Leonard Leacock was a Canadian pianist, composer, and educator who taught music and musical theory at Mount Royal College for over sixty years. Leacock was born in 1904 in London, England and immigrated in 1908 with his family to Canada where they settled in Banff, Alberta. Leacock started playing the piano at age 14 and was educated in Banff, Calgary, Toronto, and Boston. In 1924 he received an Associate Diploma from the Toronto Conservatory of Music and began his teaching career at Mount Royal College. He also completed his Licentiate Diploma from the Royal Schools of Music in London in 1937. In addition to his work as an educator for Mount Royal College Conservatory of Music, Speech Arts, and Dance, Leacock served as President of the Registered Music Teacher's Association, Calgary Branch, and was an examiner for the Western Board of Music.
Leacock composed compositions for orchestra, piano, strings, voice, and other instruments. Some of his most well known compositions include "The Lonely Lake", "Tic-Toc-atina", and "Sea Horses" which became popular with piano teachers and students, often being used as a competition test piece. Leacock gave many performances at Mount Royal College and performed with both the Calgary Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the Aeolian Chamber Music Series. Leacock gave his last public performance in 1975 in the Leacock Theater which was dedicated in his honor in 1972 during the opening of the new Mount Royal Lincoln Park Campus. During his lifetime Leacock received many awards for his compositions and teaching. Most prominently, he received an Alberta Achievement award for service to music from the provincial government in 1985 and became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1986.
In addition to his musical and teaching career, Leacock was also well known for his interest in amateur photography and mountaineering. He spent many of his weekends and summers hiking the Rockies and around Banff. One of his photographs was published in National Geographic in 1947 and his work was exhibited at the Brussels International fair in 1958. Some of his work is still on display around Mount Royal University in the Leacock and Wright theaters. Leacock was also a frequent speaker giving talks about his climbing and mountaineering adventures to groups such as the Knights of the Round Table and at the Banff Springs Hotel.
Leonard Leacock passed away on December 3,1992. More of his papers and photographs can be found in the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff.
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Fonds reflects Leacock's career as a teacher of music at Mount Royal College as well as his work as a pianist and composer. The fonds is arranged into three series which include audio recordings, awards and achievements, and programs and articles regarding his public performances and teaching career. Other records in the fonds reflect Leacock's interests in photography and mountaineering, and include photographs and personal correspondence.
Custodial history is unknown.
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Series contains audio recordings presumably by Leacock.
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Item was created during the sod turning ceremony for the new Lincoln Park location of Mount Royal College.
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Content of recording is unknown.
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Series contains awards that Leacock received for his service to Mount Royal College, his accomplishments as a composer and performer, and as a dedicated teacher.
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Item is a list of recipients of the Order of Canada at the companion, officer, and member levels, along with a brief paragraph describing their achievements and dedication to community service and nation.
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File contains a letter from the director of the Order of Canada, the February 1986 list of the members of the Order of Canada, and a bound copy of the constitution and nomination procedures.
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Item is a Member's insignia of the Order of Canada. The obverse is a snowflake shaped medal hung from a red and white ribbon pin and inscribed with the Order of Canada motto "Deiderantes Meliorem Patriam" ("They desire a better country"). The reverse of the medal reads "Canada 1106"in upraised letters.
Item is housed in a hard black case 13.5 x 10 cm. "C.M." inscribed on front.
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Item is a framed honorary certificate of lifetime membership from the Registered Music Teacher's Association. Certificate was presented to Leacock "in appreciation of long and faithful service to the Music Teachers' Association in the City of Calgary".
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Item is an award presented to Leacock to commemorate 45 years of teaching at Mount Royal College, Conservatory of Music.
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Item is a plaque presented to Leacock in appreciation of 60 years of service as a piano teacher and performer. The award was presented by the Mount Royal College Conservatory of Music and Speech Arts.
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Item is an award presented to Leacock in recognition of his service to Mount Royal College and the Conservatory of Music and Speech Arts.
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Item is a framed photograph of Leacock receiving his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada in January 1986.
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Item is a framed award presented to Leacock for outstanding achievement in music. Award was present by the Government of Alberta in November 1973.
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Item consists of a medallion with the Mount Royal College coat of arms and motto in bas relief in the center. Medallion is mounted vertically on a wooden base with a plaque inscribed "Leonard H. Leacock music theater Leonard H. Leacock, L.R.S.M., A.T.C.M. teacher of piano and theoretical subjects 1924- ".
