Harry Wilson Miller was born on January 9, 1905 on NW 2-12-18 at Justice, MB. He attended school locally until he was old enough to take up farming with his father. Harry married Grace Ellen Cox (1918-2003) on November 14, 1934 and together they had three children: Donna, Garry and Lorna. The Millers farmed in the Justice area until the early 1970s, when they began the process of retiring. In 1990, Harry and Grace moved to Brandon. Harry was the leader of the Justice 4-H Seed Club for over 20 years, was a long-time member of the Justice United Church board and served on the Justice Community Club. He also called many square dances and enjoyed dancing. Harry Miller died on July 16, 1997 in Brandon, MB. He is buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
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 Harry Miller about his family history and agriculture. Interviewer is John Forsyth.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Miller's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Harry Spafford feeding Canada geese.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Harry Spafford feeding Canada geese near Vancouver 1976.
Photograph is a portrait of Harris Lachlan MacNeill.
Notes
Information that accopmanied the photograph reads: Harris Lachlan MacNeill. Born 1871 in Paisley, Ontario. Brandon College Professor 1903-1930. Dean of Arts 1912-1930, Acting President 1924-1927.
Susan Kent (nee Harvey) was born in 1853 in Strathroy, ON and on March 10, 1881, she married Arthur William Kent (1858-1926). The newlyweds quickly set out for Rapid City, MB, where they lived for a year, before moving to the Kenton district to homestead in 1882. Arthur Kent was considered the founder of the village of Kenton (1901). The couple had no children, but they did adopt a nephew, Arthur Alexander Wallace. Susan Kent died in 1934 and 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 a reading of Mrs. A.W. Kent's diary by Shirley S. Hunt. The entry was written in 1926, and documents Mrs. Kent's early life in Manitoba, 1881-1926.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Kenton local history book "Cradle to combine vol. 2" and Arthur Kent's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Agnes McQuarrie (nee Scott) was born on November 17,1889 at Maple Hill Farm at Oak Lake, MB. She grew up on the farm, receiving her early education at Sandhurt School, later attending Portage Collegiate for one year of Arts, before attending Portage Normal School (1908-1911). Agnes taught at Pleasant Plain School, Routledge and at Oakwood School. In 1917, she married John Beaton "Jack" McQuarrie (1888-1967). After their marriage, Agnes stayed home and took care of the couple's six children: Neil, Murray, Danny, Gwen, Margaret and Jean. Agnes McQuarrie died on May 30, 1990 in Virden, MB. She is buried at Oak Lake 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 Agnes McQuarrie about her life as a pioneer in the Oak Lake district of Manitoba. Interviewer is Wilma Hatch.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Find A Grave website and McQuarrie's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Alexander Hector Black was born on August 31, 1901 in Oak River, MB. Alex lived in the Oak River area his entire life, farming until he retired in 1976. He married Blanche Edith Paddock (1905-1985) on October 14, 1936 and together they had four children: Frank, Margaret, Melvin and Eileen. The couple moved into Oak River in 1976, and Alex remained in the home until 1997. Alex was active in the community as a member of the church board, teasurer of the church, and Sunday School Superintendent. He was also a member of the school board and the Pool Elevator board, as well as a director of the Agricultural Society (1925-198?). Alex Black died on April 1, 1999 in Hamiota, MB. He is buried at Oak River 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 Alex Black about his life from crofter to a modern farmer. Interviewer is Stan Henry.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Black's obituary. Transcript by Rhys Fletcher (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Alice May (nee Heal) was born August 13, 1910 in Strathclair, MB to Charles and Kristina Heal. Alice worked as a secretary and bookkeeper and then as a homemaker. She married Frank May (1901-1985) on November 16, 1932 and together they had two children: Frances and Arthur. The family moved to Strathclair in 1946. Alice May died on August 10, 2006 in Shoal Lake, MB. She is buried at Strathclair Muncipal 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 Alice May about the family history of the Heals. Interviewer is William R. Patterson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and May's obituary. Transcript by Joe Haw (2023). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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