The Pool livestock advisory boards and livestock markets were organized under the MPE when MPE merger with the Manitoba Co-operative Livestock Producers Ltd in 1948. The livestock pools operated in much the same way the grain pools did. The MPE Livestock Division was overseen by the Canadian Livestock Co-operative (Western) Limited (known as the C.L.C.). Local shipping associations shipped livestock to a central selling agency in St. Boniface, although this changed with the development of the rural highway system in Manitoba and the founding of Pool Packers.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
This sub-series consists of Livestock Division records, Virden Auction Market records, Brandon Livestock Advisory Committee records, Elkhorn Co-operative Livestock records, and Swan River Livestock Association Ltd.
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
During the independent existence of Manitoba Pool Elevators, the Manitoba Co-operator, published by the Manitoba Co-operative Conference Ltd., was the official organ of the cooperative movement in the province. The sub-series consists of issues of The Manitoba Co-operator from 1931-1936 and 1943-2001.
See collection level description of the Joseph H. Hughes collection for biographical information.
Custodial History
See collection level description of the Joseph H. Hughes collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Accession 1-2008 (32 cm textual records and 1 map; 1906-1916; predominant 1909-1915). As mayor, city Alderman and prominent city businessman, J.H. Hughes came into possession of many city government, civic, and business records during the first decade and a half of the twentieth century.
The accession consists of city records, information on contemporary city utility services and companies including tenders for the construction of the Brandon street railway, documents concerning grain elevators, lumber production, newspaper clippings, as well as personal and city correspondence - including a proposal from the Canadian Northern Railway to construct the Prince Edward Hotel.
Accession 6-2009 (2.26 m textual records; 1882-1920). Records in the accession deal with the business affairs of Hughes & Company. Accession also contains records related to the personal affairs of J.H. Hughes.
Records from 1882-1889; predominant 1882 include: business corresondence. Much of the correspondence is between Hughes and his business associates T.T. Atkinson and Mr. Kennedy at Rat Portage in Ontario. Mr. Bambridge, who ran the Souris Yard is also mentioned frequently. There is also corresopndence related to the Reid Farm, Hughes' first commercial faming venture. Various documents are concerned with J.H. Ashtown Hardware, the Manitoba Government Immigration and Intellegence Office, Butler Paper & Co., Canadian Pacific Rail, Boston and Maine Rail, Keewatin Mills, Charmichael Clothing, The Hudson's Bay Company and the City of Brandon
Records from 1889-1893 include: financial records including debts owed to or by J.H. Hughes & Company; correspondence between the company and partners and employees regarding the running of the lumber company in Brandon, Souris, Rat Portage and Rainy River (shipping of goods, camp supplies, maintenance of mills, ordering of goods, trade with other lumber companies); legal records pertaining to litigation regarding debts; correspondence with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Crown Lands, and the Department of Indian Affairs; correspondence regarding real estate in Brandon and land sales in the various regions of the lumber and grain company's operation; correspondence between J.H. Hughes and his borthers A.J. Hughes, Charles B. Hughes, his cousin J.R. Hughes and his father J.C. Hughes regarding both business and personal matters. Also includes telegraphs, postcards, magazine subscriptions, and Masonic brochures.
Records from 1893-1895 include: business correspondence between Hughes & Atkinson Co. and lumber supliers in Ontario and the midwestern United States. The records deal with the activities of the company, including payment of accounts, ordering and shipping of lumber and lumber related goods.
Records from 1897-1901 include: business letters, postcards, telegrams and memorandum of the Hughes and Long Lumber Company.
Records from 1907, 1913-1915; predominant 1914 include: business correspondence, product information and legal correspondence generated and/or recieved during business activities. There are also a series of miscellaneous files containing material related to Brandon municipal politics.
Records from 1915 include: business and personal correspondence to Hughes & Company pertaining to the J.H. Hughes Lumber Co. and farming ventures in Saskatchewan.
