File contains an undated No. 7191 "Monterery" drawing spiral sketch book, containing pencil drawings by Kenneth Leslie, with artwork created presumably in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The sketchbook is largely blank, however, there are pencil drawings on the first three pages. The first is a 45° side-on portrait of "R. Currie" signed by Leslie. The second is an untitled study of a woman's face as she leans forward. The third is also untitled, the beginnings of a rural scene with a cabin at the end of a roadway.
File contains two undated promotional leaflets (likely from the late 1930s or early 1940s, promoting Kenneth Leslie poetry readings and discussions. The earliest of the two leaflets, on off-white paper, is entitled "Kenneth Leslie / Poetry Readings -- Discussions / Mr. Leslie / Reads His Own Poetry / Discusses Contemporary Poetry / Helps you Develop Your Poetry" and contains a small portrait of a youthful Leslie wearing a fedora. It contains testimonials from Charles G.D. Roberts, Robert Norwood, and Lawrence H. Conrad on the verso. The second leaflet, printed on yellow paper, also undated, but after 1938, is entitled "Kenneth Leslie : Singer-Composer / Poet", contains a portrait of Leslie to the upper left corner, with a short bibliography (ending in "By Stubborn Stars". The front contains words promoting Leslie's talent from 'Voices', 'London Times', Sir Charles Roberts, 'N.Y. Herald Tribune', 'Halifax Chronicle', Reverend Sister Maura, 'Charlottetown Guardian', and Shaemas O'Sheel, while the verso has further testimonials under the heading "What they say of Kenneth Leslie's poetry...." with the sub-headings "In London, England", "In Toronto", "In New York", and "In Charlottetown".
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).
Series contains published and manuscript copies of Kenneth Leslie's writing, as well as artwork, music and research notes created and compiled by Leslie.
File contains a typed draft manuscript (with a few inked corrections) of a sermon delivered by Kenneth Leslie, likely in the early 1940s, entitled "God and the Intellectual". File addresses the role of colleges in teaching metaphysics, before moving on to the threat posed by "the sickness of America [and the] whole modern world. [...] Call it transcendentalism. Call it idealism" during the Second World War, wherein the motto "transcendentalism : greed' was the antiphonal change for the burying of [early] New England", much as it has been in the run-up to war, and the efforts to prevent the acceptance of "absolute ideas as substitutes for organic thinking", as in fascism, which demands "all or nothing" answers.
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 undated fragments of biographical notes written by Kenneth Leslie. File contains a ~100-word piece entitled "Short biography of Edward Bellamy, translated from the Dutch", written presumable in the spring of 1950, based off of articles which appeared in the March 22 1950 (volume 17, number 6) of "Bellamy: Officieel sociaal-economisch orgaan van de Internationale Verniging Bellamy"; with the verso containing a note about a request for an article for the Liverpool Advocate newspaper. File also contains ~130 words about Jean-Jacques Rousseau and humanism, as well as basic genealogical information about Alexander Leslie and Walter L.[eslie].
File contains a draft typed manuscript, undated (but probably from 1943) written by Kenneth Leslie. File consists of a letter to American liberals and those who wish "the world had joined together against Fascism", rallying them to join the Protestant's Textbook Commission to Eliminate Anti-Semitic Statements in American Textbooks.
File contains an undated (presumably 1913 or 1914, while a student at the University of Nebraska) typed manuscript entitled "The problem of the bridge", written by Kenneth Leslie, and submitted to his professor as part of a course in philosophy. The "bridge" of which Leslie writes is discussing the "problem of metaphysical knowledge". File discusses the Eleatics, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant in relation to metaphysical knowledge.
File contains two fragments of radio interviews (one dated March 14, 1940, the other undated) involving Kenneth Leslie. The first, titled "Radio Script : Leslie-Merchant" -- discusses Leslie's involvement in the Protestant Digest, and Protestantism in general. The second untitled and undated fragment discusses science and mathematics.
File contains an undated typed manuscript entitled "The social aspect of the idea of truth and reality", presumably written in 1915, by Kenneth Leslie, when he was a student at Harvard University. File addresses Leslie's notions of perception, conception, and interpretation.
File contains several handwritten drafts of translations of two poems originally written by Aslaug Vaa and translated by Nora Steenerson Smith (later Nora Leslie), fourth wife of Kenneth Leslie. There are six handwritten drafts of a translation of Duva og dropen (with minor variations and corrections), and seven drafts of a translation of the Skinnvengbrev (with minor variations and corrections).
File contains correspondence sent to Nora Leslie (née Nora Steenerson Smith, Nora Totten), fourth wife of Kenneth Leslie, from the 1950s to the 1970s. File includes letters and cards sent by Emilie Laraway, Mary Lewis, Helene Mullins, and Elizabeth and John Robertson. File also includes an undated note written by Nora Leslie after Kenneth Leslie's death, regarding a disagreement with Kenneth's daughter Rosaleen. File also includes a photocopy of a clipping of Nora's obituary.
Series contains typed and handwritten correspondence from family, friends, and associates. Material includes correspondence both to and from Kenneth Leslie and the Leslie family.
File consists of a letter (dated February 1, 1973, from Success, Saskatchewan) and an undated Christmas card [ca. early-1970s] written by Nanette Bowditch, daughter of Kenneth Leslie's brother Eric. The letter discusses the activities of her children, George and Emily, the recent publication of his book of poetry, and Kenneth's relationship with his sisters, Marjorie and Emily. The Christmas card contains a brief letter and is signed by Nanette, her husband Walter, and their two children.
File contains an undated typed letter from his daughter Rosaleen regarding sending a selection of typed copies of poems to Mr. [Patrick] Crean at McClelland and Stewart and also mentions that Sean Haldane, publisher of The Collected Poems of Kenneth Leslie, had not been informed of the efforts to publish an alternate collection of Leslie's works. File also contains a facsimile family photograph of the Dickson children: Jennifer, Elizabeth, Marjorie, Ross, and Charles.
Item is a two-page typed letter written by Kenneth Leslie on December 17, 1942. The letter addresses the threat posed by the fascist movement and antisemitism in the United States, both at present during the war, as well as the threats posed "after the war is over", where "this Fascistic movement will let loose with its first barrage, to consist of a wave of terror against the Jew". The letter, which an accompanying index card suggests should be sent "first to Presidents of colleges and then to professors of education, philosophy, psychology, historical and sociological sciences", urges educators join the "Protestant Digest"-supported Textbook Commission to eliminate anti-Semitic statements in American textbooks as a means of warding off fascism and antisemitism "not in the name of any church but in the name of democracy".
Item is a letter from Anita and Dermot McHugh (grandson of Kenneth Leslie, son of Gloria) addressing their appreciation of the Leslies' wedding gift and their concern regarding Kenneth and Nora's poor health.
Item is an undated Christmas card from Gloria McHugh to her father, Kenneth Leslie, expressing hopes for "good health" and "satisfaction from your much needed work" and regret about delays in writing due to her own illness over the previous summer.
