Fred McGuinness worked with The Medicine Hat News for 10 years, starting in 1955, when he was hired as an assistant to the paper’s publisher. In 1958, he was promoted to publisher of the newspaper. At the same time McGuinness was also appointed vice-president of Southam Company Limited. Based in Toronto, Southam Company Limited was the parent organization that oversaw the Southam Printing Company (Toronto and Montreal) and the publication of a number of weekly newspapers, including The Ottawa Citizen, The Hamilton Spectator, The Winnipeg Tribune, The Calgary Herald, The Edmonton Journal, The Vancouver Province and The Medicine Hat News. In addition to his administrative duties, while with The Medicine Hat News, McGuinness authored a column titled, “The Lighthouse.” In November of 1965, he resigned as publisher and moved with his family to Winnipeg where he was appointed manager of the New Personnel and Information Division with James Richardson and Sons.
In 1988, McGuinness was hired by The Medicine Hat News to write a 20 article feature about his reminisces of Medicine Hat. McGuinness referred to this collection of stories as “Hat Memoirs.”
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
The subseries contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer for The Medicine Hat News. Records include Medicine Hat News clippings from the 1960s, a scrapbook containing clippings of McGuinness’ Lighthouse column (1961-1964) and drafts of McGuinness’ 1988 Medicine Hat memoirs.
Records in the subseries consist of rough drafts, article proofs, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook, and correspondence.
Notes
Readers’ correspondence pertaining to McGuinness’ time in Medicine Hat may be found in Fred McGuinness’ personal papers, subseries McG 1.2 Correspondence
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Photograph shows a student class photo from a public school in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: left to right, 1) Melinda Giese, Brenda Smith, Joyce Knight, Judith Davidson, Gary Parker, Douglas Gerber, Brian Crandell, Gallagher McGuinness, Kenny Brix, Daniel Meier; 2) Anthony Newman, Donald Sackman, Dennis Beifus, Ken Johnson, Rocky Scherer, Leslie May, Shirley Perry, Judy Wnzel, Judy Martin, Brenda McCormick, Maxine Martins, Miss Bennis; 3) Barry Kurtz, Brian Bertram, Sandra Croissant, Neil Cormier, Teresa Peters, Rick Leask, James Parr, Linda Daniels, Margret Burch, Gordon Ponto
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Painters appear to be working on the soffits.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Painters appear to be working on the soffits.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Painters appear to be working on the soffits.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. View is of the backyard and laneway.
Photograph shows the construction of the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Aerial view shows that neighbouring blocks have yet to be constructed.
Photograph shows the interior of the McGuinness home (492 6th Street Northeast) in a new housing development in Medicine Hat. The living room has brickfaced fireplace above which there is a large McGuinness coat of arms.
Notes
A negative exists for this photo and is stored with the picture.
Photograph shows the interior of the McGuinness home (492 6th Street Northeast) in a new housing development in Medicine Hat. This view shows an entrance to a possible den.
Notes
A negative exists for this photo and is stored with the picture.
Photograph shows the interior of the McGuinness home (492 6th Street Northeast) in a new housing development in Medicine Hat. This view shows a decorative panel, lamp, and upholstered bench.
Notes
A negative exists for this photo and is stored with the picture.
Photograph shows a junior boys' hockey team in Medicine Hat, Alberta. One of the team members is holding a trophy. Fred McGuinness, Jr. is a member of the team.
Photograph shows a junior boys' hockey team in Medicine Hat, Alberta. One of the team members is holding a trophy. Gallagher McGuinness is a member of the team.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: autographs - Rick Leask, Brian Crandell, Clayton Hirsch, George McKay, Jim Witts, David Frey. Other names listed in two columns include: Doug Furrey, Jim Witts, Leo May, Sig Taylor, Bill Holden, Wayne Wilkins, ?, Risk Leask, Barry Kurtz, Reg Bronat, Blain Hogg, Clayton, Hirsch, Brian Crandell, Ken Briol?, Dave Frey, ?
Photograph shows the McGuinness home in a new housing development in Medicine Hat, 492 6th Street Northeast. Aerial view shows that neighbouring blocks have yet to be constructed and the backyard to the McGuinness home is completed.
Photograph shows the interior of Fred McGuinness' office at the Medicine Hat News. Fred is seen scribbling on a notepad at his desk. The newspaper was located at Second Street and Sixth Avenue in downtown Medicine Hat until it moved in 1981.
The Brandon Co-op building is located between 6th and 7th Street on the south side of Princess Avenue. The building later housed the Brandon Public Library and Convergys.
Custodial History
See fonds level of the CKX records for custodial history.
