Dr. Evans was born in Nanaimo, B.C. on March 15, 1891. In the fall of 1907, at the age of sixteen, Dr. Evans entered the Academic Department of Brandon College. He played an integral part at the College, participating in academics, sports, and various other college functions and organizations. In his final year he was Senior Stick, the highest position in the Student Government. In 1913, Dr. Evans graduated from Brandon College. Immediately after graduation he was hired to teach Science and Academic Mathematics. In 1917, he became Principal of the Academic Department, while continuing to teach Mathematics and Science. Dr. Evans took leave in 1920 to study post graduate work at the University of Chicago. During the summers, he was the Acting Dean of the Department of Geology in Chicago. He received his Ph.D. in Geology in 1923, and returned to Brandon College. His new positions at the college were of Professor of Geology and Resident Master. He also taught some Chemistry.
On August 1, 1927, Dr. Evans married Adelene M. Bailey (Class of 1921, Music 1924) at the Joseph Bond Chapel in Chicago. He took over as College Dean in 1928 after the position became vacant. In September of 1928, Dr. Evans accepted the position of President of Brandon College, thus becoming its fifth president since the college’s inception. Dr. Evans was head of the college at a very difficult time. He guided the College through the Depression and repeated threats of closure from the Baptists. Dr. Evans resurrected the Department of Theology in the mid-1930’s. He helped with the reorganization of Brandon College as a non-denominational college in 1938, and its new affiliation with the University of Manitoba. During World War II, Dr. Evans started a War Emergency Fund, aimed at keeping the College from sinking into debt during the war years as enrollment shrank. With increased financial support from the government, Dr. Evans began expansion plans for the College. In 1958, he created the Dr. J.R.C. Evans Student Loan Fund in conjunction with the Alumni Association in order to provide worthy students with interest-free loans. It was also in 1958 that Dr. Evans was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medal for his outstanding contribution to education in the British Commonwealth.
On July 29, 1959, Dr. Evans died suddenly at his summer home in Robson, B.C.. On his desk was the programme for the sod-turning ceremony for the new Arts and Library Building and Lecture Theatre. When it was completed, the Lecture Theatre was christened the Dr. J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre on behalf of the man who had made sure that it would be built. The Theatre had been his dream, a place to hold Chapel and Assemblies, as the student body grew in number.
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of John Robert Charles Evans, Brandon College student, faculty member and president.
Notes
Information that accompanies the photograph reads: John Robert Charles Evans. Born 1891 in Nanaimo, BC. Died 1959 in Brandon, MB. President of Brandon College 1928-1959. Professor of Geology 1923-1959. Instructor, Academic Dept 1913-1920. Note: Evans actually died in Robson, B.C. not in Brandon, MB. History/Bio information copied from the Brandon College fonds finding aid.
Photograph shows President Dennis Anderson and John Jardine, Head of Physical Plant, in either Clark Hall or the Brandon College Building during renovations.
Firby, who graduated from Brandon University in 1991, worked as the Acting Director for Alumni Relations from August 1993 - August 1995. She married John Brewster in Calgary, AB on August 15, 1998.
Custodial History
Photograph was tranfered to the McKee Archives from the Public Communications Office in the winter of 2007.
Scope and Content
Photograph Marla Firby and John Brewster on their wedding day.
Notes
Information about the wedding appeared in the Fall 1998 issue of Alumni News.
According to the Henderson Directories 1967 there was a Robert A. Miller who was the manager of the manager of the FM station at CKX but it is unclear if this is the same Bob Miller that is in the photo
Custodial History
See Fonds level description for custodial history
Scope and Content
Image of a man, Bob Miller. Original image has a label reading "(H&S)" it is unclear what this means.
Photograph is looking west from the east side of the driveway and shows the Continuing Education H-Hut, which was located between the Brandon College Building and the Citzens' Science Building.
The Student Services H-Hut was located between the Brandon College Building and the Citzens' Science Building. It was placed there c. 1950 and it was removed sometime in the 1990s. Originally the H-Hut in this photograph was the Geology Depatment, housing offices, classrooms and the lab.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking west and shows the entrance to the Student Services H-Hut.
Notes
History/Bio information from Tom Mitchell and Harvey Young.
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
John E. Smith Block Fire
Notes
The John E. Smith Block was built in 1907.
Because of the fire, the building was badly gutted and the front wall bulged outward. As a result, the structure was condemned.
The Canadian Bank of Commerce had moved to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building at the corner of 8th Street & Rosser Avenue in mid-1960's, and their old building adjacent to Smith Block had since sat vacant. As a result, the stage was now set to clear the area where both buildings had stood for the construction of Scotia Tower. LAS.
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in same envelope, numbering them FA7 and FA7a. We have separated them.]
The John R. Brodie Science Centre was completed in 1971, with the official opening on May 7, 1972. It is located in the southeast corner of the campus and houses the Faculty of Science. The Brodie Building was named for John R. Brodie, a Brandon man who donated $250,000 to Brandon College in 1963 with the stipulation that the money be used for a Science Centre.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.
Notes
Additional biographical information on John R. Brodie is available in his bio file in the Reading Room.
Photograph is looking southeast and was taken from the roof of McMaster Hall. Photograph shows the roof and north side of the John R. Brodie Science Centre, the landscaping to the north of the building under construction and a number of residential streets in the background.
Located at the centre of the Brandon University campus, the Physical Plant H-Hut was destroyed following the opening of the new $3.9M, 13,600 square-foot physical plant on 07 April 2010.
Custodial History
Photograph was taken by McKee Archives project archivist Jill Sutherland.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the demolition of the Physical Plant H-Hut.
Located at the centre of the Brandon University campus, the Physical Plant H-Hut was destroyed following the opening of the new $3.9M, 13,600 square-foot physical plant on 07 April 2010.
Custodial History
Photograph was taken by McKee Archives project archivist Jill Sutherland.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the demolition of the Physical Plant H-Hut.
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