Donald Ross MacKay was born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He came to Brandon College in 1936, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939. From 1940-1947, MacKay served in the Canadian Army Canada and overseas. In September 1947 he was appointed Registrar-Bursar at Brandon College. During his career he also served as University Comptroller, Public Relations Officer, Director of Development, Secretary to the Board of Governors, Secretary of the Board of Directors, Secretary to Senate and Assistant to the President. He also served on the Brandon College Expansion Committee, the Hales Museum Committee and was the Chairman of the Athletic Directorate. MacKay retired from the University in 1984. After his retirement he served on the Brandon University Foundation Board of Directors. In recognition of his service to the University MaKay was presented with the Alumni Award in 1974 and with the Distinguished Service Award in 1981 for his contributions to society. MacKay's additional community involvement included the Centennial Auditorium Committee, the Brandon Schools Orchestral Band Association, the Planning Committee for First United Church - St. Paul's Church (what became Central United Church), the Manitoba Heart Foundation, the Kiwanis Club, the Wally Byam Caravan Club, Nitecappers and Northview Pools Inc.
MacKay's career at Brandon College and Brandon University was unprecedented in the breadth of administrative responsibility. As a result, records created during his tenure as Comptroller almost certainly also reflect his responsibilites beyond the Comptroller's Office.
Don MacKay died on April 2, 1990. He was predeceased by his first wife Gwen Dobie, with whom he had four children: Joan, Holly, Ross and Jane. He left behind a second wife, Mona.
Information that accompanied the photograph: Born Wilcox Lake, Ontario, 1870. Died 1964 in Brandon, MB. A long-time member of a number of boards at the College. Played a role in re-establishing Brandon College through Brandon College Inc. and the McKenzie Foundation by donating 90% of the shares in his company to the MB Government to support higher education, specifically Brandon College.
Tears around the edges, some staining over the entire piece (none of the photos are damaged)
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the members of Brandon College Class of 1943. Writing on the back reads "To Bill, from The Knowleton's, Happy Birthday 1976."
Notes
Cliff Kitson graduated Class of 1946, Ray Bailey graduated Class of 1945, Anna Hughes graduated Class of 1944, George Gooden graduated Class of 1942. S. Morris, M. Hughes, M. Bockie, A. Flemming, M. Fahrig did not graduate. W. Orr, G. Grant, W. Goodwin, A. Armstrong all served in World War II and did not graduate. A. Armstrong was killed on active service.
Image has some small cracks across the portrait on the bottom left
Custodial History
Image was donated by Dr. Keith Evans, son of JRC Evans and nephew of Annie Evans Wright.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon College Class of 1926.
Top row (L to R): Anita Grace Sallans; Ida Myrtle Eliason; Muriel Edith Jollow; Harriet Ada Spackman; Rose Jeane Vasey; Hon. Pres. JRC Evans; Margaret Kilgour; Myrtle Christina Evans; Edna Pearl Calverley; Eileen Muriel Ritchie; Annie Evans Wright
Bottom row (L to R): Samuel Ernest McDowell; Thomas Eric Stevens; William August Wenk; George Ralph Berquist; Joseph Lester Gayton; Joseph Clarence Hembling; Robert Hugh Wellwood; Arthur Macdonald Freeman; Harold Francis Batho; George Darragh; Theodore Charles Segsworth; Arthur Percival Macpherson
Triptych shows three separate photographs of Fred McGuinness as a young boy. One photograph shows Fred standing in the snow wearing miniature buckskins and feather headdress another shows Fred in the same costume on the family's front porch. The third picture shows Fred in a quarter-length peacoat and winter cap with flaps standing on the front porch of the family home.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness sitting at a table in the John E. Robbins Library. Spread before him are a variety of weeklies containing his Neighborly News column.