Fred McGuinness was a sessional lecturer in the English Department at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba where he co-taught an introductory undergraduate course in journalism with English Professor John Blaikie. Although McGuinness had 30 years experience as a journalist, editor, publisher, and freelance writer, as well as an extensive public speaking career, the partnering was necessary because he did not have a graduate degree, a qualification necessary for teaching in a university setting. In addition to his professional experience, McGuinness was also an avid reader on topics about the process of writing and the publishing of popular writing.
McGuinness likely began teaching his journalism course at Brandon University in 1983 and continued until 1990, possibly 1996. McGuinness often referenced his class when writing his Neighborly News column. A portion of McGuinness’ course involved analyzing and debating current events from newspaper headlines. McGuinness emphasized the importance of clean copy, spelling, and grammar with his editing assignments.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and sessional instructor. 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 contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a sessional instructor and writer. Consisting of teaching materials McGuinness used in the undergraduate course he taught with Professor John Blaikie the subseries includes: lecture notes, quizzes, exercises, exams, and newspaper and magazine articles.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the BU journalism course subseries (McG 6.2), and his Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3)
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 materials pertaining to his teaching career may be found in other subseries of the Fred McGuinness collection. Several articles McGuinness wrote for Neighborly News referenced his BU journalism students (see McG 2.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
During his 30 years with The Medicine Hat News and the Brandon Sun, Fred McGuinness took an active roll in his respective communities and cultivated his interest in local histories; he was actively involved with the Chamber of Commerce and rural development initiatives. Consequently he was invited to guest speak and chair sessions on local history, rural development, and the economy while providing his personal insights as a newspaper publisher. McGuinness’ work as a Canadian Centennial Commission representative (1963 – 1967) was an appointment that required he deliver speeches provincially and internationally. McGuinness also appeared to draft press releases and speeches for local politicians.
McGuinness also delivered community workshops on memoir writing, a past time he continued until shortly before his death in 2011, and wrote about memoir writing in his Brandon Sun column “The Diary.” He included that “Diary” article, along with copies of his published Reader’s Digest artiicles in his workshop materials. Individuals writing memoirs or interested in McGuinness’ memoir writing style may also be interested in McGuiness’ “Foundation of a Writer’s Library” and “The A-B-C and X-Y-Z of Researching and Writing a Local History Story.”
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and sessional instructor. 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 Talks and workshop subseries contains records created and collected by McGuinness over his lifetime and include: published copies of speeches delivered by individuals other than McGuinness; drafts of speeches McGuinness gave while working in Medicine Hat (Alberta) and the Brandon Sun; and copies of workshop materials pertaining to rural development and memoir writing, including copies of memoirs and articles, correspondence, useful references, and activities/exercises.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the Talks and workshops subseries (McG 6.3), and Freelance materials (McG 3)
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 materials pertaining to his teaching career may be found in other subseries of the Fred McGuinness collection. Workshop participants and readers of McGuinness’ columns often submitted memoirs to McGuinness (see McG 1.2 McGuinness Correspondence and McG 4.1 Local history)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
