Myrtle Bell Johnston (nee Smeltz) was born January 23, 1906 on the home farm near Cromer, MB. She attended Elm Valley school and then Virden Collegiate. From 1921-1923, she helped her father on the farm before attending Brandon Normal School. Following graduation, she taught in at Rugby, near Forrest, Ravine, near Lenore, Johnstone near Oak Lake and at Oak Lake for 13.5 years. In 1938, Myrtle married Henry Alexander Johnston (1906?-1986) and together they had one son, Wayne. The couple farmed in the St. David's district. Myrtle returned to teaching in 1959, at Sioux Valley and then Oak Lake. She retired in 1971. The Johnston's retired to Virden in 1972.
Myrtle received the Province of Manitoba Good Citizen Award for "exemplifying a way of life that helps make Manitoba a better place in which to live." She had many hobbies, including gardening, travel, lawn bowling, piano, bridge, curling, and enteratining. She was also active in church and community choirs. Myrtle Johnston died on January 7, 2001 in Virden, MB. She is buried at the Johnston family cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Myrtle Johnson about education in the Virden area. Interviewer is Ola Duncan.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Virden local history "Hometown Virden" and Johnston's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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Reginald Lamont Johnson was born on April 13, 1902 at Beresford, MB. He attended Glenvale and Beresford schools, although the First World War interrupted his schooling. Reg took over the family farm and ran it until selling and retiring to the Souris district in 1966. Reg married Mary C Campbell (1901-1993) on October 31, 1928, and together they had two sons: Douglas and Wayne. Reg was secretary of the Beresford Pool Elevator for 25 years and had a keen interest in flowers. Reg Johnson died on March 8, 1983 in Souris, MB. He is buried at Souris Glenwood Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Reg L. Johnson about his life story and farming in Manitoba. Interviewer is John E. Forsyth.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Johnson's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
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Maureen Johnson (nee Sills) was born in Brandon, MB in 1936 and grew up in western Manitoba. She spent three years in Ethiopia (1958-1961) and two years in Houston, Texas before taking up permanent residence in Winnipeg, MB. She attended Brandon College in 1953-1954, living in the Tower Room of Clark Hall.
From 1960-1979, Johnson raised her family, volunteered in the St. Vital community and was Secretary to the Manitoba Schools Science Symposium (1973-1977). She worked in the Office of the President at the University of Manitoba from 1980 to 1996.
Johnson is a visual artist and photographer, and is a member of the Winnipeg Sketch Club, Manitoba Society of Artists and Winnipeg South Photo Club. Her work is on permanent display at Medea Gallery (www.medeagallery.ca) where she has been a member since 1985. She also has work in the Rental Program at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
For biographical information on Sarah Persis Darrach see RG 1 Brandon College fonds, Series 9: Clark Hall women's residence.
Custodial History
The original photographs in accession 10-2009 are in the custody of Maureen Johnson in Winnipeg, MB. Copies were digitally scanned by Johnson and sent to the Archives in March 2009. The 1921 photographs of Brandon College students were given to Johnson by Eileen McKenzie, her aunt, who attended Brandon College at that time. The photos of Sarah Persis Darrach (Johnson's great-aunt and maternal grandmother's sister) are from her family albums.
All of the records in accession 14-2009, except for the 1920 Quill and the Clark Hall Rules 1912, were collected by Johnson during her time at Brandon College. The Quill issue belonged to Johnson's aunt Eileen McKenzie, a student at Brandon College in the early 1920s. The records were in Johnson's possession at her home until their donation to the McKee Archives in May 2009.
Scope and Content
Accession 10-2009 consists of seventeen digital photographs. Seven photographs are of Sarah Persis Darrach (nee Johnson), taken primarily during her time as a nursing sister during World War I. Two photographs are of Eileen McKenzie. The remaining photographs depict students and student activities at Brandon College in the early 1920s.
Accession 14-2009 consists of a copy of the sound recording and program for Mr. College Spirit, a musical comedy presented by the Brandon College Literary Board and written by James Struthers and Kenneth Gunning. Accession also includes fifteen photographs from 1953-1954, when Johnson attended Brandon College. Subjects include: Freshie King and Queen; Graduation Banquets (1955, 1956); senior and lady sticks; Jim Casey Trophy; Grand March 1954; Capettes basketball team 1954; Glee Club 1953; Variety Night - Men's Chorus; Caps Football Team; Caps Hockey Team 1954; Cheerleaders 1954; Caps Basketball 1954; and Touques.
Textual records include graduation banquet and commencement programs, news clippings, programs for Variety Night and Be Your Age, a list of football cheers and a copy of the Fall Number of the 1920 Quill. Textual records also include two color photocopies: Clark Hall Rules 1912 and Johnson's Arts and Science Departments, Brandon College Registration card.
Notes
History/Bio information and Custodial History provided by Maureen Johnson (April 2009). A review of the play, written by Kay Rowe, appeared in the March 6, 1953 issue of the Quill.
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
W. Dowling, President of Provincial Exhibition 1919
Notes
Mr. Stuckey originally placed 32 negatives in one envelope labeled “M – Presidents of Fair Boards 1882 – 1972”; We have separated and renumbered these negatives as M30(1) to M30(32) inclusively; Records of the Provincial Exhibition Association are held in the S.J. McKee Archives (RG2) including photos of board members.
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
W. Davidson, President of Provincial Exhibition 1943 - 1946.
Notes
Mr. Stuckey originally placed 32 negatives in one envelope labeled “M – Presidents of Fair Boards 1882 – 1972”; We have separated and renumbered these negatives as M30(1) to M30(32) inclusively; Records of the Provincial Exhibition Association are held in the S.J. McKee Archives (RG2) including photos of board members.
Gerus came to Brandon University from the University of Manitoba and taught in the History Department 1968-1969 as a replacement for Charles Lightbody. Following his year at BU, Gerus returned to the University of Manitoba.
Scope and Content
Portrait of Oleh W. Gerus (History Department - Russian and Slavic).
Notes
History/Bio information from History Department website and Tom Mitchell.