Leonard Andrew Muirhead (1918–2008) was the only child of Andrew and Isabella Muirhead. He grew up on the farm homestead in the Summerville District near Carberry, Manitoba. He graduated from Carberry Collegiate when he was sixteen. He helped out on the farm for two yeas after graduation then attended United College, Winnipeg, and then Brandon College. Muirhead then worked in the Financial Department at Canada Packers in Saint Boniface until 1942. In 1942 he returned home and helped his father with the farm operation. Leonard married Verle Sinclair, a local schoolteacher, on October 12, 1951. They had three daughters: Iris, Gwen, and Arla. In 1965, health reasons made him give up active farming and he began an income tax preparation business as well as selling investments for Trust Companies.
Leonard Muirhead attended Brandon College for the 1937-1938 school year. This was the last year that Brandon College was associated with McMaster University as it then became affiliated with the University of Manitoba.
Custodial History
The papers remained with Leonard Muirhead’s papers until his daughter, Iris Muirhead, donated the papers to the S.J. McKee Archives in 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists primarily of 1938 examination papers from Brandon College, when it was affiliated with McMaster University. It also contains an exam schedule and a course outline. It contains examination papers from spring 1938 for the courses of 2nd and 3rd Years Physics 2y, 3w, Bible 2k, Psychology 2a, Mathematics 2x, Mathematics 1e, a syllabus for second term English 1g2a, and an examination timetable for spring 1938 for Brandon College.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from conversation with Leonard Muirhead's daughter, Iris Muirhead in October 2012 and from obituary http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-136216/(accessed October 24, 2012). Description by Jennifer Sylvester (October 2012).
The Leonard Muirhead collection is available at the Carberry Plains Archives. Leonard Muirhead also donated records related to Montrose School and Carberry 4-H Combines to the Carberry Plains Archives.
Dr. MacNeill was the central figure in the scandal involving Brandon College in the early 1920’s. The Fundamentalist Baptists accused Brandon College, and Dr. MacNeill especially, of teaching Modernist views. He was absolved of any charges at the 1924 Baptist Convention in Chicago.
For history/bio information for H.L. MacNeill, see RG 1 Brandon College fonds, BC 6: Office of the college dean.
Scope and Content
File consists of correponsdence to Howard Whidden, President of Brandon College, and various regarding Dr. MacNeill and his teachings (October 1921 - January 1922). It also contains a copy of "An Abstract of the Report of the Brandon College Commission" prepared by Rev. H.H. Bingham regarding Dr. MacNeill and his teachings.
Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
The first photo of the famed Hunkpapa war chief, taken at Fort Buford, D.T. shortly after his surrender to major Guido Ilges, Fifth Infantry, following a short fight near the Poplar Camp Post, January 2, 1881. Four years earlier, in the valley of Little Bighorn, it was Gall, Sitting Bull's lieutenant and war chief, who rallied to meet Reno's initial charge and quickly turned it into a devastating retreat. Gall later crossed the Little Bighorn River and led the Sioux to triumph over Custer's contingent of the Seventh Cavalry. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Low Dog 'Xunka Kuciyedon' (b.1846) This respected warrior became a war chief at age 14. In January of 1876, Low Dog and his band joined a party of Northern Cheyenne at the Red Cloud Agency and planned to hunt in the Powder River County. In March of that year, Low Dog's people set up camp with a large non-agency band of Northern Cheyenne and a few Oglala Sioux near the union of the Little Powder and Powder River. On Saint Patrick's day this sleeping village was attacked and destroyed by Colonel J.J. Reynolds. During the night of March 17th the Indians managed to recapture their horses. Without provisions the mixed band traveled northward to join Crazy Horse and later Sitting Bull on the Little Bighorn, where Low Dog led his people against Custer and the 7th Cavalry. Low Dog's account of the battle was published many times. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Red Cloud 'Makpiya-luta'. As a non-hereditary chief, Red Cloud became the most successful war leader of the Cheyenne and Sioux during the 1860's and the Indians' campaign to close the Bozeman Trail and keep the Powder River inviolate. The Sioux were victorious and with the signing of the Fort Laramic treaty in 1868 the army abandoned her forts within the Dakota's hunting grounds. Thus Red Cloud became one of the few Indians ever to win an armed conflict against the U.S. Army. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Red Horse 'Xunktanka Stanewe'. During the spring of 1876, Red Horse moved his band from the region of the Cheyenne River traveling through the Rosebud Valley and met with a large contingent of Sioux assembling on the west bank of the Little Bighorn river. As a head chief within the council lodge of the largest recorded Sioux camp, Red Horse fought both Custer and Reno. In 1881 at the Cheyenne River Agency, S.D., Red Horse created 41 ledger drawings illustrating his part in the famed battle. His story was published by the Bureau of American Ethnology in their Tenth Annual Report. