File contains an undated Christmas card, likely from the 1950s or early-1960s, sent by Harold S. Latham, of Kearny, NJ (formerly chief editor of Macmillan Publishing Company), to Kenneth Leslie. File briefly recounts Latham's recent trip to Nova Scotia to visit "Five Islands on Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy", and expresses regret at not having heard from Leslie recently. Latham was Leslie's editor when he published his first collection of poems, "Windward Rock" (Macmillan, 1934).
File contains newspaper clippings collected by Kenneth Leslie in 1972 and 1973, largely related to the 1972 United States presidential election. File contains clippings and facsimiles of articles written by Leslie's associates Hugh Hester and Morris Kominsky, among others. Articles tangentially related to the role of both religion and the Vietnam War in American political affairs during the run-up to the election. A few of the clippings contain notes and marginalia in Leslie's hand.
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 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).
File contains a watercolour painted and signed by Kenneth Leslie, presumably in the late-1930s. The painting depicts a rural setting -- quite likely of somewhere in Pictou County -- with a brown fence in the fore-ground, a narrow peninsula stretching into a river, with low hills in the distance.
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".
Item is a copy of issue number 15 of the Song Fishermen's Song Sheet, a poetry newsletter issued "every so often" and published by Andrew Merkel on behalf of the Song Fishermen. This issue contains an announcement of the song sheet's upcoming first year anniversary, an essay on the rewards of living in Nova Scotia and having the leisure to think and write, and poems by Robert Leslie and Joe Wallace.
Item is a copy of issue number six of the Song Fishermen's Song Sheet, a poetry newsletter issued "every so often" and published by Andrew Merkel on behalf of the Song Fishermen. This issue contains verses by Martha Ann, Mollie Beresford, W.K. Carew, Nathanial A. Benson, Stuart McCawley, Charles Bruce, Bob Leslie and Joe Wallace, and notes about the whereabouts and doings of some members.
Item is a copy of issue number four of the Song Fishermens' Song Sheet, a poetry newsletter issued "every so often" and published by Andrew Merkel on behalf of the Song Fishermen. This issue contains verses by Kenneth Leslie, R.V. Bannon, J.P.P. Llwyd, and Molly Beresford.
Series contains published and manuscript copies of Kenneth Leslie's writing, as well as artwork, music and research notes created and compiled by Leslie.
Fonds contains records created and collected by Andrew Merkel, including correspondence with friends and associates such as Charles Bruce, Kenneth Leslie, and Robert Norwood; manuscripts; newspaper clippings; and copies of The Song Fishermens’ Song Sheet and The Order of Good Cheer.
