Photograph shows Chancellor Stanley Knowles with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, followed by Hon. James Richardson, Princess Anne and Dr. A.L. Dulmage (President of Brandon University) walking to the cornerstone laying of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.
Photograph shows A.L. Dulmage (President of Brandon University) presenting a ceremonial trowel to Queen Elizabeth II at the cornerstone laying ceremony for the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Prince Phillip looks on.
Photograph shows Queen Elizabeth, A.L. Dulmage (Brandon University President), Prince Phillip and Princess Anne just after the ceremonial trowle presentation at the cornerstone laying ceremony of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.
Photograph shows dignitaries and onlookers on the front lawn in front the the Original Brandon College Building on the day of the cornerstone laying ceremony for the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Visible dignitaries include: H.R.H. Prince Charles (facing crowd), band leader Dr. Merton Utgaard? (from North Dakota), H.R.H. Princess Anne (dark hat), Dr. A.L. Dulmage Brandon University President), Stanley Knowles, and the Hon. James Richardson (M.P. Wpg South, Cabinet Member). Clark Hall and part of the Education Building are visible in the background.
Photograph is looking down the loading ramp of the John R. Brodie Science Centre. The entrance to the ramp is off Louise Avenue on the south side fo the building.
Item consists of three contact prints (approximately 1.5" x 1") of the John R. Brodie Science Centre. All of the images are looking south and show the north side of the Brodie Building as well as the hedge along the sidewalk on 18th Street and part of McMaster Hall.
Item is a contact print that is looking east and was taken from McMaster Hall. Image shows the McMaster Hall gardens under construction and the north side of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.
Martin Wesley Johns was born to missionary parents Alfred and Myrtle Johns in Chengtu, West China on March 23, 1913. The family returned to Canada in 1925. Johns attended high schools in Tacoma, Washington; Vancouver, BC; Brandon, Manitoba; and Exeter, Ontario. He studied at Brandon College from 1928-1931 before obtaining his B.A. (1932) and M.A. (1934) from McMaster University and his Ph.D. From the University of Toronto (1938). From 1937-1946, he taught physics at Brandon College. In 1972, Brandon University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Johns served in the Canadian Officers Training Corps (C.O.T.C.) in 1940-1941 doing research concerned with neutron physics at Chalk River. In 1947, he joined the Physics Department at McMaster University, where he remained for the remainder of his career.
Johns married Margaret Mary Hilborn on July 15, 1939. Together they have four children: Robert, Elizabeth, Kenneth and Kathryn. Following Margaret's death c. 1979, Johns was married to Elsie North for twenty years. At the age of 90, Johns fell in love with his sweetheart Marian Thompson.
Martin Wesley Johns died on September 18, 2008 at McMaster Hospital.
Custodial History
