One informal group portrait taken outdoors, location and occasion unidentified. William Lyon Mackenzie King is standing third from the right; to his right are his nephew Arthur King and Arthur’s wife Kathleen King. Three females and two males are unidentified. The location appears to be a wooded area, with tents.

Telegram of good wishes from William Lyon Mackenzie to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. King on their wedding day, May 20, 1943. The telegram is sent from The White House in Washington DC.
Salutation: none; Signature: “W L Mackenzie King.”
Includes envelope.

Telegram of good wishes from William Lyon Mackenzie to his nephew Arthur King on May 19, 1943 “to greet you on the morning of your marriage.”
Salutation: “Dear Arthur”; Signature: “Love to you both=W L Mackenzie King".
Includes envelope.

Telegram of good wishes from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Miss Kathleen M. Thomas on May 19, 1943: “Please let this message bring to you on the morning of your wedding day every loving good wish for your happiness today and through the years to come I am sorry not to have been able to be present at the wedding ceremony but my thoughts will be with you all. “
Salutation: none; Signature: “W L Mackenzie King.”

Handwritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Miss Kathleen Thomas on May 16, 1943.
Transcription: “My dear Kathleen: This is the week on which you and Arthur are to be married. I have waited until this Sunday morning to write to you, not being too sure during the past few days just what my movements might be in the course of the present week. You no doubt will have seen from the papers that the President and Mr. Churchill have invited me to come to Washington for talks together, for meetings, conference, and the like, in the course of Mr Churchill's stay. It is now clear that I shall be obliged to leave tomorrow afternoon at the latest, and that I shall be obliged to be there in Washington on the day of your wedding, Thursday May 20th.
I need not tell you how sorry I am to have to disappoint Arthur and yourself; and, myself, to miss the pleasure of being with you both at the marriage ceremony, and to sign the register as a witness, as I did in the case of Margery and Lyon's wedding. However, there is no alternative, as Mr. Churchill is expecting me to be with him on Tuesday, and the President has invited me to be his guest, at the White House, on Wednesday spending the night there, and attending a meeting of the Pacific Council on Thursday morning, and a meeting of delegates from different parts of the British Empire, on Monday afternoon. I mention these engagements because of their importance and historic significance, and that you may know just why it will not be possible for me to be with you all on the day of, and at the time of your wedding. Perhaps, in the long run, a message from the White House, on the day of the wedding, may come to be an even more significant and welcome souvenir of the occasion than the witnessing of the marriage ceremony, and being a witness to its having taken place. Still I should have liked to have been with you and Arthur as I was with Margery and Lyon.
You know, I am sure, all the good wishes that I send to you for the day and for the Nova vita [underlined] on which you enter at that time. I wish you and Arthur the greatest possible happiness. As you both have a high purpose in life, and a love of service, and with the [will be?] sharing kindred ideals, I am certain that the way will open out before you in [to?] new widening vistas of opportunities, and of realization of your highest hopes. It will, I imagine, not be without its difficulties and privations at the start, and until this time of war becomes something of the past. You will have in that the consolation of knowing that you are sharing with others the sacrifices by which in the end, all that is highest in attainment is accomplished. There will be, too, [illegible] much sunshine and gladness along the way.
I should like to make you a little gift which would be something you would like to have from me, as a remembrance of your wedding day. In order that I may be sure the choice would be something you yourself would approve, I am going to ask you to help me in the selection of it, after you come to Ottawa, where we can confer together about it. Meanwhile, please accept 'my promise to pay' with my love and best of wishes for May the 20th, 1943, and for the days, and months and years to come. I pray through this all, you may be greatly blessed.”
Salutation: “My dear Kathleen,” [handwritten; Signature: “Yours affectionately, W.L. Mackenzie King.”

Handwritten promissory note from William Lyon Mackenzie King to Miss Kathleen Thomas on May 16, 1943, for one hundred dollars as a souvenir of her wedding day May 20, 1943. [her future husband is William Lyon Mackenzie King's nephew Arthur Macdougall King.]