Records from 1911-1920; predominant 1919 include: business receipts and correspondence of Hughes & Company under the management of Willard C. Hughes, as well as family correspondence that is both personal and business-related. Business activities are largely related to the company's rental property in Brandon and farms in south eastern Saskatchewan, including Storybooks, ASK. It also includes some correspondence related to the Brandon Board of Trade and Civics (Willed Hughes was Chairman of the Power Committee). Records also include correspondence urging the province to construct an electrical transmission line to Brandon from Winnipeg, the possibility of a detachment of the Royal North West Mounted Police re-locating to Brandon, the operation of the Soldiers Re-Settlement Board, and the vacating of the Winter Fair building, which had been used to house interned World War I prisoners starting in the spring of 1915. References to the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and the Teamsters Strike in Brandon of 1919 also occur in the correspondence.
Notes
Accession 21-2008 was processed and described as part of a Historiography class assignment in September and October 2008. The fonds was broken down into smaller components (1-3 boxes of records) spanning a few years and each student was assigned all the records in a particular time frame. Description by Christy Henry, Tom Mitchell, Andrew Dagley, Jill Sutherland, Laurel Neustaedter, Kylie Staslia, Tim Banman, Christine Shumay, Aimee Brown and Erica Smith.
DEANS OF EDUCATION:
JOHN A.B. MCLEISH (1967-1969)
John Alexander Buchanan McLeish was born in Calgary, AB on December 6, 1913. He received his early education in Winnipeg and Montreal, and obtained his B.A. (History Hons.) at McGill University. His M.A. in Education was later obtained from the same institution. In 1951, he graduated from Cornell University's Graduate School of Education with his Ph.D.
From 1935-1949, McLeish served as a high school teacher and principal at Stanstead College, Verdun High School, Danville High School, Valleyfield High School and Three Rivers High School. From 1951-1954, he acted as Assistant Professor of Education at the University of British Columbia. The next ten years he spent at Carlton University as Registrar (and subsequently Director of Summer School) and Research Associate, Professor of Education.
In 1965, McLeish came to Brandon College to serve as Executive Assistant to president John E. Robbins. In his early years at the College, he also acted as Director of Summer School and Extension and in 1967, he was named Dean of Education. McLeish retired from Brandon University ca. 1970.
In 1977, McLeish founded the Ulyssean Society, which is a group of men and women in their middle and later years who meet regularly for lectures and other educational activities to keep their minds active. The Society is located in Toronto. John A.B. McLeish died in 1995.
G.T. RIMMINGTON (1970-1971)
Gerald Thorneycroft Rimmingtong was born on March 18, 1930, in Leicester, England. He obtained a Certificate in Education for the University of Birmingham's Institute of Education in 1951 and a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of London in 1956. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Leicester (1959) and the University of London (1964) respectively. In 1966, he was a fellow of the College of Preceptors and in 1972 he received his M.Ed. from the University of Nottingham. He was granted his Ph.D. in Education from that same institution in 1975. In 1976, Rimmington passed the Anglican ordination examination and was ordained a deacon.
In 1948-1949, Rimmington was a member of the National Service in the Royal Air Force. From 1951-1959, he taught school in Leicester. Following the completion of his first masters degree, Rimmington was a lecturer in geography at Union College in Bunumbu, Sierra Leone (1959-1960) and the District Education Officer, Dedza and Ncheu, Malawi (1961-1963). From 1963-1967, he was employed at Acadia University in Nova Scotia as a member of the Education faculty.
Rimmington came to Brandon University in 1967, where he served as Assoc. Professor and Director of Educational Research from 1967-1969 and Professor of Education from 1969-1973. He also acted as Dean of the Faculty of Education for a one-year term (1970-1971). Following that term he spent a sabbatical year in England. Gerald Rimmington left Brandon University ca. 1973 for a position in the Department of Education at Mount Allison University.
R.R. PIPPERT (1971 - August 31, 1977 and 1987-1988)
Ralph R. Pippert was born on March 23, 1922 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to Geroge F. and Louise H. Pippert. He received his B.A. from Mission House College in 1944 and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1950 and 1959 respectively. From 1944-1954, Pippert was a public school teacher and from 1954-1959, he was a professor at Lakeland College in Plymouth Wisconsin. In the years leading up to his arrival at Brandon University, Pippert was employed at the University of Massachusets (1959-1967), the University of Manitoba (1967-1970) and Southern Illinois University (1970-1971) in various capacities.
