Ruth Elizabeth Tester (nee Cater) was born on August 31, 1908 in Brandon, MB, the eldest child of Harry William Cater (1886-1945) and Eliza Jane Heal (1882-1967). Ruth worked as her father's bookkeeper from 1926 until approximately 1950. In 1940, Ruth married Alfred Aasen (1915-?). Their son, Phillip Bruce, was born in 1941; Bruce was adopted by Eliza Carter's brother Stanley and his wife Irene. By 1958, Ruth had married Albert Tester (1888-1965).
Members of the Cater family were active in church and community projects at the local and provincial level. They were involved with Explorers, CGIT, Cubs and Scouts and Girl Guides and the Children's Aid Board, as well as charter members of the Business and Professional Women's Club and the Allied Arts Centre. Ruth was also an active geneaologist; she was a charter member of the Manitoba Genealogical Society Inc and was instrumental in chartering the Brandon and District Branch in 1978. As a memorial, the South West Branch of the Manitoba Genealogical Society created The Ruth Tester Memorial Award, which is presented annually to a member of the branch who, in the opinion of their peers, exemplifies the spirit of service to genealogy and the branch. Ruth Tester died on January 21,1988 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Ruth Tester about Harry Cater, his business and personal life. Interviewer is Marjorie Lange.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, Brandon Sun articles mentioning Ruth Tester, obituaries for Ruth and Albert Tester, and Heal genealogy information on the Geni website. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
Media missing or recording not available.
An unexpected error occurred.
Update Required
To play the media you will need to update your
browser to a recent version, or update your Flash plugin.
Photograph shows three women standing near a waterfront. The woman on the left is Ruth McGuinness. The woman in the middle has a camera around her neck.
Very good. Some of the letters written in pencil are a little faded.
History / Biographical
Ruth Alverda Wade was born born July 11, 1912 in Brandon, MB to James and Etta Alverda. She had two younger siblings: sister Gwen and brother Sherry. The Wade family resided at 1837 Princess Avenue, Brandon, MB. Ruth graduated from Brandon College with the Class of 1933.
During her time at Brandon College Ruth met Archie MacLachlan. Archibald James MacLachlan was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 1907. He had four brothers: Howard, Edgar, Bruce, Curly and Stirling. When Archie was quite young the MacLachlan family moved to Alberta. Archie came to Brandon c. 1930 to attend Brandon College. During the summers of his years at Brandon College Archie held pastoral charges in Alberta. The first two summers were spent in the Peace River Country and the second two in Etzikom in Southern Alberta. This is the period during which the letters in the fonds were written.
Ruth Wade married Archie MacLachlan on September 19, 1934 in Brandon, MB. Following the wedding the couple moved to Hamilton, ON. Archie graduated from McMaster University with his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1937. During this period their daughter Joann Ruth was born. After his ordination as a Baptist Minister the family moved to North Bay where Archie was minister for four years. The next six years were spent in Vancouver as Archie worked as minister at Fairview Baptist Church in Vancouver. The couple's sons Archibald James and Lachlan Wade were also born during this period.
At the end of the Second World War Archie decided to go back to school. The family travelled to Brandon, where Ruth and the children remained for part of a year while Archie went ahead to Andover Newton to enroll and find a parish that would support him while he went to school. The family was reunited in Penacook, New Hampshire; they lived there for two years while Archie completed his Masters in Sacred Theology. After a brief additional period of study at Harvard University, the MacLachlan family returned to Canada, settling in Toronto while Archie finished his second Masters degree (Psychology) and held positions as interim minister and then assistant minister at York Minster Church. Following the two years in Toronto they moved to Winnipeg.
Eventually Archie left the church ministry and became Chaplain at the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital. He also continuted to train students in Pastoral Education through the courses he had begun at the Divinity College of McMaster University. He remained at the Hospital until his retirement.
During their married life Ruth was kept busy raising the couple's children and with her work as a minister's wife, particularly her work in the community. She sat on a number of community boards, including positions as President of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec and a member of the Board of Governors for McMaster University's Divinity School.
Ruth MacLachlan died on October 29, 1983 in Missassauga, ON.
Archie married Kathleen Marie (Green) French (b. January 22, 1908, d. June 1, 1998) on June 20, 1987. Archie MacLachlan died in December 1997.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of Ruth and Archie MacLachlan until their deaths. At that time the records were inherited by their daughter Joann. Joann MacLachlan donated the records to the McKee Archives on October 24, 2009 at a donation event held as part of Homecoming 2009.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of approximately 197 letters written by Ruth and Archie to each other during the spring and summers of 1932, 1933 and 1934. The letters were written during the courtship of the couple and contain details not only on about their lives in Brandon and Alberta but also more personal information about their relationship, families and future plans. Because Ruth and Archie were students at Brandon College during this period the letters also often reflect on events and personalities related to the College, as well as their own personal studies.
Fonds also contains a scrapbook compiled by Ruth during her Brandon College years. It includes photographs, newspaper clippings, graduation cards, event programs, place cards and other ephemera. There are also a few miscellaneous documents - McMaster University examination papers, handwritten sheet music, postcards - that appear to have belonged to Archie. Fonds also contains a graduation photograph of Ruth.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry. History/Bio information taken from Joann MacLachlan's book Ruth and Archie: Brandon and Brandon College 1932-1934.
Ruth and Archie's daughter Joann edited the letters into a book entitled Ruth and Archie: Brandon and Brandon College 1932-1934. A copy of the book is located in the Rare Book collection of the John E. Robbins Library, Brandon University.
William Ridley Sheridan Wade collection (28-2007)
Arrangement
The letters are arranged in chronological order with all of Archie's letters to Ruth for a particular year grouped together, followed by Ruth's letters to Archie for that same year. For preservation purposes photographs in the scrapbook have been removed and placed in photograph storage, with their corresponding scrapbook page number noted on the back. Because of the fragile condition of the scrapbook a note has been made concerning the original location of many items that have become detached from their original location in the scrapbook. These items remain with the remnants of the scrapbook in one archival housing. Note that Ruth did not place items on every page so the numbering is not sequential for scrapbook items. Some items were loose at the back of the scrapbook and therefore have no corresponding page number.
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
Media missing or recording not available.
An unexpected error occurred.
Update Required
To play the media you will need to update your
browser to a recent version, or update your Flash plugin.
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
Media missing or recording not available.
An unexpected error occurred.
Update Required
To play the media you will need to update your
browser to a recent version, or update your Flash plugin.
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
Media missing or recording not available.
An unexpected error occurred.
Update Required
To play the media you will need to update your
browser to a recent version, or update your Flash plugin.
.jpg?width=1200&404=no-img.jpg&watermark=wmk)
.jpg?width=180&404=no-img.jpg)
.jpg?width=1200&404=no-img.jpg&watermark=wmk)
.jpg?width=180&404=no-img.jpg)
.jpg%3fmaxheight%3d1000%26maxwidth%3d1000%26watermark%3dwmk&description=Banshee+interview){kind=link}
.jpg%3fmaxheight%3d1000%26maxwidth%3d1000%26watermark%3dwmk&description=Banshee+interview){kind=link}
