Stephen Adolph Magnacca was born December 10, 1902 in Winnipeg, MB. He joined the Winnipeg Highland Cadets in 1914, and at the age of 15, he added two years to his age and joined the Winnipeg Light Infantry. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on June 15, 1923. In 1933, he was promoted to the rank of Major. In 1956, he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment; he was made a Colonel in 1967.
Magnacca married Grace Rosina Jones in 1927 and together they had two children: Patricia and Allan. Grace Jones was born in Cardiff, Wales on November 22, 1901. She came to Winnipeg as a child. For a few years before her marriage she worked as the circulation manager of The Nor'West Farmer. Members of St. Matthew's Church, Grace Magnacca was active in the Anglican Church Women of Canada (ACW). Following her husband's death she moved to Winnipeg. Grace Magnacca died in Winnipeg, MB on December 20, 2004.
The Maganacca family lived in Winnipeg until Magnacca's military career took him to Brandon in 1940; his family followed in 1942. The Magnacca's ran an Officer's Kit Shop and then in 1947, opened a real estate business named Magnacca Agencies.
Magnacca served two terms as Mayor of Brandon (1961-1969). He was also President of the Assiniboine Historical Society. For meritorious community service, Magnacca was given a Manitoba Golden Boy Award (1969) and a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.
Stephen Magnacca died on August 4, 1980 in Brandon, MB. He is commemmorated by Magnacca Crescent in Brandon and the Magnacca Research Centre at the Daly House Museum. He was elected a Life member of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities and in 1973, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of Mayor Stephen Magnacca and his wife Grace Magnacca dressed in period costumes for Canada's Centennial in 1967.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Manitoba Historical Society website (http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/magnacca_sa.shtml) and the December 31, 1969 Brandon Sun article Experience of being the wife of the mayor has brought satisfaction to Mrs. Magnacca.
Composite portrait of the Wheat City Business College class, 1920. F.A. Wood, Principal, Instructors: Mr. D.S. Forsyth; Miss. J. H. Snider; Miss. M.D. Cowan; Miss. I.E. McKewer.
Princess Anne visited Brandon for seven hours on July 15, 1982. Her visit was covered in the July 16, 1982 issue of The Brandon Sun.
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of Princess Anne's welcome at City Hall. The event was attended by a crowd of 1500 and most of Brandon's dignitaries. The Princes is standing on a small platform on the west side of 9th Street facing spectators and the honor guard from CFB Shilo. A Canadian flag is in the foreground and Mayor Ken Burgess is standing to her right. A number of individuals are standing on the steps behind her.
Notes
The Brandon Sun includes a photograph of this same even taken from the opposite side of the street and from a wider angle.
Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
The October 1936 issues has some tears from a hole punch.
History / Biographical
Brandon Reflections was a quarterly publication issued by Brandon College in the interests of Christian education. The publication was a product of the Brandon College Board of Directors.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of copies of Brandon Reflections for: March 1935 (Vol. 1, No. 1), October 1936 (Vol. 1, No. 6), December 1937 (Vol. 1, No. 10) and March 1938 (Vol. 1, No. 11).
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
See MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Administration, 1.11 Martin Johns fonds for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking west down Lorne Avenue towards the Brandon College Building. Clark Hall and the Citzens' Science Building are visible through the trees.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photo reads: "Brandon College from 16th Street and Lorne Ave. Looking up Lorne Ave (i.e. looking west). Laurie is in the foreground taking a picture. My room is behind the top 3 windows of the tower. Laurie's directly below me and Dalton's are the 3 at the extreme right on the same floor. Science building is at the left." Laurie may be a reference to Lawrence H. Cragg who taught Chemistry at Brandon College from 1937-1943. Dalton refers to W.H. Dalton Vernon who taught Philosophy and Psychology at Brandon College from 1938-1940.
The Brandon College Bulletin was a forerunner to the current Brandon University annual report. Nothing else is known about its origins. The publication was a product of the Brandon College Board of Directors.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of copies of the Brandon College Bulletin for: 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
Sub-series consists of copies of The Brandon College Gazette, including: Vol. 1, No. 4 (May 11, 1937); Vol. 2, Nos. 1-4 (May 2, May 5, May 9, and May 11, 1938). It also includes a document entitled "Hand 'Bill' The Stick." This document is an endorsement of Bill Potoroka as a nominee for the position of Senior Stick.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
See MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Administration, 1.11 Martin Johns fonds for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking south southeast from the Assiniboine bridge on 18th Street and shows the Brandon cityscape in the background.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photo reads: "Brandon from the Assiniboine bridge. The 2 girls were just local coloring. Don't ask me who they were or are? The College is just off the street on the right away in the background."