Pippert came to Brandon University in 1971 as Dean of Education, a post which he held until 1977. Following his term as Dean, Pippert taught in the Education Department at BU. While Dean, Pippert helped to establish a number of programs, including PENT (Project for Education of Native Teachers); BUNTEP (Brandon University Northern Tacher Education Project); IMPACTE (Indian, Metis Project for Careers in Teacher Education); and the Winnipeg Centre Project. Although Pippert retired in 1988, he continued to teach as a sessional faculty member until 1998. Pippert also instructed teachers for 10 summers in Malawi.
Pippert married Theresa Ann Fydenkevez on June 24, 1967 (previous marriage, 1946). He has three sons, Eric, Rolf and Mark, and two daughters, Christine and Dianne.
Ralph Pippert died on August 31, 2014 in Kiel, Wisconsin.
D.T. HAYES (1978-1988)
Dale T. Hayes was born c.1939 and attended Bob Jones University where he recieved his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1959. He recieved his M.A. in Education (1968) and from Arizona State University, his Ed.D. in Education in 1975. Prior to his appointment as Dean of Education at Brandon University in July 1978, Hayes held the position of Chairman of the Division of Practical Studies at the University of New Brunswick (1975-1978), and served a Professor of Reading at the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham and as co-ordinator of Learning Assitance Programs at Mt. Royal College in Calgary. He was also involved in developing Native Education programs at the University and college level in Alberta and South Dakota. He was re-appointed as Dean for a second five-year term in 1983. Following his stint as Dean, he returned to the Faculty of Education where he continued to teach until his retirement.
Dale Hayes is married with four children.
ROBIN J. ENNS (1989 - 1993/1994 and 2000-2001(Acting Dean))
Robin Enns completed his elementary and secondary education in Quebec. In 1967, he graduated from United College (which became the University of Winnipeg in 1968) with a B.A. Following a brief period as mechanic for the Red River Ex, Enns began teaching English, History and French at Lake of Two Mountains High School. He graduated with his M.A. in English from the University of New Brunswick in 1971. That same year he also taught English at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto. In 1973, he obtained his B.Ed. from the University of Toronto.
From 1973-1975, Enns taught at Brampton Centennial Secondary School, northwest of Toronto. In 1975, he was accepted into the Ph.D. program in Educational Theory at the University of Toronto; he completed his degree in 1983. From 1979-1987, Enns taught at the Faculte des sciences de l'education at the Universite de Moncton. During that time he was appointed Francophone Co-chair for the New Brunswick Commission on Decling Enrolments and Teacher Layoffs (1981-1984), was elected as a school trustee for the Moncton English School District (1983-1986) and developed the first maritime provinces distance education bilingual Master's of Education course set (1986-1988). He also served as president of The Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies.
In 1988, Enns, his wife and children, moved to Brandon where he had been appointed Dean of Education (1988-1993) at Brandon University. During his time as Dean, Enns re-wrote the Master's of Education proposal and successfully shephereded it through the Universities Grans Commission process and was the founding Dean of the Brandon University Hutterite Education program. During the same period he also served as president of the Candian Association of Deans of Education, the Chair of the Manitoba Board of Teacher Education and Certification, Vice Chair of the Manitoba Curriculum Committee and Chair of the Manitoba Task Force on Teacher Supply and Demand. In 1992, Enns was a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of Canada Medal for service to education in Canada.
Since his stint as Dean, Robin Enns has continued to teach in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University and in 1996, he received the Alumni Award for Teaching Exellence.
FREDERICK RENIHAN (1994-1995/1996)
Frederick Renihan was born in Ireland and received his elementary education there, before moving to England, where he went to secondary school. He completed his teacher training in Lond, where he also taught for four years. In 1969, Renihan moved to Saskatchewan, where he was active in all levels of education. While in Saskatchewan, he also obtained his M.Ed. and Ph.D at the University of Saskatchewan.
Prior to coming to Brandon University, Renihan taught at the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, and was a visiting professor at the University of Victoria. Renihan left Brandon University after a short time to take the position of Superintendent of Schools in Surrey, B.C. At present (January 2007), he is a member of the Department of Educational Leadership, Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University.
