Villa Alward Smith [textual record]. -- 1924-1982. -- 22 cm of textual records

Scope and content: This subseries contains correspondence from Milton, Dorothy, and Erica Gregg to Dorothy's sister Villa (Billie) Smith. Billie was employed by Milton Gregg for 3 years, about the end of the 1920s, as stenographer, bookkeeper and private secretary. She worked for him again in the 1930s when he was Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons. As well, she often acted as Milton Gregg's personal secretary, most notably while he was abroad in the Canadian army and diplomatic service. These letters discuss regimental activities, political developments in Canada and Europe, life in England during the Second World War, Dorothy's war work with the Red Cross, her illness and death, political developments in Iraq (including the revolution of 1958), life in Indonesia, and Milton's military and diplomatic activities as well as personal and family matters.

This subseries also includes a few letters to Billie Smith from other family members, friends, and acquaintances, most notably from her brother Walter Alward as well as several letters to Billie's husband, Charles Smith, from Milton Gregg.. It also contains business letters, memos, itineraries, accounts and other financial records which Milton Gregg sent to his sister-in-law for her information and attention. Billie Smith's travel diary, a few letters relating to her trip to Indonesia, and memoranda and an essay by Milton Gregg are also included.

Title based on contents

File arrangement is chronological

A few letters from Villa Smith to Dominick Graham concerning the proposed biography are located in series 2

Damaged original letters are filed at the end of series 1, subseries 2

BOX NO. 1

1. Correspondence from Milton Gregg to Charles Smith; 1924, 1925

2. Letters of reference for Villa Smith from Milton Gregg, 1930

3. Correspondence from Dorothy Gregg, 1936

4. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 8 December 1939 - 19 August 1940

5. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 2 September 1940 - 29 December 1940 Note: Letter from Dorothy to Billie dated 9 September 1940 is badly damaged. This file contains a photocopy and transcription. The original may be viewed on request.

6. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 4 January 1941 - 26 March 1941

7. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 2 April 1941 - 30 June 1941

8. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 3 July 1941 - 26 October 1941

9. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 4 November 1941 - 17 January 1947 Note: Includes letters addressed to Sisters, Billie and Blanche, Bridge Club

10. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 1950, 14 June 1953 - 20 June 1953, 15 February 1958 - 13 June 1958 Note: Includes a few letters from Walter Alward

11. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 4 July 1958 - 17 November 1958 Note: Includes a letter from Walter Alward

12. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, Dorothy Gregg; 5 January 1959 - 3 March 1959

13. Correspondence and memos from Milton Gregg, 9 March 1959 - 27 December 1959
Note: Includes letters from Jane Alward; Walter Alward; nieces Winifred, Deane and Pat and several friends. Also included is a letter from Dorothy to her brother Walter Alward

14. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, 4 January 1960 - 30 September 1960

15. Letters, accounts, memos and financial records for Billie's information and handling, 19 July 1960 - 13 April 1961 Note: Includes memos written by M. F. Gregg while in Indonesia

16. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, 7 October 1960 - 30 June 1961

17. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, 3 July 1961 - 24 December 1961
Note: Includes manuscript copy of short essay by M. F. Gregg, "Swallow-Tail Village"

18. Correspondence, itineraries and other material relating to Billie Smith, Violet MacGillivray and Paige Pinneo's trip to Indonesia, 1961-1962

19. Correspondence from Billie Smith to Mona Osborne, 21 December 1961 - 8 March 1962 Note: Written while on trip to Indonesia and found in Billie Smith's trip diary below

20. Diary of Billie Smith's trip to Indonesia, 20 December 1961 - 7 March 1962

21. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, 28 February 1962 - 29 December 1963
Note: Includes newspaper clippings as well as letters from several acquaintances

22. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, 5 January 1964 - 18 December 1964
Note: Includes newspaper clippings, itineraries and notes for a talk given by M. F. Gregg as well as several memos written by Gregg as Commissioner for Canada and a short essay, "The work of a 'commissioner'" also by him

23. Correspondence from Milton Gregg and Erica Deichmann Gregg; 30 January 1965 - 22 May 1978 Note: Includes newspaper clippings

24. Correspondence from Milton Gregg, 1977-1978
Note: Includes Milton Gregg's last letters to Billie Smith and Barney Danson's eulogy of Gregg

25. Correspondence from Erica Deichmann Gregg; 1981, 1982

26. Correspondence personal; 1967, 1981

BACK TO CONTENTS