986. She ran for the leadership of the B.C. Social Credit Party in July 1986, but lost to Bill Vander Zalm. In October 1986 she was elected MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey.
Kim Campbell was first elected to the House of Commons for the Progressive Conservative Party, in the riding of Vancouver Centre, in the general election of 1988. She was sworn in to the Privy Council 30 January 1989, and appointed Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development). She was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada on 23 February 1990. On 4 January 1993, she became Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs.
She was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party on June 13, 1993, and sworn in as Prime Minister on June 25, 1993. In the federal election of Oct. 25, 1993, the Progressive Conservative government was defeated and Campbell lost her own seat. On November 4, 1993, Jean Chretien replaced her as Prime Minister. She stepped down as party leader in December of that year. She subsequently undertook a teaching engagement at Harvard University. She served as Canadian Consul General in Los Angeles, 1996-2000.
Kim Campbell is a founding member of the Club de Madrid, where she served as Acting President, 2002, Vice President 2003- 2004, Executive Director, 2004-2006, and as a member of the Board of Directors. She served as Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL), 1999-2003, and as President of the International Women's Forum, October 2003-October 2005.
She has served many organizations, frequently acting as trustee, advisor or member of the board or steering committee. These organizations include, among others, the Foundation for Effective Governance, the International Crisis Group, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, the International Center for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence, the Arab Democracy Foundation, the Global Security Institute (GSI), the Middle Powers Initiative (MPI), the International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy at the EastWest Institute, the Forum of Federations, the World Movement for Democracy, the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, Naissance Capital's Women's World Leadership Fund, Equal Voice, Glendon College at York University, and the School of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles. She has also served as a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and of the Global Council of the Asia Society of New York.
She became an Honorary Fellow at both the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and at the London School of Economics. Kim Campbell has been awarded many honorary doctorates.
Kim Campbell's political memoir, published in 1996, is called Time and Chance.
