Fred McGuinness’ broadcasting career began when he enrolled at St. Paul’s College, an affiliate of the University of Manitoba. In 1945, he became chairman of the Radio Subcommittee working as the Director of the University Radio Series where he was responsible (i.e., writing, casting, directing) for a half-hour Saturday afternoon radio programme.
McGuinness sold his first manuscript to the CBC in 1947, recording a 14-minute broadcast titled the “Class A Circuit” about the Royal American tour. The script was based on work McGuinness had done as a Director of Publicity and Exploitation (1947 to 1952) for the Royal American Shows while the show toured with the fairs on the Canadian prairies.
McGuinness began developing broadcast scripts in earnest for the CBC when he returned to Manitoba in 1966. By the 1970s, McGuinness was writing copy for CBC’s Radio Noon and Information Radio, as well as producing Ashgrove Farm, a CBC radio drama.
By 1980, McGuinness was hosting the CBC Radio broadcast Neighborly News from the Prairies. The radio program was cancelled by the CBC in 1983 after much outcry, but was resurrected with Altona broadcaster CFAM later that year with McGuinness at the helm. The radio show concluded its run in the summer of 1987.
In 1985, McGuinness returned to broadcast with the CBC and is popularly known for his “Manitoba Reports” that he delivered on CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski. He held his position as the prairie correspondent for 12 years. In the final three to four years of the Morningside show, McGuinness was asked to write non-political essays for broadcast. These “Letters Assignments” would be later published in 1999 by Great Plains Publishing as Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a radio broadcaster, 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
Fred McGuinness was involved in a number of radio broadcasts in his life. The records in this subseries are the result of that work. The subseries contains drafts of possible broadcast scripts dating to the 1950s and early 1960s, drafts of CBC broadcast scripts for CBC’s Radio Noon, Information Radio, Ashgrove Farms radio drama, and Neighborly News from the Prairies. McGuinness appears to have annotated his scripts to reflect breathing, pauses, and other factors that could impact the delivery of his script on air.
The S.J. McKee Archives does not appear to have broadcast scripts pertaining to McGuinness’ CBC Morningside years.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the Radio broadcast script subseries (McG 6.1), McGuinness’ book Letters from Section 17 (published by Great Plains Publications in 1999), and his column “A Mourning Sigh for National Institution, “ Brandon Sun, May 29, 1997
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 broadcast career may be found in other series of the Fred McGuinness collection. McGuinness’ UofM student radio club certificates can be found in his scrapbook (McG 1.4). A sound recording of one of McGuinness’ UofM broadcasts can be found in McG 7
CBC Radio Archives - Morningside
Trent University, Peter Gzowski fonds (99-015)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
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
Artifact catalogue containing 3054 records from Crepeele site 2007.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2008 a small crew under the direction of Bev Nicholson returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated. As well the Graham site 2008 was also excavated.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2008 a small crew under the direction of Bev Nicholson returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated. As well the Graham site 2008 was also excavated.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
In 2007 the Brandon University Field School was held at both the Crepeele site in the Crepeele locale. Denise Ens instructed the school with Jessica McKenzie and Kate Decter as teaching assistants.
Seventeen units were excavated (XU3 - 46). Faunal (animal bone), lithics, fire cracked rock, diagnostic lithics and ceramics were recovered from the site.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Artifact catalogue containing 455 records from Crepeele site 2008.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Artifact catalogue containing 1319 records from Sarah site 2003.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Sarah site was initially chosen for excavation based on the results of the Casselman survey. The survey recovered significant amounts of faunal remains, some ceramics and lithics from the test pits. Excavations took place in 2003 at the Sarah site DiMe-28.
In 2004 further excavation took place as part of a Brandon University Archaeology Field School. Units 10 to 18 were excavated with Denise Ens as the instructor and James Graham teaching assistant.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Artifact catalogue containing 2910 records from Sarah site 2004.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Graham site was initially designated as a separate site early in the testing of the Crepeele locale due to what appeared to be a distinction between Early and Late Woodland ceramics. Subsequent testing has shown that this distinction was premature and that the cultural mosaic represented in the western section of the Crepeele locale does not readily separate in this manner.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Artifact catalogue containing 522 records from Graham site 2004.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Graham site is located south of the Crepeele site. Due to the close proximity the Graham and Crepeele sites have both been the site of the Brandon University Archaeological Field School.
In 2005 both sites were excavated as part of the Field School experience instructed by Denise Ens with teaching assistant James Graham Six units (XU 1-6) were excavated at the Graham site.
Recoveries included faunal (mostly bison), lithics (points, scrapers), and ceramics.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Artifact catalogue containing 2284 records from Graham site 2005.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Graham site is located south of the Crepeele site. Due to the close proximity the Graham and Crepeele sites have both been the site of the Brandon University Archaeological Field School.
In 2006 a small Brandon University Archaeology Field School was conducted at the Graham site. Four excavations (XU 7, 8 15 & 16) were completed with Denise Ens Instructor and Jessica MacKenzie Teaching Assistant.
Recoveries included faunal (mostly bison), lithics and ceramicsRecoveries included faunal (mostly bison), lithics (points, scrapers), and ceramics.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Artifact catalogue containing 694 records from Graham site 2006.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
In 2008 Brandon University Archaeology returned to the Crepeele locale to conduct further testing at the Graham and Crepeele sites. Four units (XU 47-49 & 53) were excavated at Graham 2008 in order to collect samples and add further data to previous excavations. The usual excavation methology was employed.
The small crew was directed by Bev Nicholson with Crew of Bill Foy, Andrew Lints & Kim Harrison
Recoveries included faunal (mostly bison), lithics and ceramics.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Artifact catalogue containing 628 records from Graham site 2008.
Scope and Content
Spreadsheet containing information about the artifacts recovered, including: unit, level, artifact number, catalogue number, depth, co-ordinates, entry date, date recovered,count, weight, UTM co-ordinates, notes(excavators initials and comments) and artifact identification.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2008 a small crew under the direction of Bev Nicholson returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated. As well the Graham site 2008 was also excavated.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