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Item is certificate awarded to Leacock for first place in the amateur instrumental composition category at the Central Alberta Music Festival.
Missing the upper right corner and part of the top edge.
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Item is performer's certificate issued to Leacock after passing his examination in pianoforte. The certificate admitted him a licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, London as a performer.
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Item is a diploma in piano issued to Leacock by the University of Toronto which entitled him to be styled as an associate of the Toronto Conservatory of Music.
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Series contains programs from musical events that Leacock performed or participated in as a teacher, a copy of his composition "Sea Horses", and newspaper and journal articles regarding his career and performances.
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File contains seven programs from musical recitals that Leacock participated in, either as a musician or an instructor. This includes recitals put on by the Banff School District, Mount Royal College Junior Symphony Orchestra, Mount Royal College student recitals, the Calgary Orchestra and Chorus, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
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Item is a program from the fourth concert of the twelfth season.
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File contains the sheet music for "Sea Horses", a piano solo written by Leacock, and a personal letter to Leacock written by Dan and Mary McConan.
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File contains copies of newspaper clippings documenting Leacock's career. Clippings are from local newspapers including Second Tuesday, Crag & Canyon, MRC News, Journal 3009 and Music in Alberta.
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File contains newspaper clippings related to music and theater in Calgary and mountaineering in and around Banff.
Some text is obscured due to imprecise clipping and paper degradation.
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File contains complete issues of The Canadian Composer and Prelude. The issues contain articles featuring Leacock and his musical career.
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File contains musical scores composed by Leacock including: A Negro Love Song, Arctic Night, A Rusty Rondo, Second Time, Consolation, Homage to Pioneers, Neanderthal, Sea Fancies: A Miniature Suite for Piano, Sea Horses, Sea Shells, A Mermaid Combing Her Hair, The Octopus, Song of the Pear Fishers, Lullaby for a Starfish, Topsy, A Lonely Lake, Toysday, The Widow Bird. The file also contains three manuscript books with additional scores: Midnight in Minneapolis, an untitled score, The Lonely Lake, and Consolation.
File contains a finding aid(attached in PDF format) prepared in 2010 which lists the compositions in the file along with additional information regarding contributors to the works and dedication notes.
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Item is a musical prelude composed by Leacock for, Cindy Graham, possibly a former student.
Item was donated by Cindy Graham on November 25, 2015.
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File contains a bookmark for Classic Books and a multiple page advertisement for Yamaha pianos which features a photo of Leacock.
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File contains a personal letter to Leacock, a greeting card, a typed copy of an interview with Leacock by Cathy De Deugd, and a letter from the executive committee of the Knights of the Round Table introducing Leacock as a presenter at their next meeting.
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Item is a painting of a snowy mountain with the dedication: "painted for Leonard June 1930". Item was painted by Hahn.
Minor water damage to the edges of the painting.
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File contains photographs of local animal and plant life and one portrait of Leacock.
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Item is a printed reproduction of an earlier photo of Leacock. Date and location of the original is unknown.
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File contains four copies of the program from Leacock's memorial service held on December 10, 1992.
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Item is an invitation to see a colour slide show presentation of Leacock's photography at the Grace Presbyterian Church. The title of the exhibit was "Mountain Rambles from the Rockies, Alaska, and the Alps".
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Item is a framed formal portrait of Leacock.
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File contains newspaper and magazine articles about Leacock, sheet music and lyrics to a song about Leacock written by an unnamed student, a program for a recital by Leacock's students, invitations to several of Leacock's birthday parties, a signed letter from the Premier of Alberta, Peter Lougheed, on Leacock's 60th teaching anniversary, letters of congratulations from former students, a copy of the short story "Banff to Jasper" by John Stone, a copy of the program from Leacock's funeral, and a letter to the Mount Royal Board of Governors notifying them of a legacy left to the college in Leacock's will.
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Item is a photograph of Mt. Fay in Banff National Park taken and signed by Leacock.
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Item is a photograph of Mt. Lefroy in Banff National Park taken and signed by Leacock.
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Item is a photograph taken by Leacock of Lake Louise, near Banff, Alberta.
Item was donated by Grant Paterson, November 15, 2022.
Back of frame contains a poetic description of Lake Louise, presumably added by the framer, J. Ivan Linton.