These records were produced between 1987 and 1988, the researching and writing period for The Wheat City: A Pictorial History of Brandon monograph. Published in 1988 by Western Producer Books (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), The Wheat City is a 117-page soft cover book, containing black and white images.
Western Producer Books pitched the book’s concept to Fred McGuinness in the fall of 1987. This book was part of the publisher’s “city series” which focused on smaller cities such as Medicine Hat and Prince Albert. It was estimated that the book would contain a 6,000-word introduction followed by approximately 80 archival photographs of Brandon spanning from early settlement to the late 1950s/early 1960s.
Brandon University history major Pam Svistovski worked as McGuinness’ research assistant and McGuinness obtained images for the book from his own personal collection, the Brandon Sun, Lawrence Stuckey, the Archives of Manitoba, and the Western Pictorial Index.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness during the writing phase of the monograph The Wheat City. The materials were donated to the SJ McKee Archives by the Estate of Fred McGuinness circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries consists of textual records and photographs created and collected during the production of the monograph The Wheat City. It includes correspondence, newspapers articles, drafts and black and white photographs from the Archives of Manitoba, Western Canada Pictorial Index, and Illustrated Souvenir of Brandon.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was obtained from The Wheat City’s acknowledgements and a letter to Mr. Fred McGuinness from Western Producer Books, dated September 24, 1987 (McG 5.6, File 11)
Where known, archival reference numbers for photographs obtained from the Archives of Manitoba and the Western Canada Pictorial Index and considered/used in The Wheat City have been provided in the item level description
Accruals
Closed
Repro Restriction
Images published in the monograph and stored in files copyright protected by their respective organizations
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Clarence Hopkin collection
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible research materials pertaining to this monograph may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2) Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), Manitoba: The Province & The People (McG 5.4), and Manitoba Enterprise (McG 5.5)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to picture sources
Item is a photograph of the City of Brandon's "See you in '82" float advertising Brandon's upcoming Centennial in 1982. The float is a steamboat and features a number of posters.
Brandon's City Hall and Opera House opened on New Year's Day 1892 with the Annual Fireman's Ball. The exterior of the building was designed by Brandon architect W.R. Marshall. At the south end was the Opera House, an auditorium formed by an internally exposed framework of delicate iron pillars and trusses. Demonlished in 1971, the limestone rubble of the foundations were turned into a sunken garden located in Princess Park.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo was taken from the northwest corner of 9th Street and Princess Avenue and shows the west side of City Hall.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Assiniboine Historical Society's Brandon: An Architectural Walking Tour pamphlet (1982).
Location Copy
A 5" x 7" (b/w) reproduction of the photograph is located with the original.
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
Photograph was found by Al Mitchell, a City of Brandon employee.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a family residence in the city. Four adults (three men and one woman) and three male children are standing at the property's fence or on the wooden sidewalk.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness standing with Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood (centre) and the Centennial Commissioner John Fisher (right). The men are standing before an architectural model.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: On tour of Newfoundland as member, board of directors Canadian Centennial Commission, McG, Premier Smallwood, & John Fisher, Centennial Commissioner, 1965
The construction of the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium was considered first during a meeting of the Brandon City Council in 1953. In 1962, the City of Brandon was given permission by Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin to proceed with the construction of the auditorium as a centennial project to celebrate Canada's centennial in 1967. Constructed on the Brandon University campus, the auditorium was completed in early 1969.
Custodial History
This collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of one scrapbook with newspaper clippings and pamphlets about the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium and its construction.
Photograph of the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (WMCA). View is looking northeast from 20th Street. Victory Tolgesy's "Explorer" in the foreground.
Photograph is a proposed model for a centennial auditorium for western Manitoba prepared by Ward and Macdonald Associates - Architects. View is southeast from the northwest corner of Princess Avenue and 20th Street. The model includes the proposed auditorium as well as a number of buildings on the Brandon College campus.
Photograph taken during a game between the Brandon University Bobcats and Lakehead University. Bobcats Kenny Fields (#22) with the ball, Patrick Jebbison (#44) in the background.