The Brandon Women's Musical Club was formed in 1945 by Miss Peggy Sharpe and Miss Hilda Smith. Together with a group of women from around Brandon, they managed to form a large club for, according to the club's constitution, "the study of vocal and instrumental music, literature and related arts and the encouragement of promising Junior Artists under eighteen years of age." With these goals in mind, the club undertook to provide tuition for young music students and contributed to the formation of the Brandon Women's Musical Choral Club. The club held meetings during which club members listened to guest speakers and observed performances by local musical and dance groups, as well as some national musical stars. The group also sponsored performances of musicals, plays, and recitals, and held an annual Christmas party.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 2002. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds is composed predominantly of two scrapbooks, one of which covers the years 1953-1960, the other the years 1960-1965. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings about the Musical Club's meetings and performances. There is also a file containing miscellaneous correspondence, the constitution and bylaws of the group, the club's membership lists from 1959-1964, and questionnaires about the Women's Musical Club.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees came into existence in September 1963, during a convention in Winnipeg when The National Union of Public Employees and the National Union of Public Service Employees merged. In 1964, the Manitoba Division of CUPE (now CUPE Manitoba) held its founding convention in The Pas. At that time, there were 12 affiliated local unions and a total membership of 1,300. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada's largest union. Public service employees formed CUPE to protect their rights, to negotiate wages and working conditions, and to achieve dignity in the workplace.
Custodial History
Fonds was in the possesssion of the Brandon CUPE Office until its donation to the S.J. McKee Archives in 1995.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains general administrative files of the CUPE including agreements, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and convention records. In addition, fonds includes records for many CUPE locals in southwestern and north-central Manitoba. These includes files for each local containing agreements, lists of officials, correspondence and financial records. An extensive body of records dating from 1956 exists for CUPE local #69. This local began its existence as the Brandon Civic Employees Federal Union formed in April 1919.
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.
In the summer of 1986, faculty members at Brandon University developed a project aimed at identifying the archival records that existed in public and private collections throughout western Manitoba. A grant was secured from the Manitoba Heritage Federation, and reseachers were employed to travel throughout the region to identify and record the wide variety of records. The results of their work was a four volume set of inventories.
Custodial History
W.R. Morrison left the university in 1991. At the time he gave Tom Mitchell copies of volumes 1-3. In 2006, John Everitt provided the archives with a copy of volume 4.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of four volumes: 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991. The inventories were generated through extensive research at various centres throughout western Manitoba. Each inventory contains a record of archival materials held by individuals, organizations and/or municipalities throughout the region.
