Scholars studying almost any aspect of Canadian history during the first half of the twentieth century will likely consult the papers of William Lyon Mackenzie King.This rich collection occupies more than two hundred metres of shelf space at the Public Archives of Canada, and includes material dating from 1840 to 1950.Of course, not all of this deals with Canadian public events.A significant portion concerns King's personal life, and includes such diverse items as his annual dental X-rays, his Christmas cards, and his dogs' tags.In the past few years, King's personal life has enthralled the public, and his private activities have been a matter of much sensational speculation.However, this fascination with his private life is relatively new.For years scholars investigating less titillating topics have been busily sifting through the King Papers, and will continue to do so long after interest in the dogs, the women, and the seances has waned.The first installment of the King Papers came to the Archives more than thirty years ago; archivists are still working on the collection.Only in June 1977 did King's Literary Executors complete the access restrictions and transfer ownership of the entire collection to the Archives.Thirty years is a rather long time to work on any collection, even one so large as this.The explanations of the rather unusual arrangement of the papers and the decisions of the Literary Executors regarding access have never been fully recorded.Instead, a body of archival folklore has grown up around the collection.This paper's purpose is to disperse these half-truths and speculation, with particular reference to the organization of the papers and access to them.Although hindsight encourages the passing of judgement on the decisions of the archivists and Literary Executors, the purpose of this paper is not to judge, but to explain.An examination of the background of the King Papers-the most revealing collection of any Canadian Prime Minister-is long overdue.Mackenzie King was not a man who threw things out.His accumulative instinct was based partly on an intense awareness of his place in Canadian his-* The author gratefully acknowledges the co-operation and assistance of Frederick W. Gibson