The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for December 1974 to October 1975. The front cover is inscribed “W.P. Journal Dec 74 → Oct 1975”. The volume is a previously used notebook as Penfield has crossed out previously used pages from 1933-1943 which contain lists of names and addresses and has written in the book upside down and backwards. The diary documents Penfield’s progress on No Man Alone, including his struggles to complete it and officially sending it to the publisher; offers of engagement including sermons and lectures; his health, including the diagnosis of rare inflammation of the muscles polymyostis; Helen’s health, including her broken hip and memory issues; reminisces on past events; and his concern about making his life useful. Penfield has gone through and corrected his grammar and spelling or has expanded upon his initial thoughts, usually in pencil or pen.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for December 24 1970 to May 17 1972. The diary documents Penfield’s thoughts on current and past events and includes topics such as Helen’s health; the Vanier of the Family; commemorative stamps for Sir William Osler and Stephen Leacock; death of colleagues, Don McEachern and Dr. William Cone; travel accounts to House and Elba; officially moving from the house to the apartment; progress on No Man Alone, including deciding on the title and narrative style; Ted Rasmussen’s retirement; and family events, like Christmas. In addition, the diary contains the beginning of a journal entry by Helen, additional entries pasted into the pages, the account of weeding their personal papers, comment on the Lev Landau case, and letters, and potentially the plan to make a quilt out of his academic hoods. Penfield has gone through and corrected his grammar and spelling or has expanded upon his initial thoughts, usually in pencil or pen.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for December 1967 to June 1968. The first 49 pages are numbered and Penfield has added in entries on extra paper. The diary documents Vanier Institute of the Family concerns; Penfield’s thoughts on the future, including ideas around second careers, possible future papers and projects, questions about his purpose, and what he would do if he was 30 years younger; accounts of his children and grandchildren; thoughts on Stanley Cobb’s death; account of Helen and Wilder’s travels to London, Berlin and Greece for a month and includes commentary on meeting friends and colleagues, history of the area and religions and the Gold Medal from the Royal Society of Medicine; his thoughts on stream of consciousness and neural processes; and a brief note of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King’s deaths. In addition, the diary includes a list of events for 1967, commentary on West and East Berlin, and an account of the 55th Princeton Reunion. Penfield has gone through and corrected his grammar and spelling or has expanded upon his initial thoughts, usually in pencil or pen.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for September and October 1962. The diary details his travels including Manial, Montreal, Canton, and Peking. It includes descriptions of the people Wilder and Helen stayed with, and their activities while abroad, including visiting other neurology wards.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for August 1966 to December 1967. The diary details his activities during this time and includes attending plays at the Stratford Festival, the writing of the Alan Gregg biography, speeches, addresses and medals that were given and received, and a recalling of the Canadian American Relations conference. In addition, it includes Penfield’s thoughts on what his future holds in terms of work and for his relationship with Helen, and thoughts on the relationship between William Stewart Halsted and Sir William Osler.
A black-covered notebook which Wilder Penfield used as a diary from October 6, 1941 to August 14, 1945. The label on the front cover of the diary indicates that the diary included a period in 1941 when Dr. Penfield was in Portugal.
A orange/brown wire ring-bound notepad used by Wilder Penfield as a diary from October 2 to October 16, 1949. Hand writing on the cover of the diary indicates that it is diary "II" (2).
