File contains a handwritten letter dated January 8th, 1972 and written by Adelaide Sedgley, sent to Kenneth and Nora Leslie. The file expresses Adelaide's appreciation for having such wonderful friends as the Leslies at the age of 91, and expressing gratitude at receiving Leslie's volume of poems, and the "joy [...it] gave to this ancient admirer!"
File contains an undated and incomplete self-portrait, drawn and painted by Kenneth Leslie, likely from the late-1930s. Leslie's head has been fully painted while the rest of his body and the background remain unpainted, a penciled drawing. On the verso of the painting, Leslie has written the following: "This is a self-portrait of / myself when in misery from / the loss of my family. / Ken". It relates to the collapse of his first marriage, wherein his first wife, Elizabeth Moir, left Leslie, taking their children with her.
File contains an undated, untitled fragment (lacking the first of seven pages) of a sermon delivered by Kenneth Leslie at Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, New York. The sermon was likely given October 24th, 1943, entitled "God -- Empty Church", a later version of which appeared in the December 1943 issue of The Protestant. File addresses the threat posed by both the Papacy and Martin Luther to the Baptists, stating that Luther was not "for the people" and that "Baptists ... were massacred with the people by both Luther and the Pope". File expresses the notion that since the success of the Russian Revolution and communism, "the opportunity for free religion is here, [...as] religion has not, nor can be free under capitalism". File also addresses the role in Leslie's 'The Protestant' (The pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was serving on the editorial board of 'The Protestant' at this time) in ensuring the opportunity for free religion in a American capitalist socioeconomic system that prevents it.
File contains two undated letters -- one typed and one handwritten -- sent by Robert Shillaker (Sierra Madre, CA) to Kenneth and Nora Leslie. One letter, likely from late 1972, concerns Shillaker's receipt of an issue of "New Man" containing Kurt Anderson's and Jim Garrison's writings, with requests to be put in contact with the publication The Churchman. The second letter first expresses happiness at receipt of a copy of 'O'Malley to the Reds', before commenting on Leslie's apparent "turning away from orthodox Christianity", as well as his enrolling in the School of Esoteric Studies in New York, and further comments on the ongoing war in Vietnam.
File contains typed correspondence sent from Miss Billie Bozone, librarian at Smith College Library (Northampton, MA), dated January 12, 1973, and sent to Kenneth Leslie. File expresses the author's appreciation at receiving a donated copy of "O'Malley to the Reds".
File contains a manuscript that won the 24th Atlantic Writing Competition award for unpublished novels. Ian Colford's competitions pseudonym (Packard Bell) appears on the title page. File also includes two reviews and a letter from Jane Buss, the executive director of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, announcing the winner.
File contains a handwritten draft of Budge Wilson's speech, a photocopy of the same speech, and a publicity speech on "Too Young to Fight." Charles Armour was a former Dalhousie University Archivist.
File consists of the speech typescript for a Canadian Society of Children's Authors Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) meeting and the typescripts of electronic emailed messages between Budge Wilson, and Loris.
File contains two leaves of stationery with the letterheads of two of Kenneth Leslie's periodical publications. The first is the letterhead of The Protestant, from the late-1940s, when The Protestant had moved operations back to Nova Scotia. The letterhead reads The Protestant, with "Cambridge Station, Nova Scotia" beneath the main title. On the left margin is the list of names on the editorial board of The Protestant, with Kenneth Leslie as "editor", Rev. John Tunnicliffe as "associate editor", and 52 others listed as "editorial advisers". The second is the letterhead for Leslie's next publication, "The New Christian", with "Kenneth Leslie, editor, publisher" at the left margin and "Pictou, Nova Scotia" at the right margin.
File contains typed correspondence written by Harry and Doris Steinmetz (San Diego, CA), from 1971 and 1973, sent to Kenneth Leslie. The first letter is a fragment, presumably from early 1971, where Harry laments at the quickness of the passing year and his plans for 1971. The second letter, dated January 29, 1973, celebrates Leslie's poetry upon the Steinmetz' receipt of a copy of 'O'Malley to the Reds', as well as discussion on future talks and publications (and was typed on the verso of a promotional flyer "commemorating 50th anniversary of the foudning of the USSR [and the] 40th anniversary of the American Russian Institute" in San Francisco. The third item is a copy of the December 1972 issue of The Gadfly, which contains an excerpt by Harry Steinmetz entitled "Around the world in 66 days with thanks" about his visit to Volgograd.
File contains an undated Christmas card (presumably 1972) sent by Lloyd, Jessie, and Dale Stone, to Kenneth Leslie. The card expresses gratitude at receipt of a copy of "you book of lovely poems", as well as intentions to renew New Man subscriptions.
File consists of students drawings, from Bloomfield Elementary School, Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island, of Victor the boa constrictor, as represented in the poem Victor by Budge Wilson. Includes a letter from Lorne MacDougall.
File consists of students drawings, from Lunenburg Academy, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, of Victor the boa constrictor, as represented in the poem Victor by Budge Wilson.
File consists of students drawings, from Sherwood Elementary School, of Victor the boa constrictor, as represented in the poem Victor by Budge Wilson. Includes a thank you note card from Sandi Reddin and a reply from Budge Wilson.
File consists of students drawings, from the Halifax Grammar School, Halifax, Nova Scotia, of Victor the boa constrictor, as represented in the poem Victor by Budge Wilson.
File consists of students drawings, from Mrs. Ward's Grade 4 class in Sackville, New Brunswick, of Victor the boa constrictor, as represented in the poem Victor by Budge Wilson. Includes a letter by Budge Wilson.
File contains Kenneth Leslie's personal copy of his collection of poems, 'Such a din!', published in 1936. Leslie used this copy as a working copy when compiling his anthology of poems, 'O'Malley to the Reds and other poems" in 1972. File contains inked corrections, additions, and excisions in Leslie's hand (addition of dedications -- largely to Robert Norwood -- for a few poems, as well as a few title and spelling changes, with poems not be included in the anthology crossed out).
