Fleming School, located at 2320 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, was a part of the Brandon School Division from its creation in 1914 until its closure in 2005. The school was named to commemorate the life of pioneer Dr. Alexander Fleming. Fleming, who was a Scottish born immigrant, came to Brandon in 1881, where he worked as Brandon's first medical doctor and pharmacist. He also held the role of chairman for the Brandon School Board. Fleming died in Brandon on November 26, 1897.
Rapid population growth in the City of Brandon in the early part of the 20th century resulted in a need for additional school buildings; Fleming School was among the schools established during this period. Designed by W.H. Shillinglaw, the structure was constructed out of concrete, wood and brick, and included a basement. When the school first opened, it was composed of six classrooms; after two renovations in 1953 and 1962, the school expanded with more classrooms and a gymnasium. At the time of its closure, Fleming School could accommodate seven classes, covering grades kindergarten to grade six.
Around 2004, the Brandon School Division decided to close Fleming Elementary School. Prior to the closure a celebration was held on January 14, 2005, to honour the school's 90th Anniversary. Following the school's official closing, students were reallocated to Earl Oxford Elementary School (540 18th Street). Some of the former staff found work in other schools within the Division, while Craig Manson, the last principal of Fleming School, became principle of Green Acres Elementary School.
The building formerly used as Fleming Elementary School became a high school for the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in late 2006. The Band bought the building in late 2010.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by Fleming School staff and administration, many for the 90th anniversary and closing of the school. Craig Manson, the last principal of Fleming School, gave the records to David Wilson, who donated them to the S.J. McKee Archives in 2015.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records that document the history of Fleming School. Many of the records were created and gathered specifically by Craig Manson and others for the school's 90th anniversary; on November 19, 2006 an ad written by Grant Hamilton was placed in the Brandon Sun with Jean Pickard asking for potential archives from Fleming School to be donated by contacting Keith Heide at the Brandon School Division. The archives were to be used in a display on education in Brandon to be located in the Town Centre in June 2007. Other records were collected and created by the school's staff and administration to document the activities and student of their school.
Textual records include newspaper clippings, staff and administration lists (1914-2005), programs, calendars, correspondence, anecdotes, as well as records related to the events surrounding the 90th anniversary and the closure of the school. The 90th anniversary celebration materials include Craig Manson's speech and agenda, the lyrics to the school song, and a list of people in attendance. The newspaper clippings, with capture the experiences of Fleming students, are evidence of the staff's interest in the lives of their current and former students.
Also included in the textual records is in depth genealogical research for the Fleming family. The research includes birth and death dates, photographs of grave sites and residences of Fleming family members, as well as some correspondence around the school's 90th anniversary. The photographs in the album include both originals and photocopies.
Photographs in the collection, like the newspaper clippings, document the activities and events of Fleming School, its students and staff. They include candid's from the classroom, various ceremonies (including the 90th anniversary), and the celebration of holidays (especially Halloween). There are also a number of class and staff portraits.
The collection also includes audio visual materials. The VHS recording entitled "Fleming School 90th Birthday Tea," runs approximately 75 minutes and was videoed by Ian Carkener. The DVD, which runs 42 minutes, was created by the staff and students for the 90th anniversary celebration. It has three components: "Through the Decades" shows students re-enacting school scenes from earlier decades; "Students at Work and Play," shows the 2004-2005 students in their classroom environment during holiday celebrations, school ceremonies and working on assignments; and "Reflections," which includes a slide show of photographs of Fleming School throughout the years set to music.
Finally, the collection includes four artifacts: one 90th anniversary celebration balloon with an image of the school building and the its years of operation printed on it; a school magnet with the school phone number and an image of the brick school building; and two pins. The first pin is circular with a black background and gold details including the school's name, three silhouettes and three maple leaves. The second pin appears to have a hornet or bee emblem with the number 72.
Notes
History/bio information was taken from the records, as well as the Manitoba Historical Society's website (Alexander Fleming, Fleming School - accessed on September 30, 2016), the Brandon School Division website (Fleming School - accessed on September 30, 2016) and Grant Hamilton's article "Gathering school archives while they can" (Brandon Sun, November 19, 2006). Description by Megan Treloar (September 2016) and Christy Henry.
William Wallace was born in Scotland around 1859. In 1881, when William was twenty-two, he emigrated to Canada with his father and brother. Once here they settled near what is today Forrest, Manitoba. The following spring they moved to the northwest margin of settlement in Manitoba, homesteading in the Shellmouth area. Wallace remained a resident of the region for the rest of his life. William Wallace was active in community affairs. He was appointed to the post of Secretary-Treasurer of the Shellmouth Municipality in 1887, and he held the position until 1904. In 1909, Wallace was injured in a railway accident, and he had to give up farming. He moved to Shellmouth and took up the position of postmaster, which he held for twenty-seven years. He died in 1945, and is buried at Shellmouth cemetery, Manitoba.
