Hubert Clayton Weidenhamer was born near Dand, Manitoba in 1926. He was raised in Dand and attended school in the Dand Consolidated School District. Weidenhamer enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1943. He became a member of the Priness Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Following training in Canada and England Weidenhamer was sent to Italy. He was badly wounded in battle in mid-September and died of his injuries in November 1944 at age 21. He was buried in the Ancona Military Cemetery, Ancona Italy.
Custodial History
These records were in the possession of Bea Chapin (née Weidenhamer) following their creation in the 1940s until they were donated to the S. J. McKee Archives in January 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of correspondence from Hubert Clayton Weidenhamer to his sister Bea. The letters begin in the spring of 1943. Weidenhamer had enlisted in the Canadian Army in January 1943. His letters detail his induction into miltary life in Fort Garry, Winnipeg and his training experience in Canada, principally at Camp Ipperwash, Lambton County, Ontario. He relates his experience of travels on leave to Detriot. Weidenhamer left Canada from Halifax in late 1943 and arrived in Great Britain in December for additional military training. In England, maintaining his morale, waiting for deployment, and coming to terms with British currency were challenges. Transferred to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Weidenhamer was deployed to Italy in March 1944. The letters dating from March 1944 to September relate in oblique fashion his's experience of military life on the Italian frontier as the Canadian Army fought its way north - "hard fighting" - and the impact of the war on Italian cities and the countryside. He was "proud" of his conduct in action. Weidenhamer's last letter is dated September 11, 1944.
Collection also includes correspondence on Weidenhamer's behalf from his military Chaplin; two press clippings dealing with his military career, and several facimiles of telegrams and correspondence from the Canadian government officials related to Weidenhamer's death and burial in Italy.
The Lovstrom locale first came to the attention of Dr. Nicholson through conversations with landowners Mr. and Mrs. Herb Lovstrom in 1985. Lovstrom is a multi-component archaeological locale located 25km south of Brandon overlooking the Souris River channel. The landowner’s surface collection and the presence of bone and artifacts in a cultivated field indicated the presence of one or more sites.
Limited testing was conducted in 1985 and 1986, followed by major excavations in 1987, 1988 and 1991. Eight sites of block excavations with a total of 132 1m2 excavation units were completed. The locale area extends approximately 500m north from the edge of the Souris Valley escarpment and over 200m east from the Jock’s Creek escarpment.
Physical and biological environment As has been noted above, the locale is bounded on the south by the Souris channel and on the west by the incised channel of Jock’s Creek and a till plain extends to the north and the east. This plain is characterized by buff colored glacial till with numerous rocks embedded in the surface. Surrounding these rocky knolls are dark-soil hollows where the various cultural occupations are found. The depth of the topsoil layer suggests a long term grassland cover with the present oak forest likely developing in historic times due to the elimination of bison grazing and the controlling of prairie fires in late historic times. A small cleared patch of farmland is found within the boundaries of the locale area. This area has provided a substantial surface collection of artifacts.
Present vegetation in the area is a mosaic of aspen/oak forest groves and mesic grass prairie that includes introduced species such as brome grass. In poorly drained areas, willow and red osier dogwood are present. The Lovstrom locale is found in a forested area dominated by oak with an under story of saskatoon, chokecherry, pin cherry, and hazelnut brush. Poison ivy is abundant as well as sarsaparilla.
The major faunal resources in Precontact times would have been bison, with elk and mule deer playing a minor role. Antelope may have been present also. Small animals included snowshoe hare, cottontails, porcupines and beaver. Canids, including wolf, coyote, fox and domesticated dog were present, as well as mustelids such as badger, mink, and weasel. Fragments from a fisher were also recovered in the excavations.
Summation.
The Lovstrom locale has eight sites. The sites were designated and excavated as Blocks A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Many of the sites are multi-occupations.
The Vickers materials are primarily confined to Blocks D, E, F, G and H. Vickers Focus materials overlie Blackduck/Duck Bay materials. Blackduck and Duck Bay materials are found in the lower levels of all excavation blocks and in most test units. The Vickers occupations at the Lovstrom locale, based upon ceramic wares and an overlapping of C14 dates, appear to have been contemporary with the Lowton type site to the east, near Belmont. A small protohistoric occupation was identified overlying part of Block D. Faunal remains are abundant with bison clearly dominating the assemblages. Lesser amounts of canid are present as well as small mammals including beaver, hare and mustelids. Small amounts of avian species are also present.
Publications
Nicholson, B.A.
2011 The Role of Pocket Gophers (Thomomys talpoides) in Restructuring Stratigraphic Relationships at the Lovstrom Site. Canadian Journal of Archaeology 35:323-331.
Nicholson, Bev, Scott Hamilton, Matthew Boyd and Sylvia Nicholson
2008 A Late Plains Woodland Adaptive Strategy in the Northern Parklands: the Vickers Focus Forager-Horticulturists. Invited Paper for Papers in Northeastern Plains Prehistory, eds. Michael G. Michlovic and Dennis L. Toom, North Dakota Journal of Archaeology Vol. 8:19-34.
Nicholson, Bev and Scott Hamilton
2001 Cultural Continuity and Changing Subsistence Strategies During the Late Precontact Period in Southwestern Manitoba. Canadian Journal of Archaeology 25:53-73.
Nicholson, Bev
1996 Plains Woodland Influx and the Blackduck Exodus in South-Western Manitoba During the Late Precontact Period. Manitoba Archaeological Journal 6(1):69-85.
Nicholson, Bev and Mary Malainey
1991 Report on the 1991 Field School Excavations at the Lovstrom Site (DjLx-1), Southwestern Manitoba. Manitoba Archaeological Journal 1(2): 51-93.
Nicholson, Bev and Jane Gibson
1990-91 Lovstrom Site Field Report, 1987 Excavations. Saskatchewan Archaeology 11&12:46-68.
Nicholson, Bev and Ian Kuiijt
1990 Field Report and Interpretations of the 1988 Archaeological Excavations at the Lovstrom Site (DjLx-1) in Southwestern Manitoba. North Dakota Journal of Archaeology 4:166-205.
Nicholson, Bev
1990 Ceramic Affiliations and the Case for Incipient Horticulture in Southwestern Manitoba. Canadian Journal of Archaeology 14:33-60.
Nicholson, Bev
1986 The Lovstrom Site: Culture Contact in Prehistory. Manitoba Archaeological Quarterly 10(1):35-71.
Scope and Content
The Series has been divided into nine sub-series, including (1) Survey (2) Block A; (3) Block B (4) Block C; (5) Block D; (6) Block E; (7) Block F; (8) Block G; (9) Block H
ARCH 2: North Lauder Locale
The North Lauder locale has a long archaeological and geological history that is important for understanding the forces that shaped the region. Archaeological research in the locale shows that the area has been occupied by humans for at least the past 6,500 years. Environmental forces provided an area of diverse resources that attracted early peoples.
Environment of the Lauder Sandhills
The North Lauder locale is part of the greater Lauder Sandhills area. The glaciers that covered this region began to recede approximately 11,000 years ago leaving a large lake known as glacial Lake Hind. The Souris River, the Lauder Sandhills and the Oak Lake Aquifer are remnants of the environmental and geological forces that shaped the region.
The Lauder Sandhills region is characterized by a landscape of sand sheets and stabilized sand dunes interspersed with a variety of wetlands. This complex topographic and hydrological situation favoured the development of an island mosaic of mixed forest, wetland and meadow, surrounded by mixed grass prairie. The result was a large, isolated ecotone which provided a rich variety of subsistence resources for hunter-gatherers.
Research in the Lauder Sandhills
Archaeologists from Brandon University have been conducting research in the Lauder Sandhills since 1991. Research in the North Lauder locale has focused on the Atkinson site, a 6,500 year old hunter-gatherer site and Flintstone Hill.
The Atkinson site
The Atkinson site is one of the oldest excavated sites in Manitoba and has been Radiocarbon dated to 6,500 years before present. The Atkinson site is located on the bank of the Souris River and was discovered when a hearth (fire pit) was seen eroding out of the bank. Based on the date of the site and the kind of lithics (stone tools) present it is considered a Gowen occupation. The Atkinson site is evidence that bison hunters were active on the northern plains at a very early date. Similar sites have also been found on the High Plains in the U.S. and are referred to as the Mummy Cave Complex.
The Atkinson Site is of great importance as it is the first undisturbed site of this type to be excavated in Manitoba and extends the range of these sites south and east from the type-sites in central Saskatchewan.
Flintstone Hill
The geomorphology of the glacial Lake Hind Basin over the past 11,000 years is known primarily through the study of a cut bank along the Souris River. Flint Stone Hill contains the most complete stratigraphic record for the post-glacial period on the northern plains. The site has been extensively studied by geoarchaeologists, geologists and paleoenvironmentalists over many years and their findings have contributed to our understanding of the region.
The North Lauder locale Borden designations of Atkinson site DiMe-27 and Flintstone Hill site DiMe-26.
Borden System
Archaeological sites in Canada are identified by the Borden system, which is a uniform site designation system. The country is divided into grids based on latitude and longitude in blocks of 10 x 20 minutes. The first 4 letters indicate the block and the following numbers indicate the actual site. For example the area of the Lauder Sandhills in southwestern Manitoba is identified by the letters DM and the North Lauder locale within that area is DiMe. The Atkinson site is DiMe-27 and the Flintstone Hill site DiMe-26. As new sites are discovered they will be numbered sequentially.
Scope and Content
The Series has been divided into two sub-series, including (1) Atkinson site DiMe-27 and Flintstone Hill site DiMe-26.
Some pages in the scrapbooks have fallen out and some of the glued pieces are no longer attached to pages
History / Biographical
Dilys Collier (nee Pearce) was born 4 December 1937, in the Rural Municipality of Daly near Rivers, MB. Before studying at Brandon College, Collier was educated in Bradwardine, MB. Collier graduated from Brandon College with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1958 and 1959 respectively. In 1961, Collier married a Brandon College classmate, Clare Coburn. She spent much of the next two decades working as a homemaker and mother to her three children.
