Jean Louise Mains (nee Cameron) was born on September 16, 1907 in Boissevain, MB. She attended school in Boissevain, one year at Brandon College and received her teaching certificate from the Brandon Normal School in 1926. She taught at Dunallen, Royal and Fairburn schools until her marriage to Clifford Mains (1890-1948) in 1937. The couple had three daughters: Barbara, Elizabeth and Susan. Clifford and Jean farmed until 1944, and then moved to Boissevain. Jean did hospital books until 1950, then moved with the children to Brandon for a year so she could take a secretarial course. Returning to Boissevain, she worked at the agricultural office for nine years then returned to school again, this time taking a business course at Red River College. For the next thirteen years Jean taught business at the Boissevain High School. A member of the Eastern Star, IODE, the UCW Group of St. Paul's United Church and the Beckonging Hills Activity Club, Jean enjoyed travelling and playing bridge. Jean Mains died on February 15, 2003 in Boissevain, MB. She is buried at Boissevain and Morton Cemetery.
Myrna Dring (nee Hicks) was born on May 18, 1944 in Ninga, MB. A part-time speech aide at Boissevain School in the early 1980s, she took her psychiatric nursing training in Brandon, Winnipeg and Ninette from 1962-1965. On July 31, 1965, Myrna married Ray Clinton Dring (1942-2005), and the couple adopted a daughter, Nancy. After the marriage, the family lived in Boissevain, where Ray was involved with the family business Dring Laminated Structures Ltd. In 1985, the Drings moved to Winnipeg. Myrna Dring continues to live in Winnipeg, MB.
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 Jean Cameron Mains and Myrna Hicks Dring about social life in the town of Boissevain from approximately 1900-1980. The interviewer is Bernice Pettypiece.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Mains' obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Mary Ellen Birtles was born at Sheffield, England in 1858. She emigrated to Canada with her family in June 1883, settling in Winnipeg. In 1889, she was one of the first three graduates of the nurse training program at the Winnipeg General Hospital. During her nursing career, Mary Ellen worked in North Dakota, Medicine Hat, Brandon and Calgary. In Brandon she served first as a senior nurse (approximately 1892-1894), then returned in 1898 to become Matron of the Brandon General Hospital. She retired from that position in 1919. In 1935, Mary Ellen received the Order of the British Empire from the Governor General of Canada for her role in the pioneer nursing of Western Canada. She never married. Mary Ellen Birtles died on June 22, 1943 in Alexander, MB. She is buried at Alexander 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 Phyllis Long reading an article written by Mary Ellen Birtles in 1925, about the history of the Brandon General Hospital.
Notes
History/bio information from the Manitoba Historical Society website. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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