Kathleen Emily Kenner was born in Pierson, Manitoba on December 6, 1903. Her father, W.S. Kenner, was a General Merchant there. Kathleen had one brother, Ewing. She took her early education in Pierson, then moved to Brandon to take her Grade XI course in 1919. The following year, Kathleen moved to the Clark Hall Annex on Louise and 11th, in order to attend Brandon College (B.C.) as a student in the Music Department. In the fall of 1921, she entered the Arts Department of Brandon College. During her time at the college, Kathleen was very involved with student life. She was elected Lady Stick for the school year 1924-1925, the highest position in student government that a woman could attain. In the spring of 1925, she graduated with her B.A., then begain studies in the Faculty of Education at the University of Toronto.
Kathleen taught school in Melfort, Saskatchewan from approximately 1930-1949, and for several years after that was an instructor at the Saskatchewan Government Correspondence School. Sometime during this period, Kathleen left to serve in the Air Force during the Second World War.
Kathleen Kenner married William A. Kennedy in 1950, and through marriage she gained one son, John Kennedy, and two daughters, Mrs. Claire H. A. Still and Mrs. Janet Sheridan. Around the same time, Kathleen and William moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba where Kathleen was very active in the church and the community. Kathleen Kenner Kennedy died suddenly on November 28, 1967 at the age of 61.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
The Kathleen Kenner Fonds are organized in three series:
Series 1 – scrapbook (6.5 cm.)
Series 2 - file of correspondence (8 mm.)
Series 3 - newspaper clippings (1 mm.)
The scrapbook contains pictures of Kathleen’s life and times at Brandon College and the University in Toronto. There are pictures of students and friends, Brandon College, the University of Toronto, Victoria College, Toronto City Hall, Grandpa Ewing’s Farm in Ontario, grad pictures, a train station, and much more. The pictures show dress, women’s activities, the ladies’ Basketball team, and what Brandon itself looked like in the 1920’s. She also included personal notes, cards, invitations to dinners, dances, and luncheons, poems, dance cards, hockey tickets, and various other university mementos.
There are numerous newspaper clippings. One file contains poetry, mainly from her friend Mary McLaughin MacDonald, letters from her father and mother, a list of College yells, and a copy of "Hail Our College". Kenner has various excerpts from The Quill, letters from former students, and a grapho-analyst report (1933) that she received. An interesting possession in this collection are two speeches that Kenner delivered and kept originals of. The first is her reply to being nominated for Lady Stick in 1924. The second is a speech that she made when she invested her duties of Lady Stick to the new Lady Stick, Rose Vasey in 1925.
Notes
A portion of the description was written by Kathleen Scammell (2000).
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1957 with each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '57."
The surface of many of the photographs are showing cracks. Some tears and stains around the edges.
Scope and Content
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1964 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '64."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1956 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '56."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1963 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '63."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1953 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '53."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1954 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '54."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1958 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '58."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1950 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '50."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1955 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '55." The photographs were taken by Jerrett Photos.
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1960 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '60."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1959 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '59."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1952 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '52."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1961 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '61."
Some small tears along the edge and some water stains
Scope and Content
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1962 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '62."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1966. The first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '66."
Item is a large piece of matting containing individual portraits of the members of the Brandon College class of 1965 with the first initial and last name of each person identified. In the centre of the board is a photograph of the Brandon College shield of arms and the title "Class of '65."