After she and her husband separated in 1979, Collier decided to go back to school. In the next ten years, Collier completed a Bachelor of Education degree (1980), a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina (1982) and a Master of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan (1987). Across her working career, Collier held many posistions including public school teacher, adult educator, social worker, researcher and personal counselor. Along with her work, Collier volunteered extensively with the Knox United Church and the Brandon Cooperative Nursing School. Through the years, she worked for a variety of organizations, including The Saskatoon Family Service Bureau and the REgina John Howard Society. Collier has lived and worked in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Swansea, Wales.
Currently (January 2017), Collier is retired and lives in Mission, BC with her husband of thirty-four years, Kenneth Collier.
Custodial History
The records were created and collected by Dilys Collier during her years as a student and alumna of Brandon College/University. The records were stored in her home huntil they were donated to the McKee Archives in 2013.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records created and collected by Dilys Collier as a means to document her life as a Brandon College student in the 1950s.
Included are three scrapbooks and two folders containing: newspapers and newspaper clippings from The Brandon Sun and The Quill, dealing primarily with Brandon College students, faculty and events; Brandon College administrative records such as the Clark Hall Rules, Collier's proof of registration records, her Brandon College acceptance letter, class schedules and exam timetables; photographs and programmes that cover events such as Freshie Week, dances and other student functions on campus; records documenting campus student activities, including the words to Hail Our College and various College Yells performed after student dances and other functions; decorations from fall proms and Valentine's Day dances, as well as Convocation (1958); programmes from various College convocation ceremonies; various cards Collier received, including those for her birthday and Valentine's Day; election advertisements, primarily for those students running for Student Administration "Stick" positions.
The collection also contains a green taffeta, net and rhinestone gown purchased by Collier to wear to some of the formal dances held at Brandon's Prince Edward Hotel.
Notes
History/Bio information was provided by the donor in late 2016/early 2017. Information on the green gown can be found on prairiehistory.ca. Description by Brian Erixon (October 2016) and Christy Henry.
Oriole A. Vane Veldhuis is the great-granddaughter of Percy Criddle and Elise Harrer Vane. She grew up on a farm in southwest Manitoba and received an education at Stockton school, Brandon College and Central Normal School in Winnipeg. Veldhuis balanced teaching at schools in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Ontario, with studying at MacDonal Institute in Guelph, ON and at the Centre for Christian Studies in Toronoto for Diaconal ministry. Alongside her husband Art, Veldhuis served in United Church congregations in God's Lake Narrows, Holland and Winnipeg, MB, as well as Elmira, ON. Oriole and Art had four children together, whom they raised while she was working part-time and studying to recieve her Bachelor in Education, Post Baccalaureate in Education and Master of Divinity.
Once retired from her teaching and ministry duties, Veldhuis shifted her focus to maintaining a promise to her father that she would try to uncover the mystery of his grandmother. Veldhuis self-published her discoveries regarding the secret life of Elise Vane and Percy Criddle in her book, For Elise: Unveiling the Forgotten Woman on the Criddle Homestead.
Veldhuis was awarded the Margaret McWilliams Award by the Manitoba Historical Society for best local history book in 2012. In 2016, her book was a finalist for the Whistler Independent Bood Award in the non-fiction category. Three editions of the book have been published (2012, 2013 and 2014), as well as ebook and audio book versions.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by Oriole Vane Veldhuis during the research, writing and promotion of her book, For Elise: Unveiling the Forgotten Woman on the Criddle Homestead. They were donated to the McKee Archives in two accessions between 2014-2015.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of the research materials that Veldhuis compiled between 2001-2012, in the writing of her book, as well as materials created and collected during the promotion of the book. The records deal with the relationships between different members of the Criddle/Vane family after they had immigrated to Canada and were living at their southwestern Manitoba homestead. The correspondence between Edwy Vane and his fiancee, Emily Steers, provides insight into the relationships between Percy and his illegitimate children. The records containing Elise Vane's homestead material shows Percy's loyalty to his agreement with Elise to provide for their children in his fight to ensure the government's approval of her homestead.
Collection consist of records - diaries, letters, homestead applications and files, and receipts, as well as addressed envelopes and postmarks - related to the Criddle and Vane families. Some of these documents are copies from materials held in the Archives of Manitoba, while others are copies of family records transcribed by Verna Vane Pannycook in 1976, and later given to Veldhuis. Other records were obtained from a private source and prepared by Oriole Vane Veldhuis.
The collection also includes two booklets containing Veldhuis's original and continued research. The first booklet outlines Veldhuis's motivation for beginning research on her great-grandmother's past, information on Elise that she received from relatives in Europe, and an account of Elise and Percy's years together before immigrating to Canada. The second booklet contains documentation of Veldhuis's travels in 2004 to Germany in search of further information on her German ancestors, as well as a general account of Heidelberg's history, and family trees for both the Veldhuis and Harrer families.
The collection also contains an article promoting For Elise in an issue of the Winnipeg Free Press (August 9, 2014), as well as two book reviews by Lois M. Wilson and Greg Pohl, an article regarding the Criddle Homestead by Neil Holiday, an interpretive trail brochure from the Criddle/Vane Homestead Heritage Committee, and a copy of For Elise (2nd edition).
Finally, the collection includes a DVD containing digital copies of Percy Criddle's diary from 1882-1918. The DVD contains 38 Word documents (one document for the London diary years [1876-1882] and one document per diary year for 1882-1918). It aolso contains the same diary entries broken down into three PDF documents: 1882-1890, 1891-1903 and 1904-1918. The original London diaries were transcribed by typewriter by Alma Criddle and converted into computer file by Myrna Paquette.
Notes
History/Bio information was taken from the records. The copies of Percy Criddle's diaries in the collection contain minor changes from Percy's original hand-written diaries housed in the Archives of Manitoba. The copies of Elise Vane's Homeseated files were obtained from the Archives of Manitoba and copied in the 1970s before they were converted to microfiche. Description by Caroline Stitt (October 2016)
Fleming School, located at 2320 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, was a part of the Brandon School Division from its creation in 1914 until its closure in 2005. The school was named to commemorate the life of pioneer Dr. Alexander Fleming. Fleming, who was a Scottish born immigrant, came to Brandon in 1881, where he worked as Brandon's first medical doctor and pharmacist. He also held the role of chairman for the Brandon School Board. Fleming died in Brandon on November 26, 1897.
Rapid population growth in the City of Brandon in the early part of the 20th century resulted in a need for additional school buildings; Fleming School was among the schools established during this period. Designed by W.H. Shillinglaw, the structure was constructed out of concrete, wood and brick, and included a basement. When the school first opened, it was composed of six classrooms; after two renovations in 1953 and 1962, the school expanded with more classrooms and a gymnasium. At the time of its closure, Fleming School could accommodate seven classes, covering grades kindergarten to grade six.
Around 2004, the Brandon School Division decided to close Fleming Elementary School. Prior to the closure a celebration was held on January 14, 2005, to honour the school's 90th Anniversary. Following the school's official closing, students were reallocated to Earl Oxford Elementary School (540 18th Street). Some of the former staff found work in other schools within the Division, while Craig Manson, the last principal of Fleming School, became principle of Green Acres Elementary School.
The building formerly used as Fleming Elementary School became a high school for the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in late 2006. The Band bought the building in late 2010.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by Fleming School staff and administration, many for the 90th anniversary and closing of the school. Craig Manson, the last principal of Fleming School, gave the records to David Wilson, who donated them to the S.J. McKee Archives in 2015.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records that document the history of Fleming School. Many of the records were created and gathered specifically by Craig Manson and others for the school's 90th anniversary; on November 19, 2006 an ad written by Grant Hamilton was placed in the Brandon Sun with Jean Pickard asking for potential archives from Fleming School to be donated by contacting Keith Heide at the Brandon School Division. The archives were to be used in a display on education in Brandon to be located in the Town Centre in June 2007. Other records were collected and created by the school's staff and administration to document the activities and student of their school.
Textual records include newspaper clippings, staff and administration lists (1914-2005), programs, calendars, correspondence, anecdotes, as well as records related to the events surrounding the 90th anniversary and the closure of the school. The 90th anniversary celebration materials include Craig Manson's speech and agenda, the lyrics to the school song, and a list of people in attendance. The newspaper clippings, with capture the experiences of Fleming students, are evidence of the staff's interest in the lives of their current and former students.
Also included in the textual records is in depth genealogical research for the Fleming family. The research includes birth and death dates, photographs of grave sites and residences of Fleming family members, as well as some correspondence around the school's 90th anniversary. The photographs in the album include both originals and photocopies.
Photographs in the collection, like the newspaper clippings, document the activities and events of Fleming School, its students and staff. They include candid's from the classroom, various ceremonies (including the 90th anniversary), and the celebration of holidays (especially Halloween). There are also a number of class and staff portraits.
The collection also includes audio visual materials. The VHS recording entitled "Fleming School 90th Birthday Tea," runs approximately 75 minutes and was videoed by Ian Carkener. The DVD, which runs 42 minutes, was created by the staff and students for the 90th anniversary celebration. It has three components: "Through the Decades" shows students re-enacting school scenes from earlier decades; "Students at Work and Play," shows the 2004-2005 students in their classroom environment during holiday celebrations, school ceremonies and working on assignments; and "Reflections," which includes a slide show of photographs of Fleming School throughout the years set to music.
Finally, the collection includes four artifacts: one 90th anniversary celebration balloon with an image of the school building and the its years of operation printed on it; a school magnet with the school phone number and an image of the brick school building; and two pins. The first pin is circular with a black background and gold details including the school's name, three silhouettes and three maple leaves. The second pin appears to have a hornet or bee emblem with the number 72.
Notes
History/bio information was taken from the records, as well as the Manitoba Historical Society's website (Alexander Fleming, Fleming School - accessed on September 30, 2016), the Brandon School Division website (Fleming School - accessed on September 30, 2016) and Grant Hamilton's article "Gathering school archives while they can" (Brandon Sun, November 19, 2006). Description by Megan Treloar (September 2016) and Christy Henry.