GERALD RICHARDS (1996-1997/1998)
Gerald Richards, native to Saskatchewan, was born in Midale. He received his public schooling in a four-room school in Halbrite. Upon graduation in 1960, he attended Saskatchewan Teachers College in Regina. By alternating teaching with attendance at university, he earned a B.Ed (With Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan in 1967. He returned to that institution, graduating with an M.Ed. in 1969. In 1976, he was awarded a Ph.D. in educational theory from the University of Toronto, where he studied at the Modern Language Centre in the Curriculum Department of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Following the completion of his doctorate, Richards returned to classroom teaching for one year before accepting a joint-appointment to the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts at Brandon University in 1978. He taught an introductory French language course and methods courses for the teaching of French. Upon returning from hissabbatical leave, he was given a full-time appointment in the Faculty of Education.
Richards' background includes language training in French at Laval University in Quebec, and in German from the Goethe Institute in Passau, Germany, and seven years experience in Saskatchewan classrooms where he taught all subjects from grades seven to eleven, although his teaching field was French. During those years, he served as vice-principal and principal of small rural schools and was elected president of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation local on two occassions. At Brandon University, he has filled the roles of department chair and member of faculty and university committees, including a long term on the Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee.
With the sudden departure of Dr. Fred Renihan in 1996, Richards was appointed Acting Dean of Education. During his one-year tenure, the faculty completed the revision of its degree program. At present (January 2007), Gerald Richards continues to teach in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University.
RON COMMON (1998 - ca. 2000)
Ronald Common is a Manitoba native, who attended elementary school in Bradwardine before his family moved to Winnipeg. He received his Bachelor of Arts (1969), Education Certificate (1970), Bachelor of Education (1972) and Master of Education (1976) from the University of Manitoba. He obtained his Ph.D in Education from the University of Ottawa in 1980.
Prior to coming to Brandon University, Common was a professor in the Department of Education Administration, Graduate Studies at Brock University, spent a year in Newfoundland and Labrador as the Program Coordinator for Memorial University's Native and Northern education initiative, was an Assistant Professor at Queens University, a curriculum consultant with the province of Manitoba, and an educator and administrator at the secondary school level in The Pas, Norway House and Winnipeg. He left Brandon University after his term as Dean was over.
Common is married to Dr. Lorraine Frost, with whom he has two daughters, Lauren and MacKenzie. At present (January 2007), Ron Common is employed as the Dean of Education, Faculty of Education at Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario.
TOM B. MACNEILL (ca. 2001- 2004/2005)
No biographical information yet.
JERRY STORIE - (July 1, 2005 - June 2010)
Jerry Thomas Storie received his B.A. from Brandon University in 1972, his M.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1975 and his Teaching Certificate (Secondary Education) from the University of Manitoba in the same year.
From 1972-1974, Storie was a Research Assistant and then a Teaching Assitant in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Manitoba. The following year he was a Policy Analyst in the Planning & Research Branch of the Department of Education, Government of Manitoba. From 1975-1981, he was employed by the Flin Flon School Division, first as a Guidance Counselor (1975-1978) and then as a Classroom Teacher, Grade 6 (1978-1981). From 1981-1994, Storie was a member of the Legislative Assembly for Flin Flon; during this period he held a number of positions and was appointed to numerous Executive Councils. In the decade 1994-2004, Storie was the Area 4 Superintendent, Frontier School Division (1994-1998) and the Superintendent, Turtle Mountain School Division (1998-2004).
On July 1, 2005, the Brandon University Board of Governors appointed Jerry Storie Acting Dean of Education for a three-year term. Jerry Storie left the position of Dean of Education in June 2010.
SAL BADALI (July 1, 2011 - c. 2013)
Sal Badali recieved his B.A. in history from York University, his B.Ed. from the University of Toronto, his M.Ed from teh University of Western Ontario and his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia.
Prior to his tenure at Brandon University, Badali was employed at the University of Regina (1999-2011) where he taught various education courses, like curriculum development and the theory and practice of instruction, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He was a faculty advisor and supervised graduate work as well. During his sabbatical leave in 2006, Badali was a guest lecturer at the Ontario Institute for the Studey of Education/University of Toronto.
