The records are in excellent condidtion, but the extensive use of photocopying of available records occasionally leads to difficulty in clarity of content.
History / Biographical
The project originated in the summer of 1987 at Brandon University. It was undertaken by several Brandon University students under the guidance of Dr. William R. Morrison and Dr. Ken Coates, both professors in the Department of History. From the perspective of all involved, research and future publication were the original aims of the project. The intention was to produce a combination of documentary and oral history of the Brandon region during the Great Depression, including an extensive study of Brandon College. Initially, an outline and project summary was presented to Manitoba Heritage Grants Program for consideration and after being chosen as a recipient for the grant, regular reports on research progress were submitted. The project was discontinued at the end of the summer due to a lack of funding and availability of the researchers.
Custodial History
The records were held in the custory of Dr. Morrison until his departure from Brandon University in 1989. At this time, the records were given to Tom Mitchell, who donated the entire project to the McKee Archives, where they were accessioned in 1997.
Scope and Content
The sub sub sub series consists of textual records relating to Brandon and the surrounding area during the years of the Great Depression, predominantly 1929-1939. The material in the sub sub sub series falls generally into the following categories: city, provincial, and federal government documents and correspondence; newspaper articles and other publications, and statistical data. Of particular interest are four papers written by Brandon University students and six years of the Henderson Directory. Also included is a folder containg documents associated with the research project undertaken by Dr. Morrison et al. during the summer of 1987.
The sub sub sub series has been divided into four boxes:
Box 1 - Brandon City Council file index, City Council membership and minutes, relief regulations, proposals for burials and children's shelters, relief work projects reports, Brandon-Cornwallis Health Unit reports, correspondence between the City of Brandon and numerous levels of government, Brandon Public Health Nurse reports, farm reports, Brandon bank clearings, Provincial Election results, Employment Service of Canada documents, various published articles, Brandon University student papers.
Box 2 - Civic, provincial and federal documents related to various features of the Great depresion and its impact on Brandon including lists of relief recipients and personal letters to the City, Brandon General Hospital reports. Some of thes documents remain unsorted but clearly identified by title and archival institution of origin.
Box 3 - Censuses of Canada, Henderson Directory for Brandon, City of Brandon Property Address Listing, United Farmers of Manitoba documents, rural rehabilitation programs, Brandon by-law voting, Archives of manitoba documents, Westman Municipal News articles, Economic Survey Board provincial data, project documents.
Box 4 - Brandon Sun articles including a file index to articles of interest.
Notes
The description for this sub sub sub series was taken from the Brandon - Great Depression research project fonds written by Codee Lorrain (2005). Part of RG 6, 7.1.4 (Department of History).
Because of privacy issues, correspondence relating to the recipients of relief is restricted. They are still available in the sub sub sub series, however, and discretion on the part of the examiner is necessary.
Location Original
Provincial document originals are available at the Archives of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Federal document originals can be found at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. City of Brandon document originals can be obtained through City Hall. The original Brandon Sun papers are located at the Brandon Sun office in Brandon.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
7.1 Faculty of Arts
7.1.4 Department of History
Related Material
Records relating to the Faculty of Arts at Brandon College during the Great Depression can be found in the Brandon College fonds. Other records specifically relating to the Great Dpression in Brandon can be found in the Errol Black fonds and the Manitoba Pool Elevators fonds. All fonds are available at the McKee Archives.
Arrangement
Each subject of information has been compiled into separate folders. The first three boxes are composed of various documents sorted by the archivist. The fourth box is entirely composed of Brandon Sun articles arranged by the researchers. If there is one subject that covers a number of years, each year will typically have a folder; however, in some cases, like the Brandon Sun articles, more than one folder was needed per year.
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series is comprised of various documents, agreements and contracts generated by A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. Among the documents are by-laws, letters of patents, land deeds, leases, transfers of property, grants of probate, trademark documents, certificates of title, incorporation documents, bills of sale, assets and liabilities, licenses to do business, loan documents, tax statements/certificates, insurance documents, memorandums, declarations, estate documents, releases, settlements, mortgages, and bill 87.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 1 Board of Directors
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series consists of one folder containing thank you letters to Prof. George F. MacDowell, Professor of Economics at Brandon University, and a long-time member of the McKenzie Seeds Board for his service to the company.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 1 Board of Directors
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), MG 3 (Brandon University Teaching and Administration), MG 3 1.12 (George MacDowell fonds).
The Brandon Board of Trade was founded in 1883 to promote business activity and economic expansion in Brandon. Aside from these records, no other records of the Board of Trade are known to exist.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
Sub-series includes the intervention of the Board in the 1910 municipal election in Brandon and a listing of the standing committee for 1911. The sub-series also includes a letter to Mr. Blanchard from A.E. McKenzie and a financial statement for the Brandon Commercial Bureau.
Sub-series consists of records for various committees of the Board of Governors, which were established to expedite matters in certain areas of the Board's jurisdiction. Some committees have a more or less permanent status while others were created to deal with specific questions or mandates. The sub-series has been divided into six sub sub series, including: (1) Nominating Committee; (2) Finance Committee; (3) Presidential Selection Committee; (4) Membership Committee; (5) Fundraising-Liaison Committee; and (6) Athletic Directorate.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.5 Board of Governors' committees
Arrangement
At present (July 2007) all Board Committee files are in one box. As more records are received, the individual committees will be placed into their own boxes.
