Search Results - S. J. McKee Archives

History / Biographical: Melvin Earl Murray was born on October 16, 1901 in Neepawa, MB and he lived his entire life in there. Earl left school at the age of 15 to assist an uncle on the farm; he was one of a number of young men who took the place of men who were called to serve in the armed services during the First World War. He worked with his father on his farm until startin a transportation business locally in 1927. In 1932, he obtained a contract with General Motors to sell G.M. products. Subsequently he contracted to sell IHC farm machineray and later added a contract as distributor of Thomas school buses for the Province of Manitoba. Earl married Margaret Mary McIntosh (1902-1994) on November 5, 1924 and together they had one son, Gerald. Earl was active in church and community affairs, service clubs and sporting circles. Among his awards were The Town of Neepawa Honorary Citizen award, The Golden Boy award, The Red Cross Service award, a Chamber of Commerce award, Motor Dealers awards provincially and nationally and Her Majesty The Queen Silver Anniversary award. Earl Murray died on September 4, 1986 in Brandon, MB. He 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 Earl Murray about automobiles in Neepawa since the early days. The interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.

Notes: History/bio information taken from the records, the Neepawa local history "Heritage" and Murray's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.

1 audio

History / Biographical: Ella Alma Nicholson (nee Kerr) was born in 1896 in the Franklin district. Her father George Kerr operated a logging mill at Kerr Lake and her mother Margaret (nee Reilly) named the area "Franklin." Ella attended Coldstream and Franklin school, before completing a two-year diploma at Agricultural College in Winnipeg. She then trained as a nurse at Winnipeg General Hospital, graduating in 1919. Following gradution she worked in Winnipeg before going to Vancouver. On February 7, 1922, she married Charles Nicholson (1890-1979), a teacher from the Franklin district. The couple returned to Manitoba, where they lived on the Nicholson family farm until they retired to Neepawa in 1950. Both of their sons, William and Patrick, were born in the Franklin district. Ella was active with The Inner Wheel, the Iriquois Women's Institute, her bowling league, and the nurses association. With Charlie, she traveled worldwide to various Rotary conventions. Ella Nicholson died on July 23, 1993 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 Ella Nicholson about homesteading in the Franklin district of Manitoba. Interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.

Notes: History/bio information from the records, the Neepawa local history "Heritage" and Nicholson's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.