Fred McGuinness published 17 articles in Reader’s Digest magazine. His most intensive period of writing for the digest was between 1972 and 1982. McGuinness published his first story, “RAPESEED: Golden Bounty for the Prairie Farmer,” in August of 1972. The story “Mrs. K’s Eggs” (1992) appears to be his final publication with the magazine. McGuinness noted in one of his Neighborly News columns (#701, May 24, 1993) that his account about John Lane and his bluebird boxes, titled “The Man Who Brought the Bluebirds Back” (1973), generated the most readers’ correspondence.
Most of McGuinness’ topics focused on agriculture in the Canadian prairies and included: rapeseed, beef/cattle farming, credit unions, ranching, wheat, soil erosion, trout farming, honey, and birds (killdeers, bluebirds, and turkeys). Several articles – “Northwest of 17,” “Boy with Wheel,” “He’s Got a Good Fist,” and “Mrs. K’s Eggs” – were autobiographical in nature.
McGuinness contributed six articles to the Reader’s Digest book division for their publication, Reader’s Digest Scenic Wonders of Canada: An Illustrated Guide to Our Natural Splendors (1976). His assignment for the book focused on the prairie region and McGuinness contributed segments on Clear Lake/Riding Mountain National Park, Cypress Hills, The Big Muddy, Lake of the Woods, Qu’Appelle Valley, and Valley of the Dinosaurs/badlands of Red Deer Valley.
McGuinness conducted research on a number of topics for Reader’s Digest that did not get published with the magazine and he, therefore, published these stories elsewhere. Subjects included: wild rice, Father Larre, Frederick Phillip Grove, coal on the prairies (“Chores/Chore Boy”), community symbols, researching/writing local history, and a story titled “Hole in the Ground.” McGuinness ultimately published his “Frederick Phillip Grove” (1984) and “Coal Days on the Prairies” (1986) articles with Western People magazine. He would write about wild rice, Father Larre, and community symbols in his syndicated Neighborly News column. McGuinness used his local history research materials for his Brandon Sun Diary columns and possibly for the Friesen publication Local History Style Guide (1984) as well as in his memoir writing workshops. He continued to rework “Hole in the Ground,” a story about the swimming pool at Christmas Tree Farm, until 2009.
Fred McGuinness often used his Reader’s Digest articles as writing samples in his memoir writing workshops. He also continually added materials to his research files after an article was published, and in the case of his Reader’s Digest materials, he built upon his “writing local history” and “community symbols” files.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer in Manitoba. It includes research materials (e.g., newspaper clippings, copies of articles and book chapters, brochures, pamphlets), notes, drafts, copies of published Reader’s Digest articles, and correspondence.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3 file 12, file 17, file 18); letter dated April 29, 1874 to Glen Sutherland from Fred McGuinness (McG 3.1, file 6); and personal e-mail communication from Rick Ediger, Editor, Reader’s Digest, March 25, 2015
In the file level inventories, square brackets at the end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible research materials pertaining to this subseries may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), and Talks and workshops (McG 6.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
[Since its construction, this industrial chemical plant has been known as Hooker Chemicals, Canadian Occidental Chemicals, and Nexen Chemicals Canada. It is currently operated by Canexus Chemicals Canada. P.E. 03/07/09]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Canadian Occidental Chemicals
Notes
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in the same envelope. We have separated them and numbered them HA15(1) and HA15(2).]
[Since its construction, this industrial chemical plant has been known as Hooker Chemicals, Canadian Occidental Chemicals, and Nexen Chemicals Canada. It is currently operated by Canexus Chemicals Canada. P.E. 03/07/09]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Canadian Occidental Chemicals
Notes
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in the same envelope. We have separated them and numbered them HA15(1) and HA15(2).]
Built as a tribute to the founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell (1857-1941), Baden-Powell House serves as a scouting hostel and conference centre in South Kensington, London, England. (Source: www.towntocountry.co.uk/bphouse/)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of boyscouts presenting a plaque to the Deputy Warden of Baden Powell House. The plaque reads: The Day the Medicine Man Lost His Hat... One of the boyscouts is Fred McGuinness, Jr.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 16th August, 1965, Canadian Boy Scouts from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, present a plaque to Baden Powell House, Queensgate, London. (L-R) Mr. R. Flower, Deputy Warden of Baden Powell House receives the plaque from Stephen McQuarie (14), Fred Olmstead (15), Fred McGuinness (14), George Russell (14) from Medicine Hat and Pat Lannigan (16) [at back] from Camrose, Alberta.
Stamp on back of photograph reads: 1737/4A from Editorial Press, 2 Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4
Built as a tribute to the founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell (1857-1941), Baden-Powell House serves as a scouting hostel and conference centre in South Kensington, London, England. (Source: www.towntocountry.co.uk/bphouse/)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of boyscouts presenting a plaque to the Deputy Warden of Baden Powell House. The plaque reads: The Day the Medicine Man Lost His Hat... One of the boyscouts is Fred McGuinness, Jr.
