| Summary: | The Tom Rideout political papers are a record of the political career of Thomas Gerald Rideout. Covering the - years 1974-1991, they are mostly political in nature, consisting of correspondence, memos, reports, briefing notes, meeting - minutes, etc. There is also material from his life outside of politics relating to personal matters, his family, to some aspects of - business dealings and to his home area of Baie Verte. Generically, these are mainly textual documents, but there are also - photographs, building blueprints, newspaper clippings, and ephemera. - - The papers represent a fairly complete picture of Rideout's career as a Member of the House of Assembly and Cabinet - Minister, particularly after his move from the Liberal party to join the Progressive Conservatives in 1980. Some material also - relates directly to his brief term as the Premier of the province (22 March - 3 May, 1989). They will be of interest to historians - of Newfoundland and Newfoundland and Labrador politics and political systems. - - One large series relates to Rideout's activities and campaigns within his district. Another documents his activities with - various departments and government branches. A third reflects personal and special interests, ranging from annual - speeches made at high school graduations to his involvement with Meech Lake. A major portion of this collection consists - of correspondence: with his constituents; with other citizens across the province; with organizations and special interests; - with business leaders and trade unions; and with other politicians at both the provincial and national levels. Together, the - papers are a major source of primary material on the political activities of one politician, and provide insight into the - practices and procedures of Newfoundland and Labrador politics in the closing decades of the Twentieth Century.
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