Handwritten formal reply by William Lyon Mackenzie King dated May [illegible], 1943, to an invitation from Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Thomas to the wedding of their daughter Kathleen Marion to Mr. Arthur Macdougall King on May 20, 1943 at Trinity College Chapel, Toronto.

Engraved calling card: "Mr. W.L. Mackenzie King, Laurier House, Ottawa, Canada," inscribed in King's handwriting to Miss Kathleen M. Thomas on December 24, 1942: "So many thanks for your beautiful card of Christmas greetings. My very best of wishes to you for the New Year. So kind of you to have had me in your thoughts at this season. Again, my very best of wishes to you. WLMK 24-Dec-42."

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on December 22, 1942. Arthur has apparently had pneumonia and King offers recovery advice, including a check-up by Arthur’s uncle Dr. Harold Wookey. King includes detailed suggestions for a proposed overnight stay at Laurier House on an unspecified date. King sends Christmas wishes through Arthur to Arthur’s fiancée Kathleen Thomas and to Mr. and Mrs. Rean (Arthur's brother Lyon’s in-laws) in Toronto.
King describes in detail the portrait he has had taken by Yousef Karsh as a Christmas gift to all family members, “which has a very special interest.” King describes the location of the portrait as the library at Laurier House, describes the significance of the table and the significance of some of the objects placed on it. He adds “there are other features of special interest of which I shall have to tell you at some future time.” King enlarges on his reasons for self-documentation at this particular time: “One can never say how long one may continue to be in office. This picture, being taken at a time of war, and signed by myself while in office as Prime Minister, will make it, I am sure, an acceptable gift to you.”
Salutation: “My Dear Arthur” [handwritten]; Signature: “With lots of love, Yours affectionately, Uncle Willie" [handwritten].
Includes handwritten corrections.

One sepia portrait of William Lyon Mackenzie King standing on the steps to Laurier House, Ottawa. This photograph is pasted on a mount that is printed as a Christmas greeting: “With the Season’s Greetings, W.L. Mackenzie King, Laurier House, Ottawa, Christmas 1938. This photograph was found in a red photograph holder produced as a souvenir of the “Normandie Roof” on top of the Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal, Quebec and probably meant to hold a photograph of the three people who have autographed and dated the back cover “Dec. 26/46”: “Best Wishes [illegible] Happy New Year! A.M. King Best of the Season- Walter.”

Clipping contains a news story by Betty Caldwell about May Macdougall King of Denver, Colorado, sister-in-law of William Lyon Mackenzie King, and her reactions to his election as Prime Minister of Canada on June 11, 1945 Includes a portrait of Mrs. King.

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on July 27, 1934. King advises Arthur, having heard that he had to give up on a course because of chicken-pox, to put his health ahead of everything else in order to fully recuperate. King reports on the “gratifying” election results in Ontario and Saskatchewan, and anticipates a general election. King reports that the past winter’s arthritis has disappeared, also that he has been to Williamsburg to see Dr. Locke[1] and is wearing Locke shoes [for fallen arches]. In regard to his nephews’ chosen professions of medicine and engineering, King says “The service which can be rendered the world through electrical development has become more apparent in our age than in all the centuries of the past, and I believe that we are only at the beginning of discoveries in that field which will revolutionize the thought, as well as the daily life and habits of the people. “
Salutation: “My dear Arthur”; Signature: none [all after p. 4 missing].

Clipping features portraits of eleven individuals descended from William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor, from the King, Lindsey and Lay families.

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on February 15, 1932, with congratulations on his results in the first quarter of university. He expands on the necessity of knowing one’s subject thoroughly, even if it takes longer. He references his brother Dougall Macdougall King's book on Nerves and Personal Power, and advises “Nature has no short cuts in anything; she never hastens, but also she never rests. It is the steady careful work which counts for most in the end.” King advises Arthur to concentrate on doing his best to complete his first year before thinking of any other possible activities.
Salutation: “My dear Arthur”; Signature: “Yours Affectionately, Uncle Willie.” [“Uncle Willie handwritten.]

