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 May 1972 to May 1974. The front cover is inscribed with “May 72 - Nov 74”. The diary documents Penfield’s thoughts and reactions to colleagues deaths, such as that of Dr. Wilburt Davidson and Francis Hall; his health, his age and decreased mobility; Helen’s memory issues; social activities such as church services, weddings, and visits; the writing of No Man Alone; the Vanier Institute of the Family; and addresses and the accompanying trips, to London Ontario’s Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery in September 1972 and the trip to the Glasgow Institute of Neurological Services. In addition, Penfield discusses science and religion during an Easter entry, looking at the resurrection of Christ in terms of brain processes. 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 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 November 1975 to April 1976. The diary details the last few months before his death in April 1976. This includes reflections on love, his marriage, his health, and finishing work on No Man Alone. Penfield has gone through and corrected his grammar and spelling or has expanded upon his initial thoughts, usually in pencil or pen. After the last entry, there is a line in a different hand started but most of it is illegible.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for April 1961 to December 1961. The diary details Wilder Penfield’s travels to Glasgow, London, and Jerusalem and contains writings on his speeches, addresses and research. In addition, the volume describes the countries he visits, the people he meets with, and his attendance at the Stratford Festival. It includes an additional entry at the back, with staples.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for June 1960. The diary details Wilder Penfield’s travels, speeches, addresses and also sketches out his environments, the people he interacted with and religoius beliefs. Additional pages have been pasted in to the book and a list of students at the ‘R. Institute’ have been set at the back.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for March to August 1962. The front cover is inscribed “ 1962 March Lake Como August Australasia via LA”. The diary details Penfield’s travels, progress on the Alan Gregg biography and his reaction to the death of Herbert Jasper.
The file contains the diary of Wilder Penfield for February 1962. The front cover is inscribed with “Feb 1962 Moscow-Consultation Lev Landau To Mtl Feb 25 8pm → Ar Mtl Mch 1 810pm”. The diary details the lead up to, and the consultation and aftermath of Lev Landau, Physicist, in Moscow by Wilder Penfield. The diary is stapled sheets of paper in an office specialty file folder.
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 October 1962 to 1965. The spine is inscribed with Chinese script, while the front cover features an image of a man crossing a bridge. The first page indicates that the volume was purchased in Peking after the last was finished. The front cover is inscribed “Bequeathed by WP to TR + WF”. The diary details his travels to Peking, Moscow, London, Montreal and Rome and includes entries on his activities which include attending the Royal Society of Medicine meeting in London April 1964, attendance of the Stratford Festival, and his progress on the Alan Gregg biography. The entries are sometimes written on hotel paper and inserted. In addition, he comments on religious concerns, includes bible verses and verses of Shakespeare in the pages, and addresses questions of whether there is “something more important to do” in relation to what his future holds.