HEATHER DUNCAN (2013 - present)
Scope and Content
Accession 2-2011 (3 metres, 1977-2005) consists of: Education Faculty Council meeting packages (1999-2004); Dean's Administrative Committee records (1981-1996); Education Faculty Council records, including a list of motions (1980-2001); Faculty of Education committees (1980-2005); Department chairpersons (1991-2005); Faculty of Education Professional Standards Committee (1989-1992); Faculty of Education Research & Development (1989-1995); and the Faculty of Education Advisory Committe (1995-1996).
Also consists of a variety of reports, agreements, planning, assessment, policy and review documents. Topics include: internal and external reviews; international educational projects; Roblin Commission; Smith Commission; Shapiro Report; Scurfield Report; Sherlock Report. There are also records related to: the Master's Degree Steering Committee; implimenting the Bachelor of Education After Degree program; the 4 year integrated Bachelor of Education program; campus recreation; and the Athletic Directorate.
Notes
Biographical information for Dale Hayes was taken from two articles in "The Quill" (Febrary 9, 1978 and February 25, 1983). Biographical information for Gerald Richards was provided by Richards. Biographical information for Badali was taken from a Brandon University press release (February 7, 2011).
Finding Aid
Box level inventory is available for accession 2-2011.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
Related Material
A file of miscellaneous newspaper clippings etc. related to the Faculty of Education assembled by Eileen McFadden for the period 1979-1985, is located in the Institutional Files in the Reading Room.
Arrangement
In May 2011, the Archives made an administrative decision to stop using the existing arrangment for the Faculty of Education records. All Faculty of Education records transferred or donated to the Archives prior to 2011, will retain the old numbering system. All accessions recieved from 2011 onward will be arranged chronologically by accession number.
The old arrangement included records in the following sub sub series: (3) Faculty of Education publications; (4) Interoffice; (5) Brandon University Indian Leadership Development (BUILD); (6) Athletics; and (7) Education special projects.
Photographs in this series relate to education in the Brandon area, including the Brandon Normal School, Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI), and science fairs.
Storage Location
Brandon and Area photograph collection photograph drawer (regular and oversize)
See collection level description for history/biography information on Frederick George McGuinness.
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
Subseries consists of records related to the business workings of Fred McGuinness Ltd. It includes financial statements prepared for Fred McGuinness Ltd. and information on insurance coverage.
Notes
In the file level inventories, square brackets at end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Statements on royalty earnings for McGuinness’ monograph Manitoba: The Province & The People are located in the Correspondence subseries (McG 1.2). Invoicing for McGuinness’ work on the Chronicle of Canada is located with that monograph subseries (5.7)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period.
Documents
McG 1_3 Fred McGuinness Ltd business documents inventory.pdf
Manitoba Pool Elevators was a part of and associated with many other producer co-operatives in Manitoba.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
.This sub-series consists of records from the following co-operative organizations: Canadian Poultry Pool Ltd, Canadian Poutry Sales, Manitoba Co-operative Poultry Marketing Association, Manitoba Dairy and Poultry Co-operative Ltd, The Co-operative Promotion Board, Manitoba Fish Products, Pool Co-operative Seed Association, XCAN Grain Pool
Records for the above organizations may include but do not necessarily include the following: financial records, minutes, correpondence, reports, addresses, and memoranda.
Notes
Description by Jillian Sutherland (2010)
Original order in this sub-series was rearranged by Eileen McFadden. The order established by her has been left intact.
This commission was appointed in late 1944 and made it's reports and recommendations in late 1945. The commission's tasks were the following: (1) give a legal opinion on existing taxation legislation affecting co-operatives, (2) reccomend taxation legislation in respect to co-operatives, with due regard to current tax burdens on privately owned busniess, (3) provide a picture of the actual structure of co-operative enterprise in Canada, its growth, and the effects of taxation upon it.