Some of the pages and photographs in the scrapbooks have become loose
History / Biographical
Verda Joan McDonald (nee Peden) was born in Brandon, MB on May 2, 1934. She was the middle daughter of Bill, a school principal, and Phyllis Peden. McDonald attended school at King George, Alexandra (now Betty Gibson), Earl Oxford and Brandon Collegiate Institute.
In 1951, McDonald enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at Brandon College. A fellowship program from the local YMCA enabled her to teach gym and swim programs after school and on Saturday for a small salary, which enabled her and some other students to finance their education. She graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During her graduating year, McDonald served as Lady Stick for Brandon College; the title of Lady Stick was an elected position and an honour, and gave McDonald and the person elected Senior Stick, Frank McKinnon, the responsibility of leading the student council for that year. In 1956, McDonald obtained her Bachelor of Pedagogy degree, also from Brandon College, which allowed her to teach grades 1 to 12 in Manitoba.
Verda married her college sweetheart, Dick McDonald, on August 25, 1956, and the couple moved to Dauphin to teach at the Dauphin Collegiate and Technical Institute for two years. They returned to Brandon in September 1958, and Verda proceeded to teach at Brandon Collegiate, Neelin High School and Vincent Massey until December 1960.
When Dick finished his degree at Brandon College and started teaching, Verda stayed at home to raise their three sons, Rick, Paul and Daren. During this time she began her many years of volunteering within the community. She served seven years on each of the following three boards: The Brandon Schools Instrumental Music Association; The Brandon University Alumni Board; and The Board of Fairview Nursing Home. She became President of each board during her term.
McDonald supported her husband throughouet his teaching and financial career, as well as his strong involvement in the Artillery Reserve Army with the 26th Field Regiment where he served as Commander and later Honorary Colonel. Both McDonald and her husband maintained strong ties with Brandon University and have contributed generously to funding campaign and scholarships. The Sports Wall of Fame in the Health Living Centre on the Brandon University campus is named in their honour.
In addition to their involvement with Brandon University, the McDonald's were members of the Kinsmen, K40 service club, gold and bridge clubs and enjoyed many years together in Brandon. They enjoyed going on cruise ship holidays and visited many countries together.
Since Dick's death in September 2015, Verda has tried to maintain her involvment in university activities. She continues to reside in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
Records were created and collected by Verda McDonald during her years as a student and alumna of Brandon College/Brandon University. The records were stored in her home until their donation to the McKee Archives in 2015.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records dealing with Verda McDonald's experiences as a student and alumna at Brandon College/University. The majority of the collection contains records from the early 1950s during McDonald's college years (1951-1955). These records, which cover the social and athletic aspects of Brandon College in the 1950s, provide a detailed look at college student life during this time period. The collection also contains a small number of records (1955-2005), documenting McDonald's experiences as an alumna of Brandon College/University.
The collection consists of four scrapbooks, which contain photographs, newspaper clippings, graduation cards, lyrics for class songs, and programs for graduation banquets, school dances, graduation ceremonies and drama productions. The scrapbooks also contain ephemera such as sports emblems, table decorations, election paraphernalia. It also includes McDonald's oath of office from when she was sworn in as Lady Stick, as well as her acceptance speech from the same ceremony.
The three file folders in the collection include: a list written by Frank McKinnon, a classmate of McDonald's, outlining his reasons for coming to Brandon College and his recollections of being a student at Brandon College; the rules of Clark Hall residence hall; and pamphlets for various celebrations and events at Brandon University (Homecoming 2009, Homecoming 2006, Reunion Weekend 2005, Reunion Weekend 2004, Homecoming 1995 and 1995 Reconovocation program, Homecoming 1980, 1975 Open House).
Finally, the collection contains 18 loose photographs. A number of the photos document important reunions for the Class of 1955 (40th Anniversary in 1995, 50th Anniversary in 2005), while others were taken at alumni events over the years (1988-1997). There is one postcard of Brandon University buildings (Original Building and Clark Hall, McMaster Hall and the Queen Elizabeth II School of Music building). Some of the 1995 reunion photos include images of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall under renovation. Also included are a composite portrait of the Class of 1955 and class portraits Arts and Science for the Class of 1960.
Notes
History/Bio information provided by Verda McDonald. Description by Emily Bate (October 2016) and Christy Henry.
The textual records and artefacts are in good condition. Many of the photographs are bent and the paper based photo albums have some tearing.
History / Biographical
Nadia Irene Lewis (nee Chernec) was born in Shoal Lake, MB on December 31, 1926. Shortly after her birth, Nadia was place in the care of a nurse in Brandon, BM while her parents were attempting to set up a home in the United States. Her mother was a teacher and her father was in training to become a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), but because they were unmarried and had a child out of wedlock, they both lost their jobs and felt they needed to start a new life in a different place. As they were driving up the Brandon Hill, they were tragically involved in a three car collision, which killed them both.
The nurse caring for the newborn baby girl and a social worker from the Children's Aid Society assigned to the case decided to palce Nadia in an orphange in Brandon. During her stay at the orphanage, the caretakers named her "Katy" after a popular song of the day and discovered that she really enjoyed music. Nicholas and Maria Chernec adopted "Katy" from the orphanage when she was 3 1/2 years old, and in her brief autobiography, Nadia wrote that she suspected that Nicholas Chernec was her biological uncle (her father's brother). In June 1929, baby "Katy" was christened "Nadia Irene Chernec."
According to Nadia's autobiography, Nicholas Chernec urged his wife Maria to adopt the baby for three years as she remained in the orphanage. Maria had suffered a fall from a ladder during their marriage and as a result, was unalbe to have children. Maria "was often quite ill" and id not want to raise another person's child, but eventually she agreed.
Both Nicholas and Maria were of Ukrainian descent, and therefore Nadia was raised with a knowledge of Ukrainian traditions and within the ukrainian community of Brandon, something that she embraced. Nadia grew up in Brandon's North End and graduated from the Normal School in 1945. She immediately began a teaching career that would last for 32 years, though she also worked in an office for three of those years. She married Alexander Mitchell Lewis on July 23, 1971 in Vancouver, BC. Alexander was a contractor and boat builder.
After Maria Chernec's death in September 1984, nadia began correspondence with Oseredok, the Ukranian Cultural and Educational Centre in Winnipeg, MB. She ultimately donated many traditional Ukrainian items to the Centre, including a painting much beloved by her father (who died in 1955) and garments handmade by her mother, thus preserving some of her family's cultural heritage.
As noted previously, Nadia loved music as a child and eventually learned to play the violin. She performed with several orchestras throughout her life, including the New Westminster Symphony and the Kitsilano Orchestra. in November 1998, she was diagnoed with trigeminal neuralgia, a neurological disorder that affects the nerves in the head. This disorder, which can cause unexpected and debilitating pain in the affected area, led to Nadia giving up driving, and ultimately, her violin playing. Through presecription drug experimentation under the supervision of her physican and neurologist, Nadia was eventually able to control the effects of the disease. Nadia Irene Lewis died on September 14, 2013 in Richemond, BC at the age of 86.
Custodial History
The collection was transferred to Ms. Lewis' lawyer after her death in 2013. The records were then given to Drew Mitchell, a distant cousing who had been named in her will. Mitchell donated the records to the McKee Archives in 2017.
Scope and Content
The collection was created by Nadia Chernec Lewis throughout the course of her adult life and chronicles her activities from her birth in Manitoba, and moves to British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, New Zealand and finally back to British Columbia where she died.
Collection consists of an autobiography, her parents' biographies (written by Nadia), vital records related to her family, correspondence with classmates from the Normal School and Oseredok and many photographs of Nadia, her friends and family. Some of the photograph depict Brandon and Brandon's North End. Also included in the collection is a set of wooden rosary beads and a doll dressed in traditional Ukrainian garments, handmade by Maria Chernec.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the records. Description by Megan Demarest (December 2018).
Language Note
English and Ukrainian
Finding Aid
A file list for the collection is available, as well as a photo inventory.
Storage Location
2018 accessions
Arrangement
Photographs 3-2017.5 through 3-2017.88 were in a card box labeled "Lewis Pictures (1956-'58, 1960's, 1970's)," which has been discarded.
Photographs 3-2017.89 through 3-2017.104 were in a candy box labeled "Pictures and Background Material in relation to Nicholas and Maria Chernec of Brandon, Manitoba . . . the Ukrainian Community in the 1930's-1940's mostly . . .," which has been discarded. An envelope in the box labeled "Ukrainian Shirt, History of . . ." contained a handwritten description of the shirt and its history along with photographs 3-2017.89 through 3-2017.94. The note is in Folder #6, Oseredok-Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre. Photographs 3-2017.95 through 3-2017.104 are Polaroids taken to document items that Ms. Lewis donated to Oseredok in 2000.
Photographs 3-2017.105 through 3-2017.152 were remeoved from a green self-adhesive photo album, which has been discarded.
Photographs 3-2017.153 thorough 3-2017.198 were removed from a self-adhesive photo album with a waterside lanscrape image on the front, which has been discarded.
An oversized photograph is any photograph that exceeds 8" x 11". In some cases the photograph itself is of regular size but the matting makes it oversize.
Scope and Content
Series consists of the oversize photographs in the Brandon University photograph collection. Many of the oversize pictures are class photos from the early years of Brandon College (1900-1930). The series also includes oversize portraits of important figures in the history of Brandon College and University, such as John R. Brodie, A.E. McKenzie, and J.R.C. Evans.
BUFA was formed in 1957 as an academic organization with its primary aim the entrenchment and protection of academic freedom.
In subsequent years, BUFA became more involved in promoting the economic, social and general interests of tis members. This process culminated in 1971 when BUFA obtained voluntary recognition as bargaining agent for its members from the University. The relationships between the Faculty and the university were governed by the "Faculty-Administration Brief" (the precursor to the present Collective Agreement).
A dispute arose between BUFA and the University in 1976, when BUFA requested that Instructional Associates be included in the bargaining unit and that the University deduct union dues. The University rejected BUFA's request. BUFA applied to the Manitoba Labour Board for resolution of the dispute. A Board hearing was held in Brandon on May 31, 1977.