Custodial History
The letters contained in the fonds remained in the possession of Margaret Wallace, who was the original recipient of the correspondence. She emigrated to Canada in 1904. At some point the letters passed to William Wallace who kept them in his possession in Shellmouth. In 1941, William contacted Professor E. J. Westcott of Brandon College regarding the fonds. He offered it to the College for safekeeping. Westcott accepted the letters. Westcott passed the letters on to various officers and staff at Brandon College and then Brandon University. Since 1982, the collection has resided in the S. J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of hundreds of letters that William Wallace and his brother, Andrew, wrote to their sister, Maggie, from 1881 until 1904. The first letter, dated 22 March 1881, was written by both William and Andrew aboard the S.S. Prussia as they sailed to North America from Scotland. The last letter was written on 4 January 1904 by William. It was written to inform Maggie and her husband that William had reserved a homestead in their name. This letter marks the end of the fonds. Later that spring Maggie and John emigrated to Canada to be with her family.
William was keenly interested in everything going on around him; his letters and Andrew's reveal what life was like for inexperienced settlers on the Canadian agricultural frontier in the last years of the ninteenth century. Fonds touches on a variety of social, political and economic themes.
Notes
CAIN No. 202641. A partial accession of the Wallace collection was completed in 1992 by Eileen McFadden.
William Birtles was born in Alexander, Manitoba in 1930. He received his early education at Alexander School. In 1948, he completed grade 12 at St. John's College School in Winnipeg. He undertook formal training in art, beginning in 1949, at the Winnipeg School of Art. In 1952, he graduated from the Manitoba Provincial Normal School. After teaching school in Winnipeg for three years, Birtles completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Sculpture in 1958. He obtained a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1970. Throughout his adult years, Birtles taught in various Manitoba communities, was active as an artist, showing his work and winning awards. He was also active in the Manitoba Society of Artists and associated provincial organizations. Birtles is retired and is a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Custodial History
All of the items in the fonds were in the possession of William Birtles until their donation to the McKee Archives in 2003.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of Ms. Sarah Birtles, Rt. Rev W.W.H. Thomas D.D, the Thomas Smith farmhouse located northwest of Alexander, and a postcard containing a photograph of Westminster Abbey. Fonds also contains two biographical sketches written by William Birtles: one of Ms. Sarah Birtles - three pages - and one of Rt. Rev. W.W. H. Thomas D.D - six pages. Also includes the program of the Composite Lodge No. 64 G.R.M., A.F. & A.M. sixty-fifth Anniversary (Alexander, MB 1961).
A couple of the photographs have tears or ink marks on them. Six of the photographs are on matting.
History / Biographical
W. Wade and Sons Lumber was originally established in Ninga, Manitoba c. 1902. The business and the family, who had been homesteading since 1885 (first near Deloraine where they also owned a lumber yard from 1887-1889, and then on a farm at Rhodes near Ninga), moved to Brandon in 1909. Wade and Sons was founded by William Unwin Wade, who operated it until his death in 1924; his sons James and William were made partners prior to his death and continued to run Wade and Sons after Unwin's death. The firm was incorporated in 1926 as Wade and Sons Limited. James Wade died in November 1951. William Wade sold the business to The North American Lumber and Supply Company Ltd. c. 1952. The sale included: the home yard office at 117 14th Street, Brandon; a sash and door factory of brick and tile; a warehouse on a 75 by 120 foot lot by the Canadian Pacific railway tracks; and an open lumber piling yard on a 50 by 120 foot lot.
Custodial History
The photographs were in the possession of William Ridley Sheridan Wade, grandson of Unwin Wade since the 1950s. Following his death in July 2004, the photographs became the possession of his widow, Marion Wade. She donated the photographs to the McKee Archives in April 2007.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of black and white photographs, various sizes, of the W. Wade and Sons Lumber business, including buildings, trucks and employees. It also includes photos of members of the Wade family.
Photographs include:
1. W. Wade and Sons Lumber, Ninga, MB (1902) - 5.5" x 3.75" on matting - exterior of the office, with lumber storage in the background. Unwin Wade standing in front of the office on the right. The other man is unidentified.
2. Ninga, MB (1902) - 5.5" x 4" on matting - view of Main Street. Grain elevator(s?) on the right. Various businesses on the left. There are a number of carts, wagons etc. parked along the street.
