Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1942-2000 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
6m of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This series documents the development, research, writing, and reviews of Grits: An Intimate Portrait of the Liberal Party (1982), by Christina McCall’s. The files involve McCall’s research into the Liberal party's inner workings, its central figures, and broader trends in Canadian political culture. Materials include original interviews, annotated drafts, research notes, press clippings, correspondence, and personal reflections, as well as production and promotional documentation for the book. There are annotated newspaper clippings that are connected to research topics for her book. There are drafts and manuscript materials that outline the structure of the book, organized around prominent party figures such as Keith Davey, Pierre Trudeau, James Coutts, Michael Pitfield, and John Turner. The files also explore themes like political patronage, Liberal ideology, the influence of the party’s elite, cabinet dynamics, and relations with business and media. Post-publication materials include reviews, translations (notably the French edition Les Rouges), promotional materials, speeches, and correspondence with readers and editors.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As much as possible research files grouped together were maintained together and represent established topics organized and named by McCall. Content is arranged as follows:
Change - B2016-0026/013
Files for Liberal book - B2016-0026/013
Research Material - B2016-0026/014
Research and publication material of Grits (ca. 1975 – 1982) - B2016-0026/015
McCall’s Copy of Grits - (ca.1975 – 1982) - B2016-0026/016
Interviews (ca.1975 – 1982) - B2016-0026/017
Research files (ca. 1980 – 1981) - B2016-0026/018
Les Rouges (ca. 1983) - B2016-0026/019
Old Topics for Grits (ca. 1970s - 198-) - B2016-0026/020
Promotion and Publicity (ca. 1982 - 1983) - B2016-0026/021
Libs regional positions - B2016-0026/022 - B2016-0026/023
1979 and 1980 Federal elections - B2016-0026/023
Countdown - B2016-0026/023
Quebec (ca. 1975 – 1980) - B2016-0026/024
Quebec/Franco-Can, Lalonde - B2016-0026/024
Biz/Turner - B2016-0026/024
Prime minister + his cadre - B2016-0026/024
Manuscript (ca. 1982) - B2016-0026/025
Drafts and manuscript (ca. 1980 – 1982) - B2016-0026/026
Liberal Party structure (ca. 1975 -1980)- B2016-0026/027
Party elite - B2016-0026/027 - B2016-0026/028
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open