At this hearing theLabour Board determined that, since the University had rejected BUFA's contention that it was a union, it would first have to answer the question: Is BUFA a union? In a decision dated June 16, 1977, the Board ruled "that BUFA is not a union; that following therefrom the faculty administration brief is not a collective agreement."
Following this ruling, BUFA launched a certification drive in September 1977. Application for certification was filed with the Labour Board October 17, 1977. In anticipation of a favorable certification ruling, Dennis Olson and Gerald Neufeld collected existing collective agreements from other universiities across Canada. They attempted to incorporate the best features from the old Faculty-Administration Brief and these other agreements into the first draft of the proposed collective agreement.
Certification was confirmed January 1978. The bargaining unit defined in the Certificate included: all full-time and part-time members of the academic, instructional and related staff at Brandon University kncluding laoratory insturctors, cartographers, counsellors, professional ibrarians, continuing education specialists and all other staff directly related to the teaching process. It also included sessional instructors.
Since certification in 1978, BUFA has attempted to function as a principled and effective union. These effors have included: establishing links with other unions and progressive organizations in the community; participating in the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations; vigorously pursuing member and union grievancess through to arbitration; advancing the rights and interests of members at the bargaining table; and promoting and protecting academic freedom.
The most recent chapter in BUFA's history was a successful strike in 1998, which started November 9th and ended at midnight November 11th.
The general objectives of BUFA are the advancement of higher education through the protection of the freedom that is necessary to it, and the improvement of the standards of the profession of University teaching. Its members include all full and part-time instructional staff of Brandon University and professional librarians.
Officers of BUFA include the: President, Past President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Elected by the General Body at the annual meeting in March. Associate members are not eligible to serve as officers.
Executive - officers and four members elected by the General Body to represent the Faculties of Arts, Science, Education and Music. Four elected at annual meeting. Acts as liasion between BUFA and the University Administration. May appoint committees chosen from the General Body to carry on routine affairs and to act in areas of special interest as directed by the General Body of by the Executive. The Standing Committee of BUFA is the Salary and Faculty-Administration Relations Committee - its duties are to represent the interests of BUFA in negotiating the salary schedule and other benefits and the Faculty-Administration Brief with the Board of Governors or its represntatives. The Vice-President of BUFA is to be the Chairman.
Scope and Content
Series contains minutes, collective agreements, reports, recommendations, correspondence, memos, newsletters, reference materials and various other documents.
Notes
BUFA is a separate corporate entity, but for administration purposes it has been incorporated into RG 6 Brandon University fonds. History/Bio information taken from BUFA promotional materials (File 37) and provided by Bruce Forrest (BUFA Executive) with the return of the signed donation form. Files 106-116 were extracted from the BUFA records and are in the possession of Ms. Eileen McFadden.
Jack Stothard was born on February 16, 1932 in Brandon, MB. He attended public schools in the city (Central School, Park School, and Earl Oxford) and graduated from Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI). Stothard married Velma Pollock in 1957 and together they had two daughters: Debra and Kimberly. Stothard was employed in the plumbing and heating business until 1960, when he joined Manitoba Hydro. In the course of his employment with Manitoba Hydro, he became Station Superintendent of the Brandon Generating Station. Stothard retired in 1995. Stothard was a member of the Canadian Numismatic Association, the Canadian Association of Token Collectors and the Toronto Postcard Club. Jack Stothard died on November 3, 2021 in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2003 was in the possession of Stothard until donated to the McKee Archives in 2003. Accession 12-2006 was acquired by Lawrence Stuckey at some point after the photograph was taken. Stuckey later sold a copy of the photograph. This copy was later acquired by Jack Stothard in the course of his collecting of Brandon postcards. Stothard donated the image to the McKee Archives in 2004. Accession 8-2007 was prepared by Jack Stothard in the course of 2007. He provided a copy to the Archives upon its completion. Accession 8-2008 was in the possession of Fred McGuinness until he gave jit to Jack Stothard in February 2008. Stothard donated the records to the McKee Archives on February 12, 2008. Accession 18-2008 was donated to the McKee Archives by Stothard on August 18, 2008. Accession 11-2009 was donated to the McKee Archives by Stothard on February 20, 2009. Accession 4-2012 was donated to the McKee Archives by Stothard on August 24, 2011. Accession 4-2013 was donated to the McKee Archives by Stothard in March 2013. Accession 8-2016 was donated to the McKee Archives by Stothard on January 21, 2015.
Scope and Content
Accession 1-2003 contains brief research reports prepared by Stothard on various topics concerning historical Brandon. These include: a listing of hotels, inns and motels that have operated in Brandon since the 1880s; reports dealing with the Café Aagard, Central United Church, the 1913 Dominion Exhibition, Brandon, the Empire Hotel, Brandon’s Central Steam Heating System, the Post Office and the Clement Block. It also contains one booklet: Facts About Brandon: An Industrial Survey of the City of Brandon. Winnipeg: Department of Industry and Commerce [n.d.]
Accession 12-2006 consists of one photograph of the Great Northern Engine 208, built by Rogers Locomotive Company 1887. Cylinders 18 x 24, Drivers 63". G.N. line Church's Ferry, N.D. to Brandon, Manitoba. Opened 1906, Closed 1936.
Accession 8-2007 consists of a brief typed report entitled "The Day the Lights Went Out in Brandon - Strike of 1919" by Jack Stothard. Document provides an account of the sources and delivery of hydro electric power to Brandon beginning in the early 1900s and the brief power outage at the beginning of the Brandon General Strike May 25, 1919.
Accession 8-2008 consists of "The Brandon Sun Challenge Cup" ledger, which contains two b/w photographs, newspaper clippings and information on the history and first race (1908) of the cup; 3 additional b/w photographs of different races; and the Brandon Old Timers Association record book (c. 1900).
Accession 18-2008 consists of a copy of Stothard's Brandon Postcards index. The index is divided into various sub-headings and consists of colored reproductions of postcards in Stothard's collection. The index contains pages that were discarded by Stothard as he updated his inventory, therefore the index is only up to date as of August 18, 2008.
Accession 11-2009 consists of a typed research report entitled "Brandon Police Department Stations and Locations" by Jack Stothard. The report outlines the location of the Brandon Police Department from 1882 - 2008, and also includes a section on "What the Future Holds."
Accession 4-2012 consists of pages for Stothard's Brandon Postcards index (18-2008) and a photocopy of a Brandon Municipal Railway ticket.
Accession 4-2013 consits of eight binders of handwritten notes/facts about Brandon compiled by Jack Stothard. The notes are a collection of names, places, things, events and items related mostly to the first 100 years of Brandon (1882-1982), although the notes continue into the 2000's. Some notes centre on the late 1930's to early 1950's during the period of Stothard's youth. The information in the binders was taken from a variety of publications, while some notes are Stothard's own comments. A list of sources, as well as a cross reference index for all eight binders, can be found in Book No. 1.
The accession includes: Book No. 1 - Notes of Brandon (A to B); Book No. 2 - Notes of Brandon (C to F); Book No. 3 - Notes of Brandon (G to O); Book No. 4 - Notes of Brandon (P to Z); Book No. 5 - Notes of Brandon: Churches, Hostpitals, Hotels; Book No. 6 - Notes of Brandon: Police Department, Fire Department; Book No. 7 - Notes of Brandon: Brandon City Council, City of Brandon etc.; Book No. 8 - Notes of Brandon: Brandon College/University, Brandon Schools, ACC, Brandon School Board. Accession also includes pages from Stothard's Brandon Postcards index (18-2008).
Accession 6-2016 consists of local history books, pamphlets, bakery tokens, local magazines, one binder containing handwritten notes/facts about Brandon compiled from the Brandon Sun's "Looking Back" column, and an accordian file box containing newspaper clippings about Brandon.
The accession includes the following local history books: Betty Watson's "One Day in Brandon Manitoba 9/9/99" (Brandon, Manitoba: Bart Art Books, 1999); P.N. Breton's "Popular Illustrated Guide to Canadian Coins, Medals, &. &.," (Winnipeg: Canadian Numismatic Publishing Institute, 1963 [reprint]); "Facts About Brandon: An Industrial Survey of the City of Brandon," (Province of Manitoba: Department of Industry and Commerce, [1946]); The Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol's "75th Anniversary: From the Past to the Future!" ([Brandon, Manitoba: Polish Gymnastic Association Sokol, 1988]); and Brandon Kinsmen Club's "'Together...Once Again': A History of the Kinsmen Club of Brandon, Manitoba, 1925-1975 (Brandon, Manitoba: The Historical Committee of the Kinsmen Club of Brandon, 1975).
Pamplets and magazines include: Brandon Generating Station (1957) and (1969), The Brandon Quota Club presents...A Century in Revue (1982), Canadian Rail No. 168/July-August 1965 [featuring Brandon Municipal Railway], Prairie City Issue No. 3/1994, and Prairion May/June 1997.
The binder is titled Book No. 9 - "Year by year: miscellaneous items from 1969 to 2000"; an asterik (*) indicates notes have been made on each subject or item in the other Books. Each section is housed in
The files in the accordian file box have been rehoused and include the following topics: banks, Brandon 125 beer, Behlen Industries, breweries, Brandon Shoppers' Mall, calendars, Canadian Motors Ltd., Canexus/Nexen, Canada Games - Summer and Winter, Canadian Tire, CKX Radio & TV/CKLQ, Corral Centre, flour mills, hospitals, Keystone, Maple Leaf, Fred McGuinness, miscellaneous, A.E. McKenzie, people, railways, Simplot, Westman Recycling (new facility), weather-storms-floods, and extra copies of postcards.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry. Accession 4-2013: Book No. 1 contains a photocopied photograph of Aagaard's Cafe, photographs of the Dominion Bank and Barney's Drive Inn and a photo reproduction of the Bass Building. Book No. 2 contains a photograph of the Provincial Goal. Book No. 3 contains photographs of T. Eaton Company (4 construction photos) and a photo reproduction of tents on the Exhibition grounds (c. 1940). Book No. 4 contains photoraphs of the Oak Theatre and Western Motors. There are also photopied photographs of The Fun Shop.
