Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Richard Allen fonds
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
RC0705
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1982-1995 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
21.8 m of textual records
45 video cassettes
20 audio cassettes
9 micro cassettes
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Richard Allen is an educator, author and politician. He was born in Vancouver, B.C. on 10 February 1929 and educated at the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, the University of Saskatchewan and Duke University. He joined McMaster University in 1974 and held the rank of Professor in the History Department from 1976 to 1987.
He was first elected as a New Democratic Party (NDP) member of the Ontario Legislature for Hamilton West in 1982. Successful re-elections followed in 1985, 1987, and 1990. He assumed responsibility for many portfolios when the NDP was in opposition: 1982-1987, critic for Colleges and Universities; 1983-1985, critic for Cultural Affairs; 1983-1987, critic for Education; 1985-1987, critic for Skills Development; 1987-1990, critic for Community and Social Services and the Office of Disabled Persons as well as Francophone Affairs. When the NDP formed the government in 1990 he became the Minister of Colleges and Universities, Minister of Skills Development, and Minister Responsible for International Trade, and, then in 1994, he became Minister of Housing, a post he held until the government was defeated in 1995.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The second accrual (23-1996) consists of files from Allen's office in Queen's Park, covering the period 1982-1995. By and large this accrual consists of reports, briefs, news releases, press clippings, photocopies of internal memos, communiques, and printed matter. The original material consists of daily journals, correspondence to and from Allen to constituents and colleagues in the New Democratic Party, correspondence to and from federal cabinet ministers, holograph or typescript versions of speeches and notes. Frequently, incoming and outgoing correspondence is one of multiple copies. Original order has been maintained as much as possible in the arrangement of this accrual. The titles that appear on the files are the original titles. The series and subseries are organized in an attempt to reflect the career of Richard Allen: Series 1: in opposition 1982-1990; Subseries: Hamilton; education; Francophone affairs; Community and Social Services & Office of the Disabled; personal and administrative. Series 2: minister and member of government, 1990-1995. Subseries: Meech Lake and post-Meech Lake; Minister of Colleges & Universities; Minister Responsible for the Ontario Training & Adjustment Board; Minister of International Trade; Minister of Housing; Minister's administrative files. Series 3: sound recordings and videocassette, 1989-1995. It should be noted that a chronological arrangement within the sub-series has been attempted, in order to trace the prolific political endeavours of Allen. Box numbering in this accrual is sequential with the previous accrual. The third accrual (24-2000) consists of administrative files reflecting Allen's political activities sukch as council minutes, reports, election results, press releases and promotional materials. The accrual also contains files relating to GO-ALRT and the Canadian Porcelain Project.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
The first accrual was acquired in June 1995; donation agreement was signed in December 1995. The second accrual was acquired in the spring of 1996; donation agreement was signed in December 1996. The third accrual was acquired in June 2000; all from Richard Allen.
Arrangement
No series headings have been assigned but files are arranged according to Allen's subjects. Box numbering continues sequentially with previous accruals.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Access restrictions:
1st accrual: access to series 1 (boxes 1-10), constituency case files, is restricted until 2095. Prior to that date, researchers may apply for access via a Research Agreement. Email archives@mcmaster.ca for details.
2nd accrual: Restricted files have been removed from the collection and are not listed in the finding aid. They include 3 cabinet committee files which are closed until 2016, and 4 constituency case files which are closed until 2095.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
RC0705
