The series was created by the committee involved with the financial aspects of the winter and summer fairs, as well as the committee formed in the mid1960s to look into the feasibility of creating a complex that could house both fairs
Custodial History
The records were housed at the Inter-Provincial Exhibition, the PEM, and the MEA until c1986 when they were transferred to the S.J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The series includes financial records, proposals for an arena complex, financial statements, economic evaluations, annual reports, and a ledger with names and wages in it.
Notes
Part of RG2SF4. Inventory of documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF4 Miscellaneous
The documents were created by members of the Board of Directors, and others involved with the management of the winter fair.
Custodial History
See sous-fonds RG2SF2 for custodial history.
Scope and Content
The series includes several copies of the MWF Constitution, a 1908 constitution, 1909 MWFFSA shares belonging to John Bradley, a 1968 agreement for the non-military use of property, and several agreements between the MWF and several other companies spanning the dates 1934 to 1963.
Notes
Part of RG2SF2. Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
These minutes were created by the Board of Directors and the Shareholders at the meetings that they held from 1908 to 1932. The Board of Directors was created in 1908. While the collection currently houses minutes from 1908 to 1932, it is evident from Prize Lists and Programs that the Board of Directors structure evolved in the following way.
The structure of the winter fair was quite different from the summer fair. Instead of having a committee structure, the winter fair had both committees and representatives from various agricultural associations. The representatives were part of the Board of Directors. In 1908 these representatives included men from the Horse Breeders’ Association, the Cattle Breeders’ Association, the Sheep Breeders’ Association, the Swine Breeders’ Association, the Poultry Breeders’ Association, the Brandon Winter Fair and Fat Stock Association, and the Manitoba Agricultural College. With the addition of representatives from the Manitoba Clydesdale Association, and the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association, these committees continued virtually without change until 1930.
By the 1930s, several more representatives joined the Board of Directors including the Winnipeg Livestock Exchange, the Manitoba Percheron Association, the Canadian Shorthorn Association, and the Hereford Association. By 1935 there were also representatives from the Prairie Thoroughbred and Racing Association, the Manitoba Boards of Trade, the Western Manitoba Board of Trade, the Aberdeen Angus Association, and the Canadian Percheron Association. The Canadian Clydesdale Association joined the Board by 1940.
By 1950, several more agricultural associations had joined the Board of Directors. They included the Brandon Light Horse Society, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, the Manitoba Veterinary Association, the Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and the Canadian Red Poll Association. By 1955, a representative from the City of Brandon rounded out the representatives on the Board of Directors.
The first committees of the Board of Directors began in 1908 with the formation of the Brandon Winter Fair and Fat Stock Association. The committees included an Executive, Horse, Livestock, Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Poultry and Seed. By 1915 there were also Program, Prize/Accounts, Carcass, Exhibits/Public Comfort, Building, and Provincial Government committees. Most of these later committees were not long lived, or were not mentioned much past 1915. A Judging Competition Committee was added in 1925 and lasted until sometime in the 1940s. In 1950 an official Finance committee was formed, as well as a Gates/Tickets committee. By 1955, three more committees had been added including 4-H/Junior Activities, Light Horse and Heavy Horse.
By the 1960s, a Publicity committee was also added. In 1965 there were several committees formed including Police/Traffic/Parking, Concessions, Calf/Pig Scrambles, Baby Fair, Flower Show and the Fall Feeder Show and Sale. A Fashion Show committee was added by 1970. In 1975 a Property committee is also mentioned.
The 1980s appear to have been a time of great growth for the winter fair, as there was a large increase in the number of committees. By 1985 the following committees had been formed: Dance, Hitching Ring, Steer Show, Bull Sale, Western Breakfast, Egg Show, Entertainment, Exhibitor’s Lounge, VIP, Cattle Parade, Calcutta, Winter Fair Sponsors, Casino and Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. These committees continued for the most part through into the 1990s.
Custodial History
See sous-fonds RG2SF2 for custodial history.
Scope and Content
The series includes the minutes from meetings held from 1908 to 1932. An interesting aspect to these records is that they include the first meetings held by the newly formed winter fair Board of Directors. The early minutes are an interesting look into the formation of an organization.
Notes
Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
The records were created by a member of the administrative staff of the winter fair.
Custodial History
The records were housed at the MWF, and the MEA until c1986 when they were transferred to the S.J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The series includes two files that house correspondence dealing with the issue of complimentary tickets. As well, the series includes many examples of tickets, badges, and ribbons from the winter fairs of 1966-1973.
Notes
Part of RG2SF2. Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
See Administrative History for RG2SF2 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
Custodial History
The records were housed at the BWFLA, the MWF, and MEA until c1986 when they were transferred to the S.J. McKee Archives located at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The series contains records that did not fit into any other series. Some of these records include, notices of meetings, a donation sheet, sketches for a RMWF logo, a speech, and an article about Robert John Wright.