The commission's findings were, briefly: (1) Section 4, paragraph (p) of the Income War Tax Act is so ambiguous as to justify its repeal, (2) commission reccomended legislation permitting both co-operative and joint stock companies to deduct patronage dividends in computing taxes, whether paid out or available on demand, (3) appendicies of research staff findings that provide statistical and historical information on the origin, growth and distribution of co-operatives in Canada.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
.This sub-series contains volumes 1 - 31 of the Royal Commission on Co-operatives, the brief and report on the Commission, an outline of argument on behalf of certain co-operative organizations.
This book contains the minutes of Memorial Gymnasium Committee meetings during the years 1923 to 1932. There is also a subscription card within the book.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
It has been impossible to establish an administrative history for Pike & Co. other than that it was a small distributor of packet seeds located in Edmonton, Alberta. The acquisition was made in 1982 on the recommendation of McKenzie President William Moore. In 2001, Pike & Co. continued to be a part of the mail order division of McKenzie Seeds.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series consists of one file containing a proposal to acquire shares of Pike & Co., and a document entitled organizational shares.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 3 Acquisitions
Related Material
Financial records for Pike & Co. for 1983 are located in Series 1 (Board of
Directors), sub-series 5 (Financial) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds in the file entitled 'Complete Financial Record 1983, McKenzie Seeds'.
Catalogues and seed packets for Pike & Co. are located in Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 4 (Marketing) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds.
The book "By Gossip and Myth" by Prof. George MacDowell in Series 6 (Miscellaneous), sub-series 2 (Miscellaneous Publications) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds, also contains a small amount of information regarding the purchase of Pike & Co.
On November 11, 1971, A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. acquired Steele Briggs Seed Co. Ltd., Rennie Seeds, and the Canada Seed Co. from Maple Leaf Mills Limited of Toronto, Ontario. The purchase included the packet seed business and most of the brand names and trademarks of the above companies as well as the Steele Briggs properties in Winnipeg and Regina, and all of the equipment in their Toronto location. This same location was leased by A. E. McKenzie Co. for a number of years. As a result of the acquisition of Steele Briggs, the name of A. E. McKenzie Co. was modified to A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. - Steele Briggs Ltd; each company continued to operate under its respective trade names in the marketing of Garden Seeds, Lawn Grass and other product lines across Canada.
The Steele Briggs Seed Co. was founded in 1873 in Toronto, although at the time of its inception, the company, which was a small retail seed store, was known as Steele Brothers and Company. Two of the company's founders, Mr. R. C. Steele and Mr. S. E. Briggs, were already involved in a grocery and produce business in Oshawa, Ontario together.
From the first store at 23 East Market Street, Toronto, Steele Briggs moved into a new warehouse at the Southeast corner of Front and Jarvis Streets in 1887. However, by 1888, new premises were required due to the rapid growth of the company, and a warehouse was leased at 107 Front Street East. Five years later, a separate store was opened to manage the local retail and mail order sections of the business at 132 King Street East. The annual increase in trade, however, made the construction of a new five-story building necessary in 1911-1912.
By 1902, the volume of business the company was receiving from Western Canada led to the establishment of a branch house in Winnipeg. Further expansion occurred in 1922, when Steele Briggs purchased a large warehouse and Seed Cleaning elevator at Regina in order to more adequately deal with the demands of the Western Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. In 1933, a branch house was opened in Edmonton, and in 1956 one was established in Vancouver.
In its formative years, prior to the 1930's, the management group was comprised of a number of well-known businessmen. These included: Mr. J.S. Steele, Mr. E. F. Crossland, second Vice-President and General Manager, Mr. W. D. Steele, first Vice-President and Manager of the List Seeds Department, Mr. C. J. Turnbull, General Manager of the Western houses and Seed Grain supplies, Mr. R. S. Ferguson, Assistant Manager of the Catalogue and Wholesale trade located in Winnipeg, and L. B. Robinson, Assistant Manager and Accountant at Regina.
Sometime between 1944-1948, Mr. W. D. Dack was appointed President of Steele Briggs, and, in 1951, he announced new executive appointments to the company. Mr. George F. Boyd was appointed Manager of Steele Briggs' Regina branch and later supervisor of all Western branches as Vice-President in charge of Western Canada Operations. Mr. C. S. Beattie was appointed Secretary Treasurer of the company. In June of 1964, D. H. MacKay, E. R. Seede of Regina and Tom Gray of Edmonton, were named to the Company's Board of Directors.