The “Act to Incorporate Brandon College” was assented to on June 1, 1900 and specified that the Board of Directors would consist of 21 members. The Board was to control all financial matters of the College, though all decisions had to meet the approval of the Baptist Convention.
The first officers of the Board were a Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The minutes also refer to a “President,” separate from the Principal, but does not define the President’s duties. The Principal was a member ex-officio of the Board. The first duty of the Board was to create an executive consisting of all Brandon members of the Board. The main function of the executive was the operation of the College and transaction of all business arising between Board meetings.
In pursuit of a separate university charter, the Board reorganized its affairs in 1910, appointing an investment committee, a Bursar and a Registrar. The Principal was renamed “President,” and was appointed Chairman of the Executive. The university charter was denied, leading the Board to seek affiliation with McMaster University. The Board of Directors during this time was forced to take a more active role in directing college affairs. In November 1910, the Board moved: ...that the officers of the Board be authorized to make such application for such amendments to the Charter as seem necessary and advisable.
This decision led the Board to draw up the Act to Amend An Act to Incorporate Brandon College which, by 1915, granted the Board authority over all College affairs, following the stated direction of the Baptist Convention.
On May 5, 1916 a nominating committee was struck to name the persons and mandate of all new committees.
During the existence of the Board prior to 1967 the following committees were created:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
In 1918, the Board defined the functions of the Executive Committee as:
The Board of Brandon College shall at its organization meeting each year appoint from among its members an Executive of not less than seven in number. The Executive shall be responsible to the Board and shall exercise all the powers usually incidental to an Executive other than those delegated to the Finance Committee and Endowment Fund Committee, which two Committees shall also be responsible to the Board direct.
FINANCE COMMITTEE, 1918-1926
The Finance Committee was to consist of no fewer than seven members which:
...shall be responsible to the Board and shall under the Board have the general oversight and control of the financial policy of the College insofar as the raising of funds is concerned. The Finance Committee shall not have the power to make any expenditures except such as it may deem necessary to incur in connection with its efforts in raising funds. The Finance Committee shall report to the Board of the College at each meeting of the Board and for the purpose of keeping the Executive in close touch with its activities and of enabling the two committees to work in closest cooperation shall transmit to the Executive a copy of the minutes of each of its meetings to be read at the regular meetings of the Executive and shall give account of the progress made by the Finance Committee and generally of its plans for the future. Members of the Finance Committee shall not all necessarily be members of the Board.
ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE, 1918-1926
The Endowment Fund Committee was created by the following resolution:
The Board of Brandon College shall at its Organization Meeting each year appoint an Endowment Fund Committee which shall under the Board manage the Endowment Fund and direct the re-investment of its principal. The Endowment Fund Committee shall consist of not less than three members who shall not all necessarily be members of the Board.
The creation of the latter two committees was significant because it was the first time that Brandon citizens, not necessarily Baptists, were brought into the administration.
HOUSE AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE, 1923-1926
NEW INSTRUCTORS COMMITTEE, 1923-1936
ADVERTISING COMMITTEE, 1923-1936
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE, 1926-1936
TEACHERS COMMITTEE, 1929-1936
GENERAL PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, 1930-1936
By 1936, however, all Committees were abandoned as Brandon College struggled for its financial survival. After the Baptist Convention withdrew all of its support in 1938, a Provisional Board was established through the Brandon Board of Trade to negotiate with the government for the transfer of Brandon College to the Government of Manitoba. The provisional board succeeded in gathering the needed support for government intervention, and resurrected the College under “An Act to Incorporate Brandon College Incorporated.”
The new Board of Directors was appointed October 11, 1939 during a general shareholders meeting. The officers of the Board were a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer. There were also six new standing committees appointed, with mandates listed under clause 16 of by-law 1:
FINANCE COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty it shall be to oversee the finances of the Corporation and make recommendations to the Board as to investments of Monies received for endowment or scholarship purposes, and to prepare and submit the annual budget.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... who shall have general supervision of the real and personal property of the Corporation.
ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to obtain a student body for the College, to co-operate with the President and Faculty for such purpose and report to the Board as may be required from time to time.
FACULTY COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to make preliminary arrangements for the engagement of teachers and who shall make recommendations to the Board for consideration in the engagement of such teachers.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to maintain the membership of the Corporation and see that proper records of the same are maintained.
ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to obtain endowments for the future operation of the College and to obtain gifts for scholarship purposes.
In 1942 the Public Relations and Progress Committee was established and a Public Relations Officer was hired. A Consultant Committee was appointed in 1948 with the sole purpose of overseeing the transfer of McKenzie Seeds to the provincial government for financial support through the McKenzie Foundation.
Scope and Content
Series consists mainly of minutes of meetings and correspondence between various Board members and the College. It is a very detailed and descriptive compilation of the decision-making processes at a higher education institution. There are copies of minutes from the Executive Committee in amongst the general Board Minutes. Series also contains a copy of an appraisment of Brandon College Inc. by the General Appraisal Company Ltd. (Vancouver) completed in 1957.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 1: Board of Directors
Arrangement
Series has been divided into one sub-series: (1) Minutes of General Board Meetings.
The Office of the President of Brandon College was established in 1899 under the title of Principal. The Principal was the head of the Academic Department and the Administrative body. In 1910, the position of Principal was changed to the position of President. There is no documented reason given for this change, but it was consistent with other universities and colleges at the time. When the institution was first organized in 1899, the role of the Principal was quite varied. It was the Principal who acted as both Registrar and Bursar, in addition to his duties as head of administration. The Principal also acted as a professor. It was the Principal who kept the college in contact with the Baptist Union. The Principal also acted as the liaison between the Board of Directors and the Senate, being an ex-officio member of both. In 1910, the roles of Registrar and Bursar were no longer the responsibility of the President. In the 1920’s the President became increasingly involved with fundraising and traveled extensively in search of financial support.
In 1938, following the “Act to Incorporate Brandon College Incorporated,” the Board of Directors, under by-law #1, assigned the President with “the internal management of the business of the Corporation insofar as it relates to the students, teaching and office staff shall be under the direct supervision of the President, subject to the order of the Board.” In 1965 the President’s Office was created, consisting of the President, Executive Assistant to the President (later Deputy to the President), and Secretary to the President who was also the Public Relations Assistant. From 1899 until 1967 the Office of the President was administered by six different men.
Scope and Content
Series consists of records generated and collected by various presidents. The series has been divided into six sub-series, including: (1) Dr. Archibald P. McDiarmid; (2) Dr. Howard Primrose Whidden; (3) Dr. Franklin W. Sweet; (4) Dr. David Bovington; (5) Dr. John Robert Charles Evans; and (6) Dr. John E. Robbins.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 2: Office of the Principal/President
The Office of the Bursar was created in 1910. As head of financial affairs, a Bursar was more compatible to the administrative framework of other universities in Canada. The initial duties of the Bursar were the collection of all fees, control of funds and disbursements, donations, purchasing, supervision of grounds, and progressive measures in the investment of funds and the enlargement of finances. By 1913, the Bursar was also in charge of the book department, boarding, grounds and gardens, buildings and heating plant.
By 1924, the Bursar had become so involved in the management of College affairs that the Board established a committee to examine the functions of the President and the Bursar “with a view to readjustment for efficiency.” The committee presented its report later that year, clearly defining nine functions of the Bursar. These functions were the keeping of books, banking, general handling of student fees and accounts, general handling of all trade accounts, handling of maintenance and extension movement pledge cards and receipts, general responsibility for the purchase of all supplies, supervision of fireman and janitor, supervision of buildings and grounds and the submission of a monthly report to the Secretary of the Executive. In 1929, the Bursar took on the role of Secretary to the Executive.
At several times during the history of Brandon College the Bursar and the Registrar were combined into one job.
BRANDON COLLEGE BURSARS:
R.J. KENNEDY (1910 - 1911)
No biographical information yet.
S.J. MCKEE (1911-1913, 1914-1915, 1919-1920)
Information about S.J. McKee can be found under the heading MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Learning.
C.W. JACKSON (1913 - 1914)
No biographical information yet.
JOHN HARRIS MCKEE (1915 - 1918)
J.H. McKee was S.J. McKee’s son. He was born in Ingersoll, Ontario. He moved to Rapid City in 1881 with his family. In 1890 he moved to Brandon where his father opened McKee’s Academy. Harris attended Brandon College, graduating in 1914. When the war broke out he was not medically able to participate. He then took a position as Brandon College Bursar. In 1918, Harris resigned from his job to take up farming. He had several bouts of bad luck: drought, grasshoppers, frost, and other farming catastrophes, and was not too successful, having a list of 50 creditors at one point.
GEORGE H. ROSS (1918 - 1919)
Little is known so far about George Ross. He was a teacher before coming to Brandon College. He taught in Chatham, Ontario for a while, as well as at the Rider Moore College of Business in Trenton, NJ. From 1914-1919 Ross was also the Director of the Business Department at Brandon College.
S. EVERTON (1920 - 1923)
No biographical information yet.
E. SCOTT EATON (1923 - 1931)
E. Scott Eaton was born in Auburn. He graduated from Acadia University in 1903 and the Maritime Business College in 1904. Eaton then taught at the Maritime Business College and the Charlottetown Business College. For a time he was head of the Business Department at Alberta College. Eaton was the owner/manager of the Success Business College in Vancouver before coming to Brandon College. He occupied this position from 1923 until 1931. In 1931 he became purchasing agent and the superintendent of buildings and grounds at Acadia University. He became an accountant at H.T. Warne Ltd. in Digby, NS in 1940. Around 1953, Eaton became the Town Clerk of Digby. Eaton died at the age of 80 around 1962.
M.S. DONOVAN (1931 - 1936, 1939 - 1948)
No biographical information yet.
N. KEITH MCKINNON (1936 - 1939)
Keith McKinnon was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. After working in Weyburn he attended Brandon College, specializing in Political Economy. He was very active in all aspects of students affairs and was elected Senior Stick in his final year. He was appointed to the position of Registrar following his graduation from Brandon College.