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Crow King 'Kangi Yatapi'. As a prisoner of war, Crow King posed for this picture in Barry's studio at Fort Buford, D.T., in the winter of 1881. During the battle of Little Bighorn, Crow King and his band of 80 warriors attacked Custer from the south, allowing Crazy Horse and Gall to encircle the doomed 7th Cavalry. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Sitting Bull 'Tatanka Iyotanka' (1834-1890). The spiritual leader and head of the Hunkpapa warrior societies, Sitting Bull poses in Barry's studio wearing a crucifix of brass and wood. It was presented to him in June of 1868 by 'Black Robe', Father Pierre Jean De Smet, who had been sent by General Sherman to bring Sitting Bull and his hostiles to council. Without Sitting Bull the 'Laramic Treaty' council took place at Fort Rice, D.T., July 2, 1868. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Running Antelope 'Tatoke Inyanke' (ca. 1830-1892). Running Antelope was one of four principal chiefs chosen by the Hunkpapa in 1851. His exploits as a warrior are well known. Equally capable as a statesman, he represented his people during the Fort Laramic Treaty councils in 1868. As an orator, he was considered the most eloquent of all Hunkpapa chiefs. His face appears on the 1899 five-dollar certificate. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Goose was one of the best known Arikara scouts of the 1876 Sioux Campaign; he enlisted during April of that year for the expedition. He fought with Reno and was wounded during the initial battle of the valley. His story has been printed in numerous publications. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
18 X 13 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
Bowing back of picture along both vertical edges away from mat.
Long Dog 'Xunka Hanska'. Long Dog participated in many battles of the Sioux Wars and was thought to carry the favorable charm of a ghost which mad him invincible and granted his heroic success in war. Although severely wounded during the Custer battle, he returned to Standing Rock and lived out his days as a legendary warrior and chief. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
23 X 19 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
Bowing back of picture along both vertical edges away from mat.
War Eagle 'Wanmdi Kecizapi'. Labeled by early historians as Yankton Sioux, War Eagle posed for the photographer wearing war shirt of the old style, quilled arm and shoulder bands, holding a tacked and quilled pipe. Prominent Sioux warriors were known to wear buffalo horn bonnets during dances and on war parties. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
As the Cheyenne and Sioux retreated south toward the 'White Rain (Bighorn) Mountains' following the Battle of Little Bighorn, many of the wounded warriors died. They were laid to rest in their finest clothing admits their cherished belongings atop burial scaffolds or within the branches of strong trees. It was here sorrowful families bid the fallen warriors spirit good-bye as it began its journey across the great divide. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Long Soldier 'Akicita Hanska'. A well known Hunkpapa chief at standing Rock, he wears a beaver top hat in vogue during the Civil war days. He was known as a skillful hunter and fearless warrior. Long Soldier represented his band at the signing of the 'Treaty of Fort Laramie' in 1868. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Forty-one Arikara scouts enlisted to participate in Custer's '76 Sioux Campaign. Many of these have been photographically identified. This man is a proven warrior as indicated by his pointed, quilled and scalp-lock decorated shirt. A shirt wearer occupied a position of honor and authority among his people, primarily responsible for the welfare of others as a result of his deeds as a warrior. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Wild Horse 'Xunktanka Wohitika'. An Oglala chief, Wild Horse was said to have been the brother of cousin of the great chief and leader, Crazy Horse, of whom no documented photograph is known. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
23 X 19 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
Severe bowing back of both vertical edges away from mat.
Rain-in-the-Face 'Iromagaja'. The first photograph of Rain-in-the-Face, taken shortly before his arrest and incarceration at Fort Lincoln in 1874. He was one of the leaders during the Fetterman disaster of 1866, the worst defeat the U.S. Army had suffered on the frontier up to that time. His prowess as a warrior continued throughout the Sioux Wars. Wounded and lamed during the fight, he led his band against Custer, and later followed Sitting Bull into exile in Canada. Rain-in-the-Face and his followers surrendered to General Miles at Fort Keogh, Montana, in September of 1880. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Only weeks after they had been ordered by Agent McLaughlin (center) to arrest Sitting Bull as an attempt to calm the growing unrest from the Messiah Craze (Ghost Dance), the Sioux police pose victoriously for Barry's camera. The arrest attempt was disastrous, resulting in the deaths of six Indian police, Sitting Bull, his son Crow Foot and eight of Crow's followers. The panic which followed culminated in the infamous Wounded Knee affair two weeks later. Red Tomahawk (front center) killed Sitting Bull. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Sitting Bull 'Tatanka Iyotanka' (1834-1890). Most probably the last photograph of the legendary chief and vision seeker, Sitting Bull had guided his people for nearly 40 years during the times when Manifest Destiny sought her fortune within the lands of the Sioux . (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