For many years Steele Briggs published and distributed a retail catalogue, the first was published in 1875.
Rennie Seeds Ltd. was founded by William Rennie in 1870 and incorporated in 1905. It was located in a small store at Adelaide and Jarvis Streets in Toronto. Following the death of Mr. Rennie, the business carried on under the leadership of his son Thomas Rennie, and subsequently under Thomas Rennie's son-in-law K. J. Harrison. Steele Briggs acquired Rennie Seeds in 1961.
The Ferry Seed Company, which operated primarily in Eastern Canada, was bought by the Steele Briggs Seed Co. in 1926, effectively ceasing all operations under the Ferry name.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of financial records, miscellaneous documents, including some correspondence and files relating to the merger of Steele Briggs Seeds and McKenzie Seeds. Information regarding the Canada Seed Company can also be found in the sub-series.
The sub-series also contains a scrapbook (500 pages; 24 x 28 x 6 cm) dealing with Steele Briggs Seeds and the seed industry. Items in the scrapbook include newspaper/magazine clippings dealing with executives of the company (including the death of prominent members), commentaries on the seed industry and seed varieties and a number of general interest columns. A copy of the painting "A Gateway to Canada's Granary, Winnipeg 1872" by J.D. Kelly is also included. Photographs, magazine advertisements, correspondence and writings on seed varieties are also located in the sub-series. A page level inventory of the types of seeds included is available for the scrapbook.
A copy of the 1893 Steele Briggs catalogue is also contained within the sub-series. Special attention should be paid to the color covers included near the beginning of the book.
The sub-series is divided into five sub sub series, including: (1) Merger; (2) Financial; (3) Miscellaneous; (4) Canada Seeds; and (5) Scrapbook.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 3 Acquisitions
Related Material
Historical information relating to Steele Briggs Seeds is located in the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds, Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 2 (J. Lasby Lowes), Historical Topics, file 10 (tape 23) and file 11 (tape 24).
Sales literature and seed packets for Steele Briggs Seeds are located in the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 4 (Marketing).
One photograph of Steele Briggs Seeds can be found in Series 5 (Photographs) in the sub-series 5.17, Steele Robertson/Steele Briggs of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds. There is also a Steele Briggs poster located in oversized drawer # 4.
In Series 6 (Miscellaneous) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds, under the Centennial Exhibition, there is a folder for Steele Briggs containing various records/documents for the company that were used in the display.
The Seed Marketing Company Ltd. was located at P. O. Drawer 1885, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and, later, at 382 Maryland Street, Winnipeg. Created by the A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd., this company was incorporated under Dominion Charter by Federal Letters Patent, dated March 18, 1930. As well, the company was registered only in Manitoba under the provisions of the Manitoba Companies Act.
A. E. McKenzie made the application for the charter under the name A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. and, from 1933, the Board of Directors was made up of employees of A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. Although the authorized capital stock of the company was 500 no par value shares, only 50 of these were issued and allotted at a price of $10 per share.
According to a letter written by A. E. McKenzie to the Acting Director, Department of the Secretary of State, Companies Division, Ottawa, Ontario, the company was created with a specific purpose in mind. During the years 1930-1933, A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. accumulated a large quantity of oats for seeding purposes, at a time when crops were generally poor due to extended drought. These seeds, as well as wheat, barley and flax were supplied to farmers on a signed order in the name of Seed Marketing Co. Ltd. Parties, either individuals or municipalities, took a "Seed Grain Mortgage" from the Seed Marketing Co. as a method of payment. This enabled the farmers, who had little or no money, to plant crops. Presumably following harvest the mortgage was paid off.
On the whole the idea of supplying distressed farmers with seed through a Seed Grain Mortgage was fairly successful. In addition to selling the seed directly to the farmers, seed was also sold to rural municipalities, from whom payments were assured. The municipalities, in turn, assumed responsibility for payment from the farmers to whom they had supplied the seed purchased from the Seed Marketing Company.