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on December 19, 1931 in reply to one sent by Arthur from Boulder, Colorado. King expresses his pleasure at Arthur’s enjoyment of life at university and expands on the importance of character as the most important ingredient in success. He expresses his approval of electrical engineering as Arthur’s course of study. His Christmas gift to the family will be a sum of money to draw on through the year as needed, as well as individual sums.
Salutation [handwritten]: “My Dear Arthur”; Signature: “Your loving uncle, Willie.” [“Willie” handwritten]
Includes handwritten corrections.

Handwritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on December 28, 1930, thanking him for the gift of a book on science, but especially for the greeting card meant for “Pat” [WLMK’s dog] as well as for himself. “I am glad you remembered Pat, for I know he often thinks of you, and I am sure he sensed in your card some note of friendliness towards himself on the part of Tatters also.” King says he will enjoy reading Science and that “the discoveries of science are revolutionizing modern thought, as well as practices, in a number of directions. He then mentions Eddington and Jeans [1] and hopes that “someday I hope you will come to view things as they do. They seem to catch glimpses of the great unseen universe much more profound than those of most scientific writers of our day. King then mentions Evelyn Underhill [2] and her book The Life of the Spirit and the Life of Today that also “gives glimpses of much that lies beyond the revelations of science.” King mentions that he has had correspondence with Arthur’s brother Lyon, and invites Arthur to write on any topics that interest him.
Salutation: “My dear Arthur”; Signature: “Your loving uncle, Willie.”

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on August 28, 1929 in reply to letters received from both Arthur and Lyon after a trip from Denver to Ontario to visit family. In it King states that a letter of thanks is as good as a gift (proposed by Lyon for Aunt Jennie), reminds them to tip the maid at Aunt Jennie’s, envies them their trip to Niagara, and ends by saying he is sending the letter ahead of them to Denver.
Salutation: “My Dear Arthur” [handwritten]; Signature: “Yours affectionately, Uncle Willie" handwritten].
Includes one handwritten correction.

Handwritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on December 18, 1927. King sends wishes of the season, says he has heard from Santa Claus that neither nephew wants a single present but several smaller ones such as, in Arthur’s case, an archery target, radio tubes and batteries. King says he will send a bank draft that ought to cover the presents plus extra and asks Arthur to write and say what he has purchased. He also indicates that he is sending a sum to Arthur’s mother to use for Christmas, the “I want to do that for Daddy.” [Daddy?]
Salutation: “My dear Arthur”; Signature: “Your loving uncle, Willie.”

Handwritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on December 20, 1925. King sends wishes of the season, tells Arthur to write about his presents and “all the happiness of the day, and also about what you are reading and most thinking of, and what you have decided to be when you grow up.” He notes that Arthur had been in hospital with a broken arm the Christmas before and hopes it is better.
Salutation: “My dear Arthur”; Signature: “Your loving uncle, Willie.”

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on February 23, 1924. King thanks Arthur for a sending him a typewritten letter, congratulates him on his typing skill, apologizes for brief acknowledgement and sends love to Arthur’s brother Lyon and to his mother.

Handwritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur King on January 8, 1923. King sends wishes of the season, thanks Arthur and his brother Lyon for the gift of a belt for Christmas and reminisces about his own childhood Christmases. Salutation: “Dear Arthur”; Signature: "Ever your loving uncle, Willie.”

Framed black and white photographic print of the portrait of Isabel King painted by J.W.L. Forster in 1905. This was Mackenzie King’s favourite image of his mother: it still hangs in Laurier House where he placed it. This copy would appear to have belonged to Dougall Macdougall “Max” King and may have been sent to him by Mackenzie King. An earlier portrait of Isabel King was done by Forster in 1901 and in his diary Mackenzie King expresses his dissatisfaction and describes the portrait he would like to see : “ I am sorry in a way however, that it is not taken more as a photo we have of mother sitting in a chair & looking down at a book, the Mother’s face.” [1]

Print of the portrait of Isabel King painted by J.W.L. Forster in 1905, in a photographer’s tri-folder embossed: “Topley, Ottawa.