D.R. MACKAY (1948 - Brandon University)
Information about D.R. MacKay can be found under the Office of the Registrar.
Scope and Content
The Bursar series revolves around the finances of the school. There are invoices from general accounts, letters from businesses, and receipts for payments. There are also numerous student accounts, wage lists and letters regarding teachers’ salaries. The Bursar did a lot of the correspondence regarding mortgages, estates, property, and other legal matters. The series is mainly correspondence to and from the Bursar regarding accounts, overdue accounts, pleas for financial support and numerous other matters. As well, there are financial statements, fundraising lists, and subscription lists. The series is not broken down by Bursar, but instead is grouped together chronologically.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 3: Office of the Bursar
Arrangement
Series has been divided into seven sub-series, including: (1) R.J. Kennedy; (2) S.J. McKee; (3) C.W. Jackson; (4) John Harris McKee; (5) George H. Ross; (6) S. Everton; and (7) E. Scott Eaton.
The Office of the Registrar was created in 1910. The person in the Registrar’s position was in charge of many aspects of administration. The Registrar was to be drawn from the united departments of Arts and Theology and had four main functions:
1. To have charge (in conference with the President) of all correspondence with prospective students and with previously registered students of the College, in respect to courses of study.
2. To receive students from the Heads of the several Faculties, these Heads of Faculties having indicated by card the department and to register the student and furnish him with a card to the Bursar of the College indicating the fees called for by the course or courses of study, for which the student is registered.
3. To record the class standings of students from the reports furnished by the instructors.
4. To furnish the President with certified copies of such reports as are called for by the terms of affiliation with McMaster, or as he may otherwise require.
Along with these specific functions the Registrar was an officer of the Board of Directors, the Executive, an ex-officia member of the Senate and College Council. The Registrar also acted as the liaison between Brandon College and McMaster University. Following the “Act to Incorporate Brandon College Incorporated” in 1939, the Registrar became Secretary of the Senate and liaison between Brandon College and the University of Manitoba. From the period 1910 to 1967 there was no less than ten Registrars, many of them also taking on the task of Bursar.
BRANDON COLLEGE REGISTRARS:
S.J. MCKEE (1910-1920)
Information on S.J. McKee can be found under the heading MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Learning.
S. EVERTON (1920-1923)
No biographical information yet.
L.S. JOHNSTON (1923-1924)
No biographical information yet.
CYRIL F. RICHARDS (1924-1935)
Cyril Fuller Richards was born in Dunedin, New Zeland. He came to America in 1905, taking his college prepatory work at the academy of Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon. Richards spent seven years at Linfield College, four as he earned his B.Sc. and three as an instructor in biology. During that time he also became a naturalized American citizen and married Alice Louise Wood. Together they had one child, Margaret Ruth, who died in 1943.
After leaving Linfield College, Richards obtained his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School. In 1924, he joined the faculty of Brandon College as Registrar and Professor of Psychology and Philosophy. Richards left the Registar position in 1935 to take over as College Dean. During his years at Brandon College, he also received his M.A. from the University of Manitoba (1935).
In 1937, Richards accepted the position of Dean of Men at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Richards held this position until 1945, having been appointed Dean of the College there the preceding year. In 1950-1951, he served as acting President of Denison, becoming Vice-President following the appointment of the new president. Richards recieved an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Linfield College in 1947.
Cyril Fuller Richards died in September 1954 at the age of 59 in Granville, Ohio.
M.S. DONOVAN (1935-1936)
No biographical information yet.
N. KEITH MCKINNON (1936-1938)
Information can be found under the heading Office of the Bursar.
H. STEWART PERDUE (1938-1948)
Information on Dr. Perdue can be found under the heading Office of the College Dean.
D.R. MACKAY (1948-1962)
D.R. MacKay was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He graduated from Brandon College in 1939. MacKay served in the Canadian Army in Canada and Overseas from 1940 to 1947. He was appointed Registrar/Bursar in 1948. MacKay also served as Comptroller, Public Relations Officer, Director of Development and Secretary to the Board of Governors. He remained as Bursar until after Brandon College became Brandon University. He received the Alumni Award in 1974, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1981. MacKay retired in 1984, then served on the Brandon University Foundation Board of Directors. He died on April 1, 1990.
NORMA E. WALMSLEY (1962-1964)
Dr. Walmsley served in the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division in World War II. At the time she became Registrar she was an Associate Professor of Political Science. In 1964, Walmsley resigned as Registrar to accept a position on the Research Branch of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.
L.F. PELTZ (1965-Brandon University)
No biographical information yet.
Scope and Content
This series is primarily correspondence between the Registrar of Brandon College and various other people. The letters deal with students, examinations, curriculum, scholarships, and tuition. The Registrar was the liaison between McMaster University and the University of Manitoba when dealing with subject matter during the time that Brandon College was affiliated with these schools. There is a great deal of correspondence between the Brandon College Registrars and the Registrars from these schools. The series also includes correspondence to students from the Registrar regarding room and board at the College. Student and class standings are also included in this collection. Most of the student records are arranged alphabetically by year.
Notes
History/Bio information on C.F. Richards taken from a Brandon Sun article (September 8, 1954).
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 4: Office of the Registrar
Related Material
See RG 6, sub series 4.2 (Office of the Vice-President (Administration & Finance), RG 6, series 10 (Office of Development) and MG 3 1.9 Don MacKay for additional records related to D.R. MacKay.
Arrangement
Series has been divided into eleven sub-series, including: (1) S.J. McKee; (2) S. Everton; (3) L.S. Johnston; (4) Cyril F. Richards; (5) M.S. Donovan; (6) N. Keith McKinnon; (7) H. Stewart Perdue; (8) D.R. MacKay; (9) Norma E. Walmsley; (10) L.F. Peltz; and (11) Registration cards.
The Brandon College Senate was created in 1900 under “An Act to Incorporate Brandon College.” At the time, however, the Senate was not given a clear policy mandate. The Act stated: The Professors in said College, together with three members of the Board of Directors nominated by the said Board for that purpose, shall constitute the Senate, to whom shall be entrusted the reception, academical superintendence and discipline of the students and of all other persons within the said College.
Despite general authority over the discipline of students, measures to enforce discipline and the power to appoint or remove professors rested with the Baptist Convention. As a result, the Senate remained largely ineffective until 1910 when the Board re-defined their function as follows: The Senate be composed of the Council of the College together with three members appointed by the Board of Directors. That this body shall be responsible for all matters that concern the determination of the curriculum, the recommendations to the Board regarding appointments of instructors in subjects otherwise specifically assigned to individual members of the several faculties.
These new powers provided the Senate with a rational boundary of authority including some control over the curriculum, but its main function was still recommendations to the Board on matters concerning faculty. There are no known documents regarding the Brandon College Council, which existed from 1910 to 1915. Affiliation with McMaster was a contentious issue with faculty. Courses had to correspond with those in McMaster, effectively eliminating the Brandon College Senate from its authority over academic matters.
In 1915 the Senate was re-organized following the “Act to Amend An Act to Incorporate Brandon College.” With this reorganization the Senate assumed a more direct role in the selection of faculty and tutors. As well, the Senate became a stronger advisory body of the faculty.
The Brandon College Senate remained relatively unchanged until 1939 when, under by-law 1, the Board defined the Senate functions as:
Power to regulate instructions and to determine the methods and limits of instructors.
To prepare a calendar of the College for publication.
To recommend to the Board the establishment or abolition of, or any changes in departments, chairs, lecture-ships, bursaries, scholarships and prizes, and generally have charge of all matters of an academic character, but shall not have any power to incur any expenditures or liabilities on behalf of the Corporation until specifically authorized by resolution of the Directors, nor shall their powers be construed as authority to engage teachers for the Corporation.
Along with these functions the Senate was also the body that possessed the binding authority to deal with all academic grievances.
The Senate under the new Charter and by-law 1, consisted of the President, Chairman of the Board, seven members from the faculty (including President and Registrar), and six members from the Alumni. The Registrar was to act as Secretary.
The Senate was changed once more in 1959. This change led to a more significant role in the administration of Brandon College.
Scope and Content
These records consist mainly of minutes from various faculty council and executive meetings from 1900 to 1942 including Arts, Science and Theology faculties. Included as well are Minutes of the Ministerial Committee of the Baptist Union of Western Canada As well, there are University of Manitoba Senate Minutes dating from 1950 to 1958.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 5: Brandon College Senate
The Brandon College Dean was the head of the College in the absence of the President. It was created in 1925 after the sudden passing of Dr. Sweet. Dr. Harris MacNeill, who had been Dean in Arts up until that time assumed the position of College Dean. The duties of the College Dean were as follows:
1. In the absence of the President of the College he shall exercise the functions of the President in relation to all “inside” College matters; it being understood that frequently it may be necessary for him to exercise his personal judgment apart from anything that may be specified in this memorandum.
2. With respect to matters of special importance arising unexpectedly he shall consult with the Chairman of the Board, or by telegram with the President, or both.
3. All questions arising that have a direct connection with the “business” aspects of College affairs shall naturally be referred to the Chairman of the Board, or the President, or both.
4. In the absence of the President he shall preside at all Faculty meetings, Committee meetings of which the President is Chairman, and shall attend meetings of Committees of which the President is an ex-officio member.
5. In the President’s absence he shall preside at the regular Chapel Exercises and at special College gatherings in the Chapel at which the President would naturally be expected to preside.
6. He shall also keep in touch with the work of the several departments of the College and shall consult frequently with the Heads of such departments.
7. While the Lady Principal and the Resident Master are responsible for the detailed administration and discipline of the College life and activities of Clark Hall and Brandon College respectively, the College Dean shall have the absent President’s responsibility for the general discipline of the College in respect of the students’ relation to Courses of Study, Corridor, Campus, etc.
8. That the President when absent may be kept in touch with the work of the Institution it is desirable that the College Dean keep him informed of the more important happenings and problems with College life.