Notes
Inventory of documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
These files were created by a member of the administrative staff of the winter fair.
Custodial History
The records were housed at the MEA until c1986 when they were transferred to the S.J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The files include the administrative records from the 1980 RMWF and the 1982 RMWF. The files encompass such subjects as Prize List Production, Concessions, Correspondence, Mailing Lists, Canvassing, Grants and Donations, and many others.
Notes
Part of RG2SF2. Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
This series was created by the Publicity committee attached to the Board of Directors. There are no records of this committee, but it is possible to find mention of it in the prize lists and programs for the winter fair. See Appendix 2 in the printed finiding aid.
Custodial History
The records were housed at the MEA until c1986 when they were transferred to the S.J. McKee Archives at Brandon University on a continuing basis.
Scope and Content
The series include the news releases that were sent out to various media to promote the fair. The series includes the years 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1989.
Notes
Part of RG2SF2. Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
The series was created by a member of the administrative staff of the Board of Directors. It is believed that these files were originally part of a larger administrative file, but before deposit in the archives they were separated from the files and a new series was created.
Custodial History
The records were held by the MEA until c1986 when they were transferred to the S.J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The files include original results for the different events from 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985.
Notes
Part of RG2SF2. Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
The prize lists and programs of the winter fair were created by a committee attached to the Board of Directors of the fair. This committee was in existence from c1909, shortly after the winter fair was organized.
Custodial History
See sous-fonds RG2SF2 for custodial history.
Scope and Content
The series includes prize lists and programs from 1918 to 1992. The programs include daily programs, as well as individual classes and competitions. They also list the competitors for each class. The prize lists include all classes and the prize money or prize to be won.
Notes
Inventory of the documents in the series is available in the printed finding aid.
Storage Location
RG 2 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Association fonds
RG2SF2 Manitoba Winter Fair
Series A is comprised of the records of the local co-operative elevator association as established in the period 1925 - 1968 under the Co-operative Associations Act. Until 1968 the local associations were the main administrative unit of Manitoba Pool Elevators. Subsequent to 1968 Pool Elevators became a direct membership top down organization. The central office was at the top, and the province was divided into seven administrative districts, which were in turn each divided into six sub-districts. Each sub-district would usually contain approximately five "locals". Please note that local associations were not obliged to become part of the new structure of Manitoba Pool Elevators, and as late as 1975 there were still 29 locals that did not belong to a sub-district. The records of each local within the Series may, but do not necessarily, contain the following: organizational papers, minutes of executive board, minutes of shareholders annual meeting, financial statements, correspondence, membership lists, miscellaneous. Series has been divided into 233 sub-series.
Notes
This series contains records for both local associations and for sub-districts. Item number does not correspond to sub-district number, so an item number and sub-district number may be the same and correspond to two seperate records.
The structure of the Manitoba Pool Elevators from its beginning in 1925 until its restructuring in 1968 placed importance in the principle of democracy. The company was run from the local associations, the central office acting as a hub that facilitated communication between all the locals and between the locals and the selling agencies. The central office was not powerless, but important decisions or by-laws could not be made with out the consent of the majority of the locals.
After the restructuring of MPE in 1968 the central office took on more responsibilities. It became the top of the administrative structure and instead of members belonging to their local elevator, they were now direct members of MPE. This administrative structure continued until the 1998 merger with the Alberta Wheat Pool to form Agricore.
Scope and Content
Series B consists of an artificially assembled collection of Central Office records. It has been divided into the following sub-series: (1) Central Office minute books; (2) Documents; (3) Local Association Minutes; (4) Local association finacial statements; (5) District and Sub-district records; (6) Circulars; (7) Annual reports; (8) Speeches & Addresses; (9) Correspondence; (10) Broadcasts; (11) General Reports; (12) Indexes; (13) Summary of Association Operations; (14) Acquisitions; (15) Inter-provincial Committees; (16) Historical Topics.
As the Manitoba Pool Elevators grew as a co-operative organizations and later a corporation, it aquired subsidiary companies and became involved with other co-operative organizations. These various companies were usually acquired or formed to either reach out to other types of producers in Manitoba or to assist Pool members. MPE was also involved with larger umbrella or subsidiary co-operative organizations.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
This series has been divided into nine sub-series, including: (1) Border Fertilizer Ltd., (2) Co-enerco, (3) CSP Foods, (4) Co-op Farm Implements, (5) Co-operative Life Insurance Co. & Pool Insurance Ltd., (6) Livestock Co-operative Division, (7) Poultry and Dairy Pools, (8) The Wasagaming Foundation, (9) North Cypress-Langford Weed Control Districts
Pierian Spring was intended to be a literary quarterly publishing poetry, short stories, creative prose and art work. Submissions were accepted from anyone anywhere on any theme and in any style. The name Pierian Spring was originally suggested by Mr. John Moyle, a former English teacher at Harrison High School, Brandon. The Pierian spring in Thrace was the home of the Muses, daughters of Zeus and Titaness Mnemosyne (Memory). The quarterly was published by Brandon University Press.
