Fred McGuinness was a sessional lecturer in the English Department at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba where he co-taught an introductory undergraduate course in journalism with English Professor John Blaikie. Although McGuinness had 30 years experience as a journalist, editor, publisher, and freelance writer, as well as an extensive public speaking career, the partnering was necessary because he did not have a graduate degree, a qualification necessary for teaching in a university setting. In addition to his professional experience, McGuinness was also an avid reader on topics about the process of writing and the publishing of popular writing.
McGuinness likely began teaching his journalism course at Brandon University in 1983 and continued until 1990, possibly 1996. McGuinness often referenced his class when writing his Neighborly News column. A portion of McGuinness’ course involved analyzing and debating current events from newspaper headlines. McGuinness emphasized the importance of clean copy, spelling, and grammar with his editing assignments.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and sessional instructor. 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
The subseries contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a sessional instructor and writer. Consisting of teaching materials McGuinness used in the undergraduate course he taught with Professor John Blaikie the subseries includes: lecture notes, quizzes, exercises, exams, and newspaper and magazine articles.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the BU journalism course subseries (McG 6.2), and his Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3)
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible materials pertaining to his teaching career may be found in other subseries of the Fred McGuinness collection. Several articles McGuinness wrote for Neighborly News referenced his BU journalism students (see McG 2.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
A new self-teaching course in practical English and effective speech : comprising vocabulary development, grammar, pronunciation, enunciation, and the fundamental principles of effective oral expression
Lesson one. First among the evidences of an education I name correctness and precision in the use of the mother tongue / Nicholas Murray Butler-- Lesson two. The flowering moments of the mind drop half their petals in our speech / Oliver Wendell Holmes-- Lesson three. Those things which now seem frivolous and slight will be of serious consequence to you, when they have made you once ridiculous / Earl of Roscommon-- Lesson four. His words, like so many nimble servitors, trip about him at command / Milton-- Lesson five. Talking is one of the fine arts... and its fluent harmonies may be spolied by the intrusion of a single harsh note / Oliver Wendell Holmes-- Lesson six. Language most shows a man; speak, that I may see thee / Ben Jonson-- Lesson seven. Drawing is speaking to the eye; talking is painting to the ear / Joubert-- Lesson eight. And it is so plain to me that eloquence, like swimming, is an art which all men might learn, though so few do / Emerson-- Lesson nine. Mend your speech a litter, lest it may mar your fortunes / Shakespeare-- Lesson ten. Language is the dress of thought; every time you talk your mind is on parade / Anonymous-- Lesson eleven. Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact / George Eilot-- Lesson twelve. What is not in a man cannot come out of him surely / Goethe-- Lesson thirteen. Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of its past, and the weapons of its future, conquests / Coleridge-- Lesson fourteen. The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none / Carlyle-- Lesson fifteen. He ceas's, but left so pleasing on the ear, his voice, that listening still they seemed to hear / Homer
14 b&w photographs
Textual descriptions for each photograph
Physical Condition
Very good
History / Biographical
Several years ago the Alumni Relations began a program of class reunions and reconvocation in conjunction with annual spring convocations. This program continues to the present (March 2006) and this document was produced in 2003 for the Class of 1943 reunion.
Custodial History
Images remain in the possession of Betty Knowlton (nee Burgoyne). She provided copies of the images to the Alumni Office for the Class of 1943 reunion. Those images were transferred to the McKee Archives by Alumni Relations.
Scope and Content
File consists of copies of photographs of the Class of 1943 provided by Betty Knowlton (nee Burgoyne) for the Class of 1943 reunion. The photographs and descriptions are mounted on Brandon University cardstock. File also contains the program for the President's Reception and Dinner.
Tears around the edges, some staining over the entire piece (none of the photos are damaged)
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the members of Brandon College Class of 1943. Writing on the back reads "To Bill, from The Knowleton's, Happy Birthday 1976."
Notes
Cliff Kitson graduated Class of 1946, Ray Bailey graduated Class of 1945, Anna Hughes graduated Class of 1944, George Gooden graduated Class of 1942. S. Morris, M. Hughes, M. Bockie, A. Flemming, M. Fahrig did not graduate. W. Orr, G. Grant, W. Goodwin, A. Armstrong all served in World War II and did not graduate. A. Armstrong was killed on active service.
Ontario school bookkeeping : first course: a practical course in bookkeeping and business papers, for high and continuation schools and fifth classes in public schools
