Series consists of material related to W.L.M. King's two residences: Laurier House in Ottawa and Kingsmere in the Quebec Gatineau Hills. Laurier House's previous owner was Sir Wilfrid Laurier and after his death in 1919, it was the property of Lady Laurier. At her death in 1921 the house was left to King, the man who had succeeded Laurier as the leader of the Liberal Party. King had the house extensively remodelled to serve as a semi-official residence. King lived here until his death in 1950. In his will King left the house to the people of Canada. Parks Canada now operates Laurier House as a museum.
The Laurier House subject files relate to its remodelling, interior decoration, furnishings, and maintenance. Also present are accounts, correspondence, notes, and catalogues related to the day-to-day running of the house. King entertained many famous Canadians and foreign dignitaries at the house. The invitations and dinner menus in the Hospitality files record these famous visitors.
Kingsmere was King's rural summer retreat in the Gatineau Hills. He started acquiring property in this area in 1903 and over the next forty years he acquired 600 acres. In comparison to Laurier House which was a semi-official residence, Kingsmere was a private retreat which King jealously guarded from the outside world. This estate too was left to the people of Canada upon King's death in 1950. It now forms part of the National Capital Commission's Gatineau Park.
The Kingsmere files describe King's attempt to create a country estate in the Gatineau Hills. There is correspondence, invoices, notes, and catalogues about horticulture, gardens, flowers, and crops. King's attempts at keeping sheep and poultry are documented. There are files on property acquisition, and the reconstruction of the various cottages. The origin and erection of King's famous architectural antiques are also documented in this section. On a more prosaic level, there are also files on plumbing, maintenance, and equipment.
The series also includes a communion token entitled Glecairn Kirk 1838.
The series contains photos of the unveiling of a cairn honouring Sir George Simpson, B.C., ca. 1930; W.L. Mackenzie's home, Kingsmere, Que., ca. 1959-1967; portraits of Mrs. John King, n.d.; photo of the sculpture of a Girl's Head by Giuseppe Guastall, owned by W.L. Mackenzie King.
In addition, the series contains a sketch of a Rovega chair with slip cover of printed linen; and a sketch of a Hepplewhite Drop Leaf Sofa table. Designs are by the Thornton-Smith Company Ltd., Toronto; and sketches are by J. H. Sexton.
Series consists of two booklets and one pamphlet relating to greenhouses, sunrooms and thatched roofs. Each contains drawings, photographs and textual information.
Series consists of plans of Kingswood Cottage, Moorside Cottage, the farmhouse at Kingsmere and specutlative greenhouse plans, along with speculative designs for fireplaces and cast iron lamp standards for Laurier House. Also included are survey plans and maps of W.L.M. King's property at Kingsmere, Quebec.
