Diary covering Charles Peake’s time as Lord Halifax’s Personal Assistant from 14 January to 26 December 1941.

Subjects covered for January include: travelling across America; attending church; Halifax’s love of corduroy trousers; drafting Halifax’s speeches; meeting US President [Franklin Roosevelt] on the destroyer; reflections on the use of oil and electricity in the ship’s kitchen; reviewing a delegation of American admirals; travelling to the US Embassy; Peake’s concern about Halifax’s deafness; Halifax’s frustrations over photographers choreographing him during photoshoots; the subjective nature of his diary-keeping; comparisons between British and American food; Halifax’s remarks on his wife’s [Dorothy Onslow Wood] happiness; Peake finding a new purpose in life; sharpening of Peake’s spiritual qualities; reflections on Dorothy; comments on keeping a diary.

Subjects covered for February include: visiting zoo; American women’s party attire; exchanges between Lord and Lady Halifax; receiving Senator Byrnes [James F. Byrnes] and Speaker Rayburn [Samuel Rayburn]; Halifax’s memory of King George V approaching Ramsey MacDonald for wearing orders too far down coat; travelling to Baltimore; reflections on diary-keeping as a discipline inspired by Halifax; travelling to Charlottesville; observations on the architecture of the University of Virginia [United States]; Peake’s amusement at Halifax’s vocabulary; meeting the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway; Halifax’s unhappiness with Lend-Lease bill.

Subjects covered for March include: flying to New York and Montreal [Canada]; meeting the Canadian press; discussions with Halifax over the use of Christian names in the family; dining with the mouth organist Larry Adler; arranging for Halifax to travel to Harvard to receive honorary degree; Halifax’s indiscretion with press correspondents in speech to the Pilgrims [Pilgrim’s Society]; travelling to Pennsylvania for Halifax to give a speech; attending meeting of Council of Foreign Relations at the Ritz; meeting film stars at Radio City [New York]; reflections on Halifax’s experiences at the Cheshire Hunt.

Subjects covered for April include: Halifax’s difficult mood; Peake’s wife [Catherine] wanting him to return home; row between Halifax and his wife Dorothy over church attendance; reflections on keeping diary; Halifax’s advice to Peake to be more introspective; religion; travelling to New York; Halifax presenting medals to survivors of bomb damage; dining with Cornelius Vanderbilt; visiting housing settlement in Red Hook [New York]; celebrating Halifax’s birthday; writing Halifax’s speeches; visits to Georgia and Atlanta.

Subjects covered for June include: inaugurating window in honour of the late Lord Halifax; arrival of Halifax’s family; Halifax dining with Republican senators; dining with Rhoda Clarke and Fanny Holtzman; fall of the British government and suggestion for Halifax to become Prime Minister which he declined; Halifax and Peakes’ low spirits; Halifax’s reading of ghost stories and memories of parents.

Subjects covered for July include: preparing speech for Halifax on home defence; meeting Walter Lipmann; meeting journalists at The Telegraph; travelling to Chicago, LA and San Diego [United States]; Halifax briefly driving the train to LA; encountering female anti-war protesters during Halifax’s visit; visiting factories; Dorothy sending the 1000th bomber to Britain; travelling to San Francisco [United States]; visiting shipyards; visiting naval dockyard at Maine Island; travelling to Hollywood and Beverly Hills and meeting film stars; travelling to San Diego; joining Lady Halifax in reluctantly accompanying Lord Halifax on a fishing trip. Subjects covered for August include: Dorothy travelling to Montreal [Canada] in ‘The Liberator’; Halifax’s recollections on his great grand-father’s [Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey] marital affairs and illegitimate children.

Subjects covered for September include: Halifax’s memories of Hugh Cecil [1st Baron Quickswood]; travelling to Lisbon and Azores [Portugal]; attending mass in a Portuguese Church; nightmares.

Subjects covered for October include: heated argument between Peake and Halifax; travelling to Mirador [historic home in Greenwood, Virginia] and Virginia [United Sates], memories of fighting during the First World War; Halifax meeting with the Duke of Windsor [Edward VIII]; writing a speech on India; reflections on Russia.

Subjects covered for November include: arriving into Montreal; staying at Ridean Hall [Ottawa, Canada]; Halifax’s speech to the Canadian Club; travelling to Norfolk county [Canada]; arriving at Old Parish Comfort; visiting Service Co-operative [US equivalent of NAAFI]; travelling onboard the aircraft carrier [HMS Illustrious] and colliding with the Formidable; meeting Arthur Talbot [Royal Naval Officer]; arriving back in Glasgow.

Included in the back of this diary is a typescript review of ‘Roosevelt and Churchill 1939-41’ by Joseph P. Lash, ‘A Rendezvous with Destiny’ by Elliott Roosevelt and James Brough, and ‘Churchill in America 1895-1961’ by Robert H. Pilpel.

Comprising a ring-bound diary, mainly handwritten with a few typed pages.