9. Throughout the Session the College Dean shall be Registering Head of the Arts Department.
The position of College Dean continued until 1952. In 1952 the position became known as the Dean of Arts and Science. In 1963, another change occurred, with the two departments going separate ways. From that time on there was both a Dean of Arts and a Dean of Science.
BRANDON COLLEGE DEANS:
HARRIS LACHLAN MACNEILL (1925, 1926-1928)
Dr. MacNeill was born in Paisley, ON on November 29 or 30, 1871, the son of Rev. Donald and Amanda (Hemenway) MacNeill. He received his B.A. from McMaster University in 1894. He was also educated at the Ontario College of Pedagogy and the University of Toronto. From 1895 until 1898 he was a teacher at Woodstock College. In 1899 he married Anne Hatch. From 1899 until 1903 he was a professor of Latin at Washburn College in Topeka, Kansas. In 1903 he accepted an offer to teach Latin and German at Brandon College. In 1909 he was a Professor of the New Testament, Language and Literature, as well as Resident Master. Dr. MacNeill was the Academy Principal for two years. He then received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1911. MacNeill acted as the Dean of Arts from 1912 until 1930. Dr. MacNeill was the central figure in the scandal involving Brandon College in the early 1920’s. The Fundamentalist Baptists accused Brandon College, and Dr. MacNeill especially, of teaching Modernist views. He was absolved of any charges at the 1924 Baptist Convention in Chicago.
Dr. MacNeill was Acting President of Brandon College after Dr. Sweet died for the period from January 1925 until Dr. Bovington was hired in August 1925. After Dr. Bovington resigned in May of 1926, Dr. MacNeill again accepted the position of Acting President from May 1926 until April 3, 1928, when he retired as College Dean. Dr. MacNeill taught Latin and Greek for two more years then retired from Brandon College in 1930. He accepted a position at Fairview Church in Vancouver, B.C. where he remained until 1932. In 1932 he was offered a teaching position at McMaster University. He married his second wife, Vera Leech, in 1939. He remained at McMaster teaching New Testament Interpretation until 1943 when he retired. Dr. MacNeill was the first person to receive an honorary degree from Brandon University in 1967. He continued to do religious research until his eyesight failed at age 97. On January 15, 1974, Dr. MacNeill died at the Chedoke Hospital at the age of 102.
JOHN ROBERT CHARLES EVANS (1928)
Information on J.R.C. Evans can be found under the heading Office of the President.
W. BURTON HURD (1929-1935)
No biographical information yet.
C.F. RICHARDS (1935-1937)
Information on C.F. Richards can be found under the heading Office of the Registrar.
REV. EVAN M. WHIDDEN (1937-1938)
See MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Administration, 1.8 Evan McDonald Whidden fonds for biographical information and additional records related to Rev. Evan M. Whidden.
A. HAYWARD FOSTER (1938-1939)
No biographical information yet.
F.J. WESTCOTT (1939-1945)
Frederick James Westcott was born in Douglas, Manitoba. He began taking classes in the Academy at Brandon College in 1918. He entered the Arts course in 1921 and specialized in Political Economy. He received the Special Political Economy Medal in his final year. He was very active on committees and associations, as well as sports. Westcott served as the Senior Stick during the school term 1924-1925. He graduated with his B.A. from Brandon College in 1925.
Westcott received the position of Student Assistant in the Academy the following year. He left soon after to pursue post-graduate work. He received his M.A. in economics from Harvard and spent two years at the University of Toronto on a teaching scholarship in economics, completing the course work leading to the Ph.D. degree. In 1929, he returned to Brandon College and took up the position of Associate Professor of Political Economy. It was also in 1929, that Westcott married Rose Vasey, a 1926 Brandon College graduate. The following year, Westcott was the Resident Master of Brandon College, as well as being an Instructor in Political Economy and Sociology. The Resident Master position only lasted the one school year. He accepted the post of Acting Dean of Arts and Science in 1939. From 1942 until 1945 he was away on military leave with the National War Finance Committee. He resigned from the position of College Dean in 1945. From 1945 on Westcott and his family resided in Toronto. He died suddenly in 1961.
HENRY STEWART PERDUE (1947-1952)
Dr. Perdue was born in 1904 near Souris. He graduated from the Souris Collegiate in 1920. After working several odd jobs, Dr. Perdue entered Brandon College in 1924. He graduated with his B.A. in 1928. After graduation, Dr. Perdue was hired as a teacher in the Academic Department. He received his M.A. in 1930, and went on to receive his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Chicago. In 1930, Dr. Perdue became the Director of the Matriculation Department as well as an Instructor in Geology. In 1931, he took over the position of Resident Master. In 1937, he married Ella May Higgens, who was the Resident Nurse. From 1938 until 1948, Dr. Perdue acted as Registrar of Brandon College.
In 1947, Dr. Perdue accepted the position of College Dean. This position ran until 1952, when it was changed to the position of Dean of Arts and Science. Dr. Perdue also held this position until 1962, when the office separated into the Dean of Arts and the Dean of Science. Dr. Perdue continued in the position of Dean of Science until 1967. After Dr. Evans death in July of 1959, Dr. Perdue became Acting President. He held this position from August 1959 until August 1960, when Dr. Robbins was appointed President. Dr. Perdue retired from teaching Geology in 1973. He died on December 22, 1979 at the age of 75.
DEAN OF ARTS AND SCIENCE:
H.S. PERDUE (1952-1963)
Information on H.S. Perdue can be found under the heading College Dean.
DEAN OF ARTS
R.F.B. KING (1963 - Brandon University)
Information on R.F.B. King can be found under RG 6 Brandon University fonds, sub-sub series 7.1.1 Dean of Arts.
DEAN OF SCIENCE:
H.S. PERDUE (1963-1967)
Information of H.S. Perdue can be found under the heading College Dean.
Scope and Content
The series consists of records from MacNeill's term as College Dean (1921-1928). It also includes correspondence during the time that MacNeill was Acting President. It contains letters to and from MacNeill regarding examinations, students, business, and finances. Some earlier letters also include correspondence regarding the controversy MacNeill was in during the Baptist Fundamentalist/Modernist Debate in the early 1920’s.
Records from Evans' term as Acting Dean have been included in his Presidents' files. There are no records from the terms of the other College Deans, except R.F.B. King; his records have been encorporated into RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), 7.1.1 (Dean of Arts).
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 6: Office of the College Dean
Related Material
RG 6, sub sub series 7.1.1 (Dean of Arts) for additional Dean's records and RG 6, series 9 (Department of Extension) for additional records related to H.S. Perdue.
The Brandon College Alumni Association was created in the spring of 1912. The Arts Class of 1912, the Theological graduates and also the Ad Eundem graduates met together with old graduates who were in the city. It was decided to form an Alumni Association of Brandon College open to all Arts and Theological graduates, past, present and future, as well as those admitted Ad Eundem. An executive was elected, Reverend J.C. Bowen of Winnipeg being appointed President, and J. Dempsey, Class of 1912, Secretary. The matter of drawing up a constitution was left to the executive.
A meeting was held by the executive on November 21, 1912 in order to discuss membership into the Association. A resolution was eventually passed that approved the basis set down the previous spring: All Arts, Theological and Ad Eundem graduates were to be admitted into the Association.
The Alumni Association was created by students in order for graduates and former students of Brandon College to maintain contact with the College and each other and to promote the College’s interests.
The Alumni Association’s activities included: publication of the quarterly Alumni News, mailed to all members and associate members; administration of the Alumni-contributed $17 000 J.R.C. Evans (Memorial) Student Loan Fund, providing interest free loans to worthy students; representation on Brandon College Board of Directors; contributions to College expansion; organization of Association branches in major cities and of social events for Alumni members.
Scope and Content
The records of the Alumni include newsletters, "Alumni News," and various other documents dealing with the association.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 7: Brandon College Alumni Association
The first organization involving the students of Brandon College was created in 1899 or 1900. It was entitled the Literary Society. This society was run by students and faculty to cultivate literary and musical gifts and to provide training in public speaking and in the transaction of business. In 1901, a College branch of the Y.W.C.A. was formed as well as a Students’ Missionary organization. A College branch of the Y.M.C.A. followed in 1902. The Brandon College Athletic Association was created in 1904 to direct the affairs of the various athletic games.
The first idea of a Student Council-type organization began in 1906 with the creation of the Students’ Committee. This committee was created in order to develop a worthy College spirit and to promote a worthy College life.
“A committee of five students shall be appointed annually early in the college session whose office it shall be to confer with the Resident Master on matters pertaining to residential life, and with the Faculty on matters pertaining to the general life of the College. This committee shall consist of five members, three resident and two non-resident. In matters relating to the residence the three resident students alone shall act. This committee shall represent the Student Body in any matters in which that body may wish to confer with the Faculty, or may of its own motion confer with the faculty on any subject thought to be of interest in promoting proper College life.”
In 1909 the Debating Society was created for training in public speaking. A Publications Committee was created in 1910 to publish the new student magazine, The Quill. The Students’ Committee became known as the Student Council in 1915. Also in 1915, a Committee on College Activities was formed. This consisted of the President, two faculty members and two students. It was appointed by arrangement of the College Council each year to regulate the various activities of College life. It became known as the Functions Committee in 1921.
The 1920-1921 College Calendar is the first calendar that mentions the Brandon College Students Association. It states under the heading of Student Organizations that:
“The Literary and Debating Societies , the Athletic Association, the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. are integral parts of the Brandon College Students’ Association, and are managed by committees appointed by the Association.”
1921 saw the formation of the Students’ Christian Movement which replaced the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. Under the Students’ Christian Movement group, students held weekly devotional and educational services, and conducted Bible and mission study classes.
The 1936-1937 College Calendar shows that a change took place that year in the student council. Instead of just five students of the College being elected to the Council, there are now two separate councils. The calendar states that:
“The students of the men’s and of the womens’ residences appoint annually a representative committee of five, whose function it is to consider the interests of College life from the point of view of the residence body, conferring with the Faculty when necessary.”