Notes
Photograph was taken 16th August, 1965, showing Canadian Boy Scouts from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, presenting a plaque to Baden Powell House, Queensgate, London. (L-R) Mr. R. Flower, Deputy Warden of Baden Powell House receives the plaque from Stephen McQuarie (14), Fred Olmstead (15), Fred McGuinness (14), George Russell (14) from Medicine Hat and Pat Lannigan (16) [at back] from Camrose, Alberta.
Stamp on back of photograph reads: 1737/7A from Editorial Press, 2 Salisbury Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4
Photograph is looking northwest from approximately the corner of Rosser Avenue and 8th Street and shows the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Mayfields Ladies Wear, Knowlton's Shoe Shop, Bata Shoe Store and Lucette's Hat Shop.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Photograph was in possession of Mrs. Ruby Miles, who passed the image on to Fred McGuinness. McGuinness makes reference to Mrs. Miles and this photograph in his Sunbeams column (Brandon Sun 14 September 1978).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a team portrait of Canadian footballers (soccer players) posing in the Melbourne Cricket grounds in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Members of the Canadian team include: front row - Fred Bowman, George Forrest, Bob Harley, Jimmie Adam, Dickie Stobbart, Bill Linning, Leslie Ford; back row - Jack Armstrong, J. Hood, Jim Wilson, George Anderson, Hank Noseworthy, Mitch McLean, Fred Dierden, William Sanford (source: Canada Soccer Flickr page, https://www.flickr.com/photos/canadasoccer/7257687442, accessed 23 Nov 2015). Canada won 3-nil (source: The Argus, 2 July 1924, 17).
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Canada v. Australia, Melbourne 5th July 1924, with the complements of V.A.B.F.A., The Sears' Studios, Melbourne. Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. R. Miles.
According to Fred McGuinness, J. Hood was from Brandon (Source: F.A. Rosser, "Picture treasure trove shows some city history," Brandon Sun 14 September 1978)
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness standing with Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood (centre) and the Centennial Commissioner John Fisher (right). The men are standing before an architectural model.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: On tour of Newfoundland as member, board of directors Canadian Centennial Commission, McG, Premier Smallwood, & John Fisher, Centennial Commissioner, 1965
Thomas "Tommy" Clement Douglas (1904-1986) was a Baptist minister and social democratic politician. In 1935, he became a member of parliament representing the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). From 1944 to 1961, he served as Saskatchewan's seventh premier whose CCF party introduced the universal health care program. In 1961 Douglas returned to federal politics, where he served as the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He remained in federal politics until 1979.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas at a microphone. Behind him are large ionic columns on which a "Saskatchewan Day" wooden banner is mounted. Mounted on the frieze above the columns is another sign that partially reads "National Exhibition."
Thomas "Tommy" Clement Douglas (1904-1986) was a Baptist minister and social democratic politician. In 1935, he became a member of parliament representing the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). From 1944 to 1961, he served as Saskatchewan's seventh premier whose CCF party introduced the universal health care program. In 1961 Douglas returned to federal politics, where he served as the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He remained in federal politics until 1979.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas at a microphone. Behind him are large ionic columns on which a "Saskatchewan Day" wooden banner is mounted. Mounted on the frieze above the columns is another sign that partially reads "National Exhibition."
Thomas "Tommy" Clement Douglas (1904-1986) was a Baptist minister and social democratic politician. In 1935, he became a member of parliament representing the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). From 1944 to 1961, he served as Saskatchewan's seventh premier whose CCF party introduced the universal health care program. In 1961 Douglas returned to federal politics, where he served as the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He remained in federal politics until 1979.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a close-up of Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas at a microphone at the Canadian National Exhibition.
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Canadian Pacific (left) and Great Northern (right) railway stations and yards in Brandon, Manitoba.
Notes
[This negative appears to have been produced using a previously published image. P.E. 30/07/09]
According to Stuckey and Bain (1996), “The Brandon, Saskatchewan & Hudson’s Bay Railway was built and operated as a totally owned subsidiary of the Great Northern Railway. Construction commenced in late 1905 and by the end of 1905, less than a mile of track had been laid north of the boundary at St. John. In 1906, the remaining 68.6 miles to Brandon were laid and service commenced that year. During the Depression of the 1930s, traffic declined significantly and the entire branch was abandoned in 1936. Over much of the branch’s length, the ties and rails were laid on the prairie without ballast and today little remains of the line apart from traces where there were cuts and bridges.” (p. 18)
Stuckey, L. A., & Bain, D. M. (1996). The Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways in Canada. Calgary, Alberta: British Railway Modellers of North America.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
View of Canadian Pacific (foreground) and Great Northern (background) railway yards, as well as Great Northern station in Brandon, Manitoba.
Notes
Shows a 500 series F-1 class 2-8-0 engine switching
Published in Canadian Rail, August 1975
Buildings that are visible in this photo, but now gone (1987), include Codvilles, Western Grocers (Burbridge Saddlery), John E. Smith Block, Federal building, City Hall, and the Prince Edward Hotel [Fred McGuinness collection (20-2009)].
[This copy negative was produced using a previously published image. P.E. 30/07/09]
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