The Peter H. Russell fonds is comprised of three accessions: B2005-0001, B2017-0006, and B2019-0008. The records span over 60 years and document Prof. Russell’s academic career primarily with the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto and as a recognized expert in the field of judicial, constitutional, and Indigenous politics.
Arranged in fourteen series, the records consist of correspondence, both personal and professional, manuscripts of published and unpublished works, addresses, talks and reviews, teaching and research materials. In particular, these records document the development of his expertise through the preparation of manuscripts, research, teaching and communication with colleagues at universities in Canada and internationally. Material also reflects Prof. Russell’s advocacy and active engagement in a number of national issues.
Correspondents in accession B2005-0001 include members of the Canadian judiciary such as Justices D. C. McDonald, Bora Laskin, Bertha Wilson, and Alan Linden, and politicians such as Bob Rae, Ian Scott, Ed Broadbent and Stephane Dion.
Both Series 6 (Professional activities and addresses) and Series 11 (Articles, reviews, published addresses and referee comments), contains samples of talks and addresses delivered to prominent bodies such as the Toronto Club, the Canadian Club (Toronto and Winnipeg), to university audiences and local community groups such as Learning Unlimited.
His public service activities with Indigenous groups, such as the Dene Nation, and with related governmental bodies, such as the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Ipperwash Inquiry, are documented in Series 5 (Consultation and public service). In addition to his academic activities, material from accession B2005-0001 in this series includes records relating to his community involvement with the Wychwood Rate Payer’s Association, the Bathurst-St. Clair Task Force, Legal Aid Committee, Ontario Liberal Association and University Settlement, among others.
Finally, material in this fonds provides significant coverage of Prof. Russell’s participation in associations and organizations such as the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy (Series 7) University of Toronto Faculty Association (Series 8), the College and Retiree Association of Canada (Sub-series 10.1) and the Retired Academics and Librarians of the University of Toronto (Sub-series 10.2).
Russell, Peter H.