Although these groups of five were known as the student council, there was a Student Executive of the Brandon College Students Association that was a separate entity. It consisted of the Senior Stick, the Lady Stick (since 1923), the heads of various boards, and the class presidents. This governing student body continued until 1966 when it underwent an extensive reorganization. During that year, the positions of Senior and Lady Sticks were abolished so that the elected student president could be a man or a woman. This president would be assisted by elected ‘sticks’ from each faculty of Arts, Science, Education and Music. This form of government continued until 1967, when Brandon College became Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The Student Association files cover a wide variety of topics and consist mainly of minutes from various student groups and clubs on the Brandon College campus. The records are a first hand look at how student governments were run during the Brandon College era.
Series has been divided into twenty four sub-series, including: (1) Lady Stick's Notes; (2) Memorial Gymnasium Book; (3) Minutes (Literary Board); (4) Expansion Fund Committee; (5) Athletic Board Finance; (6) Finance Board; (7) Main Executive Committee; (8) Functions Committee; (9) Athletic Association/Athletic Board; (10) Contemporary Club; (11) Social Science Club; (12) BCSA Records; (13) Co-Ed Association; (14) English Club; (15) Sports Awards; (16) Record of Social Events; (17) Brandon College Ministerial Association; (18) Ledgers; (19) Freshie Week Committee; (20) Arts Banquet Committee; (21) French Club; (22) Intervarsity Night Report; (23) Publications Committee; and (24) Student Missionary Band.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 14 (BUSU - Brandon University Students Union).
Clark Hall was built in 1906 as a women’s residence. The name comes from Dr. C.W. Clark, a physician who believed that women should be as highly educated as possible. To that end, he donated $30 000 of the $40 000 dollars needed to construct the building. The residence opened on October 18, 1906 with Miss Ernestine R. Whiteside presiding as Lady Principal.
With the building of Clark Hall came new departments geared towards young women. A Music and Arts department was started, as was a Physical Culture and Expression department. The residence was soon full, and in 1911 the first Clark Hall Annex was created to house 25 women who could not get into Clark Hall proper. This annex was located at 1335 Lorne Ave., and it is still in existence today. The second Clark Hall Annex, that replaced the first, was located on Louise Ave. It is also still standing, and is now an apartment building.
LADY PRINCIPALS/DEAN OF WOMEN:
ERNESTINE ROBERTA WHITESIDE (1906-1918)
Miss Whiteside was born in 1876. She graduated from McMaster University in 1898. In 1906 she was hired as the first Lady Principal of Clark Hall. She served this post capably and was greatly admired by all who met her. In 1918 she resigned as Lady Principal to assume headship of Moulton College in Toronto. She resigned from Moulton in 1930 due to uncertain health. Miss Whiteside was a Board Member of the Women’s Baptist Missionary Society, as well as being editor of “The Link and Visitor”. She was the corresponding secretary for the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada from 1939 to 1949. Miss Whiteside resigned the editorship of “The Link and Visitor” in 1956. On June 14, 1960, she died in Toronto.
OLIVE A.C. WILKINS (1919-1925)
Olive Agnes Cross was born on June 17, 1891 in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. She received her B.A. from McMaster in 1912. She married Thomas Russell Wilkins on June 17, 1913. Mrs. Wilkins accepted the position of Lady Principal of Clark Hall in 1919. She also was retained as an English Teacher. Mrs. Wilkins resigned in 1925. On May 13, 1937, she died rather suddenly. Mrs. Wilkins personal files are located in the Brandon College Teaching and Administration series.
JANE (JENNIE) TURNBULL (1926-1927)
Jennie Turnbull was born c.1896. She was educated at Brandon Central School and the Brandon Collegiate Institute. Miss Turnbull entered Brandon College in 1911. She graduated with her B.A. in 1915, and followed this with her M.A. in 1916. After taking a Normal Course in Regina, Miss Turnbull returned to join the Brandon College faculty as instructor in French in 1918. She studied at La Sorbonne in Paris during the years 1921 and 1922. Miss Turnbull spent parts of 1919, 1920, 1926, and all of 1927 and 1928 at the University of Chicago, where she secured her Ph.D. During the school year 1926-1927, Miss Turnbull served as Dean of Women (formerly known as Lady Principal). She was a very well-travelled individual, and she was the author of Essential Traits of French-Canadian Poetry. In 1963 Miss Turnbull moved to British Columbia, where she died on December 30, 1966. During the time that Miss Turnbull taught at Brandon College, she was an integral part of the college community. She was responsible for the formation of a French Club, and served on various committees and boards with great skill.
ANNIE (EVANS) WRIGHT (1927-1934)
Miss Annie Evans was born on December 29, 1881 in Derbyshire, England. She moved with her family to Canada around 1889. She taught school before entering the Brandon College Business Training Department in 1908. In 1909, Miss Evans was given a position in the Business and Academic Department of the College. In 1915, she married the music professor, Dr. William L. Wright. In 1926, Mrs. Wright received her B.A. degree from Brandon College. She followed that with her M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1927. From 1927 until 1934, Mrs. Wright served as the Dean of Women. From 1927 until 1945, she was employed as a professor of English. She moved to Robson, B.C. with her husband, where she lived until her death in 1959. She was the older sister of Dr. J.R.C. Evans.
DOROTHY WERTHENBACH (1934-1935)
Miss Werthenbach received her early education in Minnesota and Saskatchewan and graduated from the University of Alberta with Honours in History. She took up the profession of teaching. She was an instructor at the Indian Residential School before she accepted the position of Dean of Women in the fall of 1934. She also taught grade 12 History at the College. Miss Werthenbach left Brandon College in 1935, after having spent one year as the Dean of Women. From 1931-1934 she served on the Executive of the Brandon Art Club, including a year as President (1933-1934). At some point after leaving Brandon, Miss Werthenbach married C.G. Nelson and relocated to Calgary. She and her husband had three, possibly four children. Mrs. Nelson died in a plane crash at Moose Jaw.
MARJORIE B. MCKENZIE (1935-1936)
Miss McKenzie was born in Brandon and was a graduate of Brandon Collegiate and Brandon College. She received her B.E. degree from the Columbia College of Expression in Chicago, and her M.Sc. in speech from Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. From 1927 to 1930 she was Instructor in Dramatic Art at Brandon College. She resigned to do post-graduate work. In 1935, Miss McKenzie returned as Instructor of Public Speaking in the Theological Department and Dean of Women in Clark Hall. Miss McKenzie resigned as Dean of Women after one year at the post.
SARAH PERSIS DARRACH (1936-1953)
Miss Persis Johnson was born in Rosscarberry, Ireland on February 8, 1886. She was educated in both Ireland and Canada, graduating from the Brandon General Hospital nurses program in 1911. She did her postgraduate work in Chicago. Miss Johnson was the assistant matron at Brandon General Hospital when she left for overseas in 1914 to serve in the war. Miss Johnson enlisted in the Canadian Over-seas Expeditionary Force on May 12, 1915 in London, England. She was overseas until 1918, stationed in both England and France. While there, Miss Johnson was awarded the Royal Red Cross, 2nd class, and the Royal Red Cross, 1st class, the latter of which was awarded to her in 1919 by the Prince of Wales during his visit to Brandon. She became the fourth superintendent of nurses at Brandon General Hospital. Sometime during the 1920’s, Miss Johnson married Robert Darrach, who was on the Brandon College Board of Directors. In 1934, she was named a member of the Order of the British Empire (Civilian) for her tireless effort doing charity work. In 1936 she accepted the position of Dean of Women at Brandon College. She served in this post until 1953. In 1971, Brandon College awarded her an honourary L.L.D. Darrach Hall, the Men’s Residence on the Brandon University campus, was named for her. Mrs. Darrach died on September 25, 1974.
FLORA COWAN (1953-1967)
Mrs. Flora Cowan was born on July 15, 1902 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the daughter of Adam and Helen Cruickshank. She married E.C. Cowan, and they had two children, Franklin and Ruth. From 1953 until Brandon College became Brandon University, she served as the Dean of Women. In 1966 she received the good Citizenship Award of the Golden Boys of Manitoba. She was a member of the I.O.D.E. and a life-member of the International Peace Garden, and the Provincial Council of Women. From 1954 to 1970 Mrs. Cowan served as a member of the Brandon City Council. She was also the Chairman of the Board for Fairview Home, Inc. In 1967, Mrs. Cowan received the Trillium Business and Professional Club Woman of the Year Award. She was also a member of several other community committees. The women’s residence at Brandon University, Flora Cowan, is named for her. In December 1980, Mrs. Cowan finally retired from her many positions. She died in Brandon on September 25, 1986 at the age of 84.
Scope and Content
The records from this series are mainly concentrated in the early years of Clark Hall. Miss Whiteside kept several journals that depict a very in-depth look at college life for young women in the early twentieth century. These records include: a Commonplace book, in which Miss Whiteside kept detailed accounts of the resident women and what was happening in Clark Hall; a “Saturday” book, which describes what she discussed at the meeting she held with the resident women every Saturday; Scrapbooks, which have programs and pictures detailing the everyday life of a College woman. These records are an invaluable source of information on the education of young women at the turn of the century. As well, Mrs. Wilkins files located in the Brandon College Teaching and Learning files give an excellent account of life at Clark Hall.
The series also contains copies of Clark Hall calendars for 1909-1925. There is also one undated calendar, which may be from 1911-1912.
Notes
The original accession number for the Clark Hall calendars is RP80-45. A copy of the program for the memorial service held at First Baptist Church October 1974 for Sarah Persis Darrach is located in her biography file in the Reading Room.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 9: Clark Hall Women's Residence
Related Material
MG 1 1.9 Sarah Persis Darrach fonds
Maureen Johnson collection (10-2009)
Accession 0104 Brandon University Art Collection, portrait of C.W. Clark M.D. painted by Henrietta Hancock. The portrait currently hangs in the McKee Archives. A brief biographical note concerning Clark appears with the portrait.
Arrangement
Series has been divided into four sub-series, including: (1) Clark Hall commonplace book, saturday book and chronicle; (2) Clark Hall scrapbooks 1907-1953; (3) Clark Hall calendars 1909 -1925; and (4) Clark Hall student council minutes 1928-1935