One black and white snapshot of William Lyon Mackenzie King seated at a desk indoors, probably at Kingsmere.[1]

One black and white snapshot of Isabel King in the garden at Kingsmere, seated in a chair with her feet on a box or block.

Eight snapshots taken during Isabel and William Lyon Mackenzie King’s trip to Denver, Colorado, where Isabel was to stay for a time with her son Dougall Macdougall King, his wife May and their twin sons Arthur and Lyon. The first six snapshots are of family groups taken at the entrance steps of 928 Olive St., Denver, where Dougall had set up his medical practice. His plaque can be seen to the left of the doorway. 1. Left to right: May, Arthur, Isabel, Lyon (seated) and Dougall Macdougall King (standing). - 2. Left to right: Isabel and Dougall Macdougall King (seated). – 3. Left to right: Arthur, Isabel and Lyon King (all seated). – 4. Left to right: William Lyon Mackenzie King (standing), Dougall Macdougall King (seated). – 5. Left to right: William Lyon Mackenzie King, Isabel King, Dougall Macdougall King (all seated). – 6. Left to right: Lyon King, William Lyon Mackenzie King, Arthur King. – 7. Picnic in unidentified location. Left to right: possibly Isabel King in widow’s weeds, possibly Mae King, unidentified female, unidentified male. – 8. Left to right: Isabel King in widow’s weeds, William Lyon Mackenzie King, standing beside river. The latter two may have been taken at Welborn Farm (letter Willie to Jennie Sept 16, 1916. He writes that he has left Isabel at Max and May’s and has gone to stay at Welborn’s farm: “ they are all coming out to dinner with us here tomorrow.”)[1]

One black and white snapshot of John King lying in bed, both eyes bandaged, hands clasped, dated on verso: June 1915..

One black and white snapshot of Isabel King (left) and May King (right) outside a house in an unidentified location. Inscribed on verso in an unidentified hand: “Mrs. King, mother of WML King and of Macdougall King, poss. With May King.”

One black and white snapshot of Isabel King (right) and May King (left) outside a house in an unidentified location. Inscribed on verso in an unidentified hand: “Mrs. King, mother of Willie & Mac King and Mac’s wife May.”

One black and white snapshot of John King at Kingsmere, wearing a bathrobe, with trees and lake in background. Inscribed on verso in an unidentified hand: “Father King goes down to swim.”

One black and white snapshot taken outside 4 Grange Road in Toronto: Left to right: Jennie Lindsey Lay, Isabel King (behind), Harry Morrison Lay, Bella King (all seated). Except for Isabel King, all identifications are conjectural.

One black and white snapshot of a group of people at Kingsmere, taken outside: William Lyon Mackenzie King is standing on the right with a camera in his hand; three unidentified men stand to his right. Isabel King and two unidentified females are seated in the grass.

One formal posed studio portrait of the John King Family of Berlin, Ontario, ca. 1885.
Front row, seated, left to right: Isabel King, Janet Lindsey King, John King, Dougall Macdougall King [seated in front], William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Back Row, left to right: one unidentified boy, two unidentified young men, Bella King.

Typewritten letter from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur on May 25, 1950. King is happy that Arthur and his wife Kathleen did after all attend the dinner and speech by Mr. Brockington, that they had a chance to speak with Brockington, and encloses a cheque to pay the cost of the tickets [not present]. King reports that he has been out for one or two drives and that he will soon be going to Kingsmere. He mentions his own poor health and asks after Arthur's health.
Salutation: "My dear Arthur" [handwritten]; Signature: "Yours affectionately, Uncle Willie" [handwritten].

Six engraved calling cards from William Lyon Mackenzie King to his nephew Arthur and Arthur's wife Kathleen, four of them dated and inscribed in Mackenzie King's handwriting, probably as accompaniments to letters or gifts.
Envelope inscribed “Mr. and Mrs. Arthur King” in Mackenzie King's handwriting.