Betty Margaret Gibson was born on July 14, 1911 in Brandon, MB. She attended primary school in Alexandra and Park schools, and took her teachers education at the Brandon Normal School. She began her teaching career in 1929. Teaching first in Deloraine and Chater, in 1936, Gibson travelled to South Africa to be the headmistress at Kingsmead College, Johannesburg. She returned to Brandon ten years later to take up the post of Principal at Fleming School. During this time she completed a BA from Brandon College (1959). Attaining her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, she taught at the University of Saskatoon and Brandon College/University. At Brandon University she was heavily involved with Indigenous teacher programs, including BUNTEP, PENT and IMPACT. She was briefly the Assistant Superintendent for the Brandon School Division (1967-1968). Gibson was active in the Children's Aid Society, co-created and appeared in a television show called "Common Sense About Reading" (CBC), and was the author of a children's book called "The Story of Little Quack." Gibson received the Centennial Medal in 1967, and the J.M. Brown Award (1974), for contribution to education in Manitoba. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Liberal Laws from BU in 1975, and even in retirement continued to teach education courses at BU and help children with reading disabilities. In 2003, she was inducted into Brandon University's Hall of Fame. Betty Gibson School in the Brandon School Division is named in her honor. Gibson never married. Betty Gibson died on February 23, 2001 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
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 Betty Gibson about her teaching career. Interviewer is JE Bateman.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Manitoba Historical Society, The Brandon Sun and the records. Transcript by Nathan Qumsieh (2014). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy created 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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See sub-series level description for MG 1 1.12 Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon fonds for biographical information.
Custodial History
See sub-series level description for MG 1 1.12 Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon fonds for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon with two former staff members Dr. Betty Gibson and Dr. Isabelle Mills (Saskatoon) at the Teacher Training Course Class of 1962 25th reunion in Brandon July 1987.
Very poor. Item has been broken in half on a diagonal from top to botton. Upper right corner is missing. Various tape stains and some tape residue on the bottom left.
History / Biographical
Lottie Louisa Currie was born on September 9, 1876 in St. Mary's, Perth, ON, to William and Eleanor Currie. She came to the Brandon area with her family in the 1880s. Currie worked as a bookkeeper and stenographer for Smith & Burton, from at least 1906 until the business ceased operations in 1917.
Currie continued working in bookkeeping and accounts, first for Brandon Gas & Power Co., then for the Manitoba Power Commission. She appears to have retired around 1942. She is not listed as living in Brandon between 1943-1945, but was once again a resident by 1947. Currie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a charter member of the Brandon Business and Professional Women's Club and in 1916, she passed her examinations for the St. John's Ambulance Association.
Lottie Louisa Currie died on November 25, 1972 in Brandon, MB.
Smith & Burton, a grocery store that also had mail order and china departments, was founded by E.B. Smith and John Burton in the 1886. It was housed at a few locations in downtown Brandon; their location at 829 Rosser Avenue is the one that mostly likely appears in the photograph.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of office employees at Smith & Burton, grocers. Lottie Currie, daughter of William Currie, is shown standing on the left.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness at a Pierre Burton book signing for "The Promised Land." Mr. Burton is seated at table in the concourse of the Brandon Shoppers' Mall in front of Doigs.
Eva Nelson (nee Harrison) was born on July 5, 1896 in Killarney, MB. Raised in Holmfield, MB where her family owned and operated a mill, Eva married Mark Nelson (1888-1946) on July 4, 1917, in Turtle Mountain. The couple farmed at Dry River, MB and raised three children: Iva, Enid and Merton. Eva Nelson died on August 9, 1989 in Pilot Mound, MB. She is buried at Greenwood 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 Eva Nelson about Holmfield Village, 1895-1910. Interviewer is Amy Harrison.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Find a Grave website and Nelson's obituary. Transcript by Hayley McCaskill (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Evelina "Sinc" Adams (nee Sinclair) was born on November 22, 1898 at Shoal Lake, MB. She grew up in Rossburn, and then in 1918 moved to Neepawa to train as a registered nurse. She nursed on and off in hospital and care homes until retiring in 1968. Sinc married William R. Adams (1898-1988) on November 29, 1922 and together they raised four children - Florence, Margaret, John and William - on the family farm west of Neepawa. The couple moved into town in 1944, and ceased farming in 1970. Sinc was active in the community as a member of the United Church, a Red Cross supporter, a school trustee and a life time member of the Beautiful Plains Museum and the Porphyria Foundation. She enjoyed curling, golf and family history and was a long time member of the Anemone Rebekah Lodge #23. She was awarded the Decloration of Chivalry, the highest honor a member can receive. Evelina Adams died on December 13, 1990 in Neepawa, MB. She is buried at Riverside 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 Evelina Adams about nursing as a career. Interviewer is Dorothy P. Martin.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Adams' obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Ethel Elizabeth Mary Allen (nee Baker) was born on June 30, 1915 on Springhill Farm in the RM of Rosedale. She attended Springhill School and Neepawa Collegiate. An accomplished pianist, she formed a band with her brothers and together they played many dances. Ethel married William Allen (1902-1964) in June 1938 and together they had one son, Larry. Following the marriage, the couple lived in the residence at Howden elevator where Bill was the elevator agent for the Ogilvie company. Ethel helped Bill with bookkeeping. When Bill died, Ethel moved to Neepawa, where she worked for the Osborone Senior Citizens Home for a number of years. A long time member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Naomi Chapter No. 11, Ethel enjoyed curling, sewing and travel. Ethel Allen died on May 14, 2001 in Neepawa, MB. She is buried at Riverside 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 Ethel Allen about the history of the Potter-Baker Centennial Farm. Interviewer is Isabelle Heeney.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and the local history "The Beautiful Plains Story, 1983-2008." Transcript by Sarah Gerdis-Filipchuk (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Faith Ellen Flay (nee Willis) was born on September 17, 1884 in Little Burn, Devonshire, England. Faith married William Frederick Flay (1877-1965) in Tiverton, Devon on December 26, 1906 and together they had two children: Winnifred Ellen and William George. She immigrated to Canada with her children in 1916 to join her husband who had come to Canada in 1913. The family lived in many communities in southern Manitoba - Deloraine, Clearwater, Whitewater, Boissevain, Hartney and Brandon - where William farmed and worked for the railroad. Faith took her midwife training in Britain and continued to work as a midwife in Manitoba, working closely with Dr. Buchanan (Deloraine) and Dr. Corbett (Crystal City). Faith Flay died on Septebmer 22, 1985 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Riverside 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 Faith Flay about pioneering to Canada. Interviewer is Hazel Rose.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Flay's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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