The original Board of Directors was as follows: A. B. Downing, J. L. Lowes, F. B. Roberts, F. C. Thompson, and J.A. Young. Each received 1 share each in the company. H. J. Morden, a former member of the Corporation, held the other 45 shares from Winnipeg.
From 1933-1936, J. A. Young was President of the company. Following his death in 1936, the position was given to A. B. Downing, who acted as President of the Seed Marketing Company until illness forced him to step down in 1959. In 1960, J. L. Lowes became President, and the following members of A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. became Directors: R. R. West, Miss E. A. Yeo and J. R. McPhail.
The Seed Marketing Company had been kept alive under its original charter in case A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. might have cause to use it for some other purpose. Eventually, the company was considered in default by the federal government for neglecting to fill Annual Returns for the year 1962. At that time, the company was informed that it was no longer considered a subsisting corporation, and, as such, was no longer entitled to the sole use of its corporate name. That same year, A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. relinquished interest in the Seed Marketing Company Ltd., and the remaining Directors resigned their positions.
The name "Seed Marketing Co. Ltd." was also used by A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. on two other occasions. Around 1948, the name was used in Ontario under authority of an Extra Provincial License from the Province of Ontario, especially in labeling cartons of a Lawn Grass mixture to meet price competition in Quebec, the Maritimes and Towers Discount Department Stores.
Prior to 1948 the name was used to in the purchase of Forage Crop Seeds in northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This series includes minutes from meetings of the Board of Directors and shareholders of the company. It also includes correspondence between McKenzie, Lowes, Wm. Johnson, the Department of the Secretary of State, W.E. Chiswell - Comptroller for McKenzie Seeds, Robert Steen and various other individuals dealing with the incorporation of the company, its charter and letters of patent. Some of the records deal with the failure of the company to file annual returns for the years 1963 and 1964. The series also contains financial records including annual summaries/reports, corporation income tax returns, and return of information and particulars under the Manitoba Companies Act.
Also included within the series is a book (27.5 x 38 x 3 cm) containing the letters of patent incorporating the Seed Marketing Co., the general by-laws of the company, and minutes from meetings of its Board of Directors.
Information regarding the Seed Marketing Co. is located in Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 2 (J. Lasby Lowes), Historical Topics file 23 of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds.
Co-enerco was a co-operative energy company that resulted from the Co-operative Resources Project.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
This sub-series consists of records pertaining to the formation of Co-enerco.
The scrapbooks in this sub-series are fragile, particularly the product book. They must be handled with great care.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series consists of three scrapbooks. Two of the three contain copies of advertisements for a number of businesses, including McKenzie Seeds, Steele Briggs, Patmore's, Rennie's, and McFayden Seeds. Clippings dealing with a variety of other companies in the seed industry are also included. The third scrapbook contains pictures of various flowers, vegetable, herbs and other seed products in alphabetical order. An inventory is available for the third scrapbook.
Notes
Date(s) of creation, including distribution, publication, etc.:
a) [No title] ad book - 1906-1911
b) "Scrap Book" ad book - 1917-1926
c) [No title] product book - c.1903 - c.1940
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 6 Miscellaneous
This sub-series consists of publications that did not fit into any of the preceding series or sub-series.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series includes one copy each of Manitoba Business Top 100 (June 1985), Trade and Commerce Supplement, Brandon (c. 1963) and Manitoba Business (November 1985).
It also includes a Christmas Song book, the book "By Gossip and Myth" by Prof. George MacDowell and a document entitled "Background Information re A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd."
The following newspaper clippings have been located in the map case drawer #4 located in the archives reading room:
1. $175,000 Gift Set for College from City Man
2. McKenzie Will Leaves House to Arts Centre
3. The Old Alma Mater is Down on Her Knees
4. How to Help the Alma Mater
5. Good Things are "growing" on at McKenzie Seeds (ad)
6. Fire fails to halt work at McKenzie Seeds
7. McKenzie Seeds: new facilities are first in North America
8. A full-page advertisment for McKenzie Seeds from "The Brandon Sun" (September 24, 1971)
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 6 Miscellaneous
Co-op Farm Implements was a subsidiary company designed to serve Pool members in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
This sub-series consists of general documents and photographs.