Four certificates (Congratulations on Brandon University's centennial from the University of Manitoba and McMaster University; congratulations on the 25th Anniversary of Brandon University's charter from the University of Winnipeg; and the centennial organization certificate from the Manitoba Historical Society) were transfered to the McKee Archvies from the President's Office on July 31, 2007.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of invitations, reply cards, some correspondence, and a salary schedule. It also includes agreements, briefs, orders-in-council, bills, memorandums and by-laws dealing with the legislative basis, legal structure and operations of Brandon College Incorporated, Brandon University and BUSU. Sub-series also includes a number of certificates.
Notes
Some of the files in the sub-series pre-date Brandon University. They have been retained in this sub-series to maintain original order.
The Executive Committee is a standing committee of the Brandon University Board of Governors that meets regularly two weeks prior to the regular Board meeting. Its membership consists of: Chair of the Board of Governors; Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors; President of the University; Secretary of the Board of Governors; Treasurer of the Board of Governors; Student Representative from the Board of Governors; and Senate Representative from the Board of Governors. The Vice-President (Academic and Research) and the Vice-President (Administration and Finace) act as resource persons. Elections for the Executive Committee take place at the Board of Governors' August meeting each year.
Specific responsibilities of the Executive Committee include: setting the agenda for each regular and special meeting of the Board of Governors; reviewing relevant matters coming before the Board of Governors; acting as a consultative body to the President of the University; dealing with matters delegated by the Board of Governors; referring items to appropriate standing committees of the Board of Governors; acting with the full authority of the Board in situations requiring immediate action prior to the next regular meeting of the Board. The Executive Committee also reviews and recommends policies governing university finance and long-range planning. The Executive of the Board reports to the Board of Governors.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of records created by the Executive of the Brandon University Board of Governors. It has been divided into three sub sub series: (1) Board Executive Minutes; (2) Board Executive Correspondence; and (3) Board Executive Agendas.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from Board of Governors By-law No. 11 - Committees of the Board of Governors, Section III - Executive Committee (revised November 23, 2006).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.2 Board Executive
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series includes minutes of the Board of Directors of McKenzie Seeds, extracts from minutes of the Board of Directors, information on shareholders of the company, notices of Board meetings, suggested meeting agendas, the President's annual report for 1967, and memos regarding Board meetings/business.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 1 Board of Directors
Related Material
Additional minutes for the meetings of the Board of Directors of McKenzie
Seeds, dating from the mid 1930's, are held in the Provincial Archives of Manitoba.
Minute excerpts for the Board of Directors are located in the Document sub-series in the file titled By-Laws for 1940-1985.
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series includes financial statements of various kinds for McKenzie Seeds and combined financial statements for McKenzie Seeds and its subsidiaries, particularly McFayden Seeds. Chartered Accountants used for this purpose include: Marwick, Mitchell & Co., Webb, Read, Hegan, Callingham & Co./Webb, Read & Co., George A. Touche & Co., Oscar Hudson & Co., Morden, Sprague & Co./Laird, Sprague & Co., Edwards, Morgan, Halliday & Co., Welch, Hinton and Welch, McDonald, Currie & Co./Cooper Brothers & Co., Meyers Dickens Norris Penny & Co./Meyers, Norris, Penny & Co. and the Comptroller-General for the Province of Manitoba.
This sub-series also includes a number of purchase offers made to A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd as well as proposed plans to sell the company. Offers were received from United Grain Growers, Maple Leaf Mills, McKenzie Seeds Staff, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta Wheat Pools, and the Ferry Morse Seed Co.
Twelve ledgers, including branch order, mail order and cash registers, general ledgers, current ledgers, payroll sheets and branch daily cash reports, are also part of the sub-series. Other miscellaneous financial records and statements include information on McKenzie Seeds' proposal to the Manitoba Government for re-financing in the early to mid 1980's.
Notes
Additional dates for the records in the financial sub-series are as follows:
1. Prepared Financial Statements: 1907-1918, 1920-1923, 1926-1938, and 1942-1979.
2. Purchase Offers: U.G.G. (1959, 1966), Wheat Pools (1961), McKenzie Staff (1963),
Maple Leaf Mills (c. 1965), Ferry Morse Seed Co. (c. 1969-1970).
The extent of the ledgers in sub-series McS 1 1.5 (Financial Records) separate from the other
financial records in the sub-series is 95.9 cm. The financial records without the ledgers measure 60 cm.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 1 Board of Directors
Related Material
Financial statements and records for the individual companies acquired by
McKenzie Seeds are located in Series III.
Information regarding the sale of McKenzie Seeds is located in Series II (Office of the President/GM), sub-series I (A.E. McKenzie), in the file entitled A.E. correspondence with W.A. Johnson. Some of these records are connected to the purchase offers received by McKenzie Seeds.
For administrative history see RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 2 (Board of Governors).
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of correspondence and various other documents, including: financial information, legal documents, agendas, reference materials, minutes, blueprints, drawings, reports, briefs, recommendations, proposals and newsclippings.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondence and subject files
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series includes reports from three management consultants: Harbridge House, Urwick, Currie & Partners Ltd., and Thorne Stevenson & Kellogg. As well, the sub-series contains correspondence between the President and Comptroller of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. and Harbridge House regarding the implementation of a management training program and plans to combat the weak field seed market. The Urwick, Currie reports deal with improvement in company operations and improvements in packet seed processing. The Thorne Stevenson & Kellogg report is entitled 'Implementing a Strategic Planning Process.' Each of the reports completed for the company deal with improving the business operations of McKenzie Seeds.
Harbridge House – this record is a management-training program designed to address a weak field seed market.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 1 Board of Directors
For administrative history see RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 2 (Board of Governors).
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of records related to Brandon University Board of Governors' general meetings. The sub-series has been divided into five sub sub series, including: (1) Agendas; (2) Minutes; (3) Packages; (4) Motion sheets; and (5) Index of motions.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.3 Board agendas, minutes and packages