Some warping. Small hole in background on middle left
Custodial History
Photo was donated to the McKee Archives by Bernice La Buick in 2012. She bought it that summer at a yard sale as part of a box of miscellaneous items.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon Collegiate 3B class of 1920.
Top Row (L to R): M. Harris; Daisy Patmore; H. Warren, Secretary Treasurer; R. McDorman; M. Abey; K. Cantelon
Second Row (L to R): R. Baldwin; D. McDougall, Principal; J. Gibson
Third Row (L to R): C. Anderson; M. Muller; G. Coristine, Class President; E. Grentham; M. Dorrett; A. Hepinstall
Fourth Row (L to R): M. Skene; M. Davidson; F. Merrell; V. Fielding
Fifth Row (L to R): E. Dorrett; L. Mummery; F. Adolph; M. Maxwell; H. White; E. Kennedy
Sixth Row (L to R): I. Powell; M. Price; F. Green; E. Chalmers
Bottom Row (L to R): J. Mazer; H. Waluk; L. Harper; Miss MacMorine, Class Teacher; Marjorie McKenzie; J. Campell; J. Bolton
Photo was donated to the McKee Archives by Thelma Fisher in May 2015.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon Normal School class of 1940.
Top Row (L to R): H. Hannah; W. Coulthard; E. Holditch; H. tennant; F. Williams; J. Pettifpher; H. Peterson; A. Embury; I. Campbell; J. Hainsworth; I. Vig; M. Townson
Second Row (L to R): L. Thornton; W. Lochhead; M. Ardron; D. Archibald; Miss M.A. Yeomans, Physical Culture; Mr. C. Moore, Principal; K. Watson; J.S. Caldwell; S. Bradley; J. Christie
Third Row (L to R): M. Witt; H. Mikkelsen; O. Scott; M. Scharff; D. Duncan; Miss B.A. Pilling, Primary Art; I. Duchesneau; E. Hawson; M. Simpson; D. Strath; B. Wiggins
Fourth Row (L to R): E. Henderson; C. Smithson; M. Nelin; J. Campbell; M. Young; V. Brown; G. Wenman; I. Turcotte
Fifth Row (L to R): E. Sommerville; M. Reid; I. Henderson; M. Lychacz; E. Duncan; M. Taylor; J. McPhail; D. Irwin; T.V. Cole; J. Regner; M. Skuce; P. Osman
Bottom Row (L to R): G. Pue; A. Berkhold; D. Pue; B. McLean; E. Nash; J. McFarland; J. Bonner; D. Cousins; E. Pratt; N. Boake; K. Middleton; I. Goldie
The sub-series contains the minutes from Library Committee meetings. There are also minutes from the meetings of various sub-committees such as the Open Shelf Sub-Committee and the Sub-Committee on Apportionment of Library Funds. Includes minute books and files.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 14: Brandon College Library
Sub-series Brandon College track and field programs for 1920 and 1922; two copies of Brandon College songs and yells, along with a typed copy of the class song for the class of 1929; a copy of the Brandon College students' directory for 1914-1915; and a donations pamphlet for the Brandon College Students' Memorial Gymnasium ca. 1918.
Notes
Located on the front page of the Memorial Gymnasium pamphlet is a proposed campus development plan showing the site of the proposed gymnasium, with other additional facilities including: a science building, a library/chapel, a conservatory, and a new women's residence.
At the front of the Brandon College songs and yells is a copy of the Brandon College Students' Association constitution.
The students' directory contains the constitution of the Literary Society, and a newspaper clipping regarding the death of Dorothy Nelson (nee Werthembach), former Dean of Women at Brandon College 1934-1935.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
See MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Administration, 1.11 Martin Johns fonds for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking northwest from 18th Street and shows the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall. There are a number of handmade election signs on the buildings.
See MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Administration, 1.11 Martin Johns fonds for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking southwest from 18th Street and shows Clark Hall and the Brandon College Building with the Citizens' Science Building partially visible on the lefthand side of the photo.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photo reads: "Brandon College and boys' res. is joined to Clark Hall" "from Marion(?)/Marvin(?) McLure(?)"