3. Wade family at Rodes Siding, MB, family home near Ninga (c. 1902) - 5.75" x 4.5" on matting - various family members standing ouside their home during winter.
4. Wade family portrait (n/d) - 5.5" x 4" on matting - Back L to R: Pearl, Ada, James, William; Middle L to R: William Unwin Wade, Eva, Elizsabeth (nee Bawkes) Wade; Front: Hazel.
5. W. Wade & Sons Lumber, Brandon, MB (c. 1909) - 6" x 4" on matting - exterior of the office on the rights. Stored lumber and a horse drawn cart on the right. There are three men in the photograph. On the far left is Unwin Wade, in the middle is either James or Will Wade. The man on the right is unidentified. Photograph by J.W. Wilson and Co., Toronto.. There is a thumbprint in the upper right corner of the photograph.
6. W. Wade & Sons Lumber, Brandon, MB (1909) - 7" x 5" on matting - interior of the office. Unwin Wade behind the counter on the right. James Wade standing beside the door on the left. There are a variety of papers, calendars and ads on the walls and desk. There is a large tear in the upper left of the photograph.
7. Wade & Sons Limited, Builders Supplies, Brandon, MB (1951) - 6" x 4" - Staff portrait outside the office on 14th Street. Second from the left is Sherry Wade, James' son. Ninth from the left is James Wade. On the far right is Murray Wade. Third from the right is Jack Patton, who ran the factory (they made windows).
8. Wade & Sons Limited, Builders Supplies, Brandon, MB (1951) - 6" x 4" - Three Wade & Sons trucks parked in front of the office on 14th Street. The men in the photograph are unidentified.
9. Wade & Sons Limited, Builders Supplies, Brandon, MB (1951) - 6" x4" - Photo is looking down 14th Street, showing the Wade & Sons office and outbuildings. The same three trucks from 28-2007.8 appear in this photograph.
10. Men with vehicles (1926) - 4.25" x 2" - Outside Wade & Sons, photograph shows five men posed alongside Wade & Sons vehicles. The man on the far right is James Wade. The man on the far left is Will Wade. He is standing beside Albert Petit(?).
11. Wade & Sons Limited truck (1930) - 4.5" x 2.5" - Photo taken from the front of the truck, parked on Pacific Avenue, looking east. The truck carried lumber on its sides.
12. Wade & Sons, Limited truck (1930) - 4.5" x 2.5" - The truck in the photo is the same as the one in 28-2007.11, only this photo shows the side of the truck, including the Wade & Sons, Limited stencil on the side of the truck.
13. Wade & Sons, Limited truck (n/d) - 4.25" x 2.75" - Unidentified man stands beside an empty Wade & Sons lumber truck. The truck is parked on a residential street.
14. Wade & Sons, Limited truck (n/d) - 4.5" x 2.5" - Photo shows a man standing beside a Wade & Sons Limited truck. The truck bed appears to be full of shingles. A woman is sitting in the passenger seat.
15. East side of 14th Street (n/d) - 2.5" x 4.5" - Photo was taken from the back of a Wade & Sons truck and shows the east side of 14th Street looking northeast. It includes the corner of the Wade & Sons office (far left) and one of the outbuildings, possible during construction.
16. Overland car (c.1919) - 2.5" x 4.25" - Photo shows what is likely an Overland (with bald tires) parked on a residential street. Most of the hood and all of the passenger side are visable.
17. Wade family portrait (1927) - 4.5" x 2.5" - Includes Will and James Wade's families. Second from the left is Will Wade. Third from the left is James Wade. Fifth, sixth and seventh from the left are James Wade's children: Ruth, Gwen and Sheridan.
18. First Baptist Church choir (n/d) - 4.5" x 2.5" - Photo was taken from the balcony of the First Baptist Church on Lorne Avenue, Brandon, MB. It shows the choir in the choir loft (baptismal pool in the back centre), the minister at the pulpit and the organist.
19.Portrait outside the First Baptist Church (n/d) - 4.5" x 2.5" - L to R: Charles Stone, Baptist minister, ?, James Wade, ?.
20. Portrait outside the First Baptist Church (n/d) - 4.5" x 2.5" - L to R: ?, Charles Stone, ? , ?, James Wade, ?.
Notes
History/Bio information was supplied by Marion Wade. Brandon Sun articles and William Ridley Sheriden Wade's obituary were also used. Description by Christy Henry.
Storage Location
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript Collection - photograph storage drawer
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript Collection - photograph storage drawer