Scope and Content
Pierian Spring (Winter 1976) Volume One, Number One contains poetry, short stories, creative prose and art work by various contributors.
Item was accessioned in 2007 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Consists of a Brandon University Winter Carnival button. The button measures 2.5" across, with a white background. In the centre of the button is the Winter Carnival mascot. The mascot is circled by "Brandon University Winter Carnival" in blue lettering. The button has a gold and purple (originally blue?) ribbon attached to it.
Item is a mini-chapbook entitled "Winter Sunlight, Summer Rain" by Roger Finch. It is series 1, number 2 of the Dollarpoems series. The series was published by Pierian Press at Brandon University.
Artifacts in this series were collected by Fred McGuinness during the course of his lifetime as a community volunteer and newspaperman. Beginning in the mid-1930s through the Second World War, McGuinness worked with the Canadian Pacific Telegraph service in Brandon and Winnipeg. McGuinness frequently wrote about those early experiences in his newspaper columns, journals, and monographs.
In the early 1950s, while McGuinness worked as a publicist with the Unemployment Insurance Commission in Winnipeg, he volunteered with community organizations such as the Winnipeg Community Chest Drive. From 1953 to 1955, McGuinness worked as an organizer for the Province of Saskatchewan’s 1955 Golden Jubilee.
After the Saskatchewan Jubilee, McGuinness worked with The Medicine Hat News as a journalist and publisher from 1955 to 1965. During that time, McGuinness became heavily involved with the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce. His community and business connections resulted in his appointment as a fundraiser for the Medicine Hat Junior College Library, a building project intended to see the City established with its own college.
After his work with the Saskatchewan Jubilee, McGuinness was asked to be a Regional Director for the Canadian Centennial Commission from 1965 to 1967. During that time, McGuinness returned to his hometown of Brandon in 1966, to start a 20-year career with the Brandon Sun as a publisher and vice-president. McGuinness’ interest in local history, of which he often wrote, made him the recipient of local ephemera from his readers.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
This series contains artifacts collected by Fred McGuinness during the course of his lifetime as a community volunteer and newspaperman. The artifacts include one telegraph sounder, four letterpress blocks, five typesetter rulers, two patches, two buttons, one token, one tin box, and ten sound recordings.
The telegraph sounder and relay system was possibly a gift from Bill Flett, a CPR superintendent. In his story “Canadian Pacific” published in Letters from Section 17 (1999), McGuinness mentions receiving a package containing telegraph equipment while he was working at the Brandon Sun. The tin box in McGuinness’ collection contained copies of telegraphs announcing the end of the war.
Two letterpress type blocks have the letters “WM” which may represent the initials of Fred McGuinness’ father William McGuinness. J.R. Langford donated the “Colquhoun and Beattie” type plate to McGuinness, a known collector of Brandon local history. Mr. Beattie had gifted the plate to Lanford’s father who worked as a barber in Brandon in 1906. The Brandon Sun letterpress is likely from the period when McGuinness worked at the Brandon Sun.
The five typesetter rulers come from a variety of typesetter and newspaper companies and include Teletypesetter (Chicago, IL), 6 Cutting Limited (Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg), Mergenthaler Linotype Company (Brooklyn, NY), and The Edmonton Journal.
The two buttons in the collection come from McGuinness’ time as a community-volunteer in Winnipeg, Manitoba. One button is from the Community Chest Drive, the other button is a guest badge from the 1953 Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.
The two patches are from the Saskatchewan Golden Jubilee (1955). Photographs of Saskatchewan Jubilee events and participants wearing the patch on their blazers can be found in the McGuinness photograph collection.
McGuinness saved a Medicine Hat College Official Opening Token from October 3, 1971. McGuinness was likely at the opening as he was originally involved in the establishment of the junior college in the 1960s.
The sound recordings in McGuinness’ collection largely pertain to centennial events, which McGuinness helped organize. There is one box set containing four records of the Saskatchewan Golden Jubilee Choir. Tucked in this volume is an additional record of the Choir recorded at CKCK, Regina, Saskatchewan. Also stored within the box set was a copy “Canada, A Centennial Song.”
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives
Documents
McG 7 McGuinness artifacts and sound recordings inventory.pdf
