The Leslie Frost Papers in Trent University Archives TRENT UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES NEWS Number 25, March 2008 Trent University and “Old Man Ontario” The Honourable Leslie M. Frost rent University held its first convocation in 1967, and greeting the T graduates as they walked across the podium was the newly appointed first chancellor of the University, the Honourable Leslie Miscampbell Frost. Ontario Premier from 1949 to 1961 and former leader of the Ontario Pro- gressive Conservative Party, Frost was to have a lasting impact on Trent. Leslie Frost (1895-1973) was born in Orillia and served in World War I before being called to the Bar in 1921. He was a member of the Lindsay legal firm, Frost, Inrig and Gorwill, and was elected to the Ontario legisla- ture in 1937. During the George Drew and T.L. Kennedy administrations, he served as Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Mines. Besides his legal and political career, Frost held many Board positions and directorships. He also wrote and published Fighting Men; Forgotten Pathways of the Trent; Pleasant Point Story: A History of Pleasant Point; and The Records on Sam Hughes Set Straight. In addition to his role as Chancellor, Frost contributed to Trent in a number Photo credit: Ashley & Crippen of ways. Research funds in his name derive from a legacy he willed to the University, and hundreds of books in the Bata Library were acquired through a donation from him. While the official papers relating to his premiership are located at the Ar- chives of Ontario, Frost donated all his personal records and post-premiership documents to Trent Univer- sity Archives. Roger Graham wrote the definitive biography of Frost, Old Man Ontario: Leslie M. Frost (1990), in part from research conducted over several years using our Frost papers. In 2007, Dr. Rae Flem- ing published the wartime letters of Frost and his brother Cecil which are located in our Archives. His publi- cation is entitled The Wartime Letters of Leslie and Cecil Frost, 1915-1919. Trent continues to recognize the generosity and vision of Leslie Frost through the name it chose for one of its graduate and research centres, the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies. 22 February 1967. Dear Mr. Frost, Thank you for your letter informing me of your decision to accept the invitation of our Senate to become the first Chancellor of Trent University… I look forward very much to working with you in the service of this new university in the historic Valley of the Trent…. T.H.B. Symons, President and Vice-Chancellor The Frost Garden Party On June 14th, 1969, Trent was host to hundreds of people who gathered at a “mammoth garden party” organized by The Committee of the Seven Counties to honour Leslie and Gertrude Frost. The event took place on the podium outside the Bata Library, and entertainers included, among many, Frank Leahy’s Square Dancers accompanied by Tommy Sullivan, old-time fiddler, the Douro Dancers, North Hastings High School Choir, and the Singing Nuns of Mount St. Joseph. The Committee of the Seven Counties Remarks made by Mr. Leslie M. Frost at the Garden Party on June 14, 1969 Planning an Appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Leslie M. Frost May 16, 1969 … Now I just want to make this assertion to you people here… that I often feel, and I do A fitting “appreciation” to honour two of Ontario’s best known feel very deeply, that we give expression and most esteemed citizens, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie M. Frost, has been perhaps too much to differences in this coun- planned with care and enthusiasm by a committee acting on behalf of try instead of expressions to the great things all the citizens of the Seven Counties of the Valley of the Trent re- that unite us and bind us and tie us together gion… into one of the world’s great coming na- Your committee wants to honour them… by inviting more than tions… You and I wouldn’t be Canadians 4,000 of their friends and neighbours from the Seven Counties to today if it weren’t for that partnership [French assemble happily at a mammoth garden party. This gathering, per- and English], we would be part of the great haps the greatest social event ever held in the region, will take place country to the south of us… I am satisfied, at the Nassau Campus of Trent University, on the banks of the Otona- friends, that, as I have said on other occa- bee River, on Saturday afternoon, this coming 14 June, 1969…. sions, that common sense, looking at the [Signed] great results of what we have done, and the E.A. Outram, work we have done together, will keep our City Clerk, Peterborough, Secretary to the Committee country together, stronger than ever… Photo credit: Parks Studio Photo credit: Robert A. Stairs Leslie & Gertrude Frost at the Podium The Frost Garden Party An oil painting of Leslie Frost by artist Kenneth Forbes was pre- sented to Trent at an informal gathering on October 8th, 1971. The work hangs in the Riverside Offices at Bata Library. Brass plate inscription: The Honourable Leslie Miscampbell Frost P.C., C.C., C.D., Q.C., LL.D., D.C.L., First Chancellor Trent University 1967 Photo credit: Parks Studio Chancellor Frost joined others at Trent’s 1972 Convocation in an ovation for President T.H.B. Symons, who was resigning as President the following month. left to right: L.M. Frost T.H.B. Symons (seated) R.H. Sadleir Ian Chapman F.A. Hagar Margaret Laurence Photo credit: Roy Nicholls The Leslie Frost Papers in Trent University Archives Leslie Frost to the Honourable Ian A. Mackenzie, Minister of National Defence, 1939 … In connection with the present hostili- ties between Great Britain and Germany, I offer you my services in any capacity whatever. Trent University and “Old Man Ontario” In the last war I served with the Cana- dian Infantry and was wounded. In this present crisis I am prepared to serve in The Honourable Leslie M. Frost any way... T A letter from the Frost papers Premier Frost was frequently called upon to open new buildings, lay cornerstones, cut ribbons and preside at official functions.Along with the 130 boxes of papers and documents came mementos pre- sented to him on these occasions. Here we are after many hours of polishing the 25 or so trowels, the silver spoons, and the keys to Jodi Aoki and Bernadine Dodge with the Frost memorabilia umpteen cities! in the Trent University Archives reading room Newsletter Editor: Jodi Aoki Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please make an appointment to ensure access. We are located on the first floor of Bata Library. TRENT UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES THOMAS J. BATA LIBRARY PETERBOROUGH, ON CANADA K9J 7B8 Telephone: (705)748-1011x7413 fax: (705)748-1126 email: [email protected] Visit our web site: http://www.trentu.ca/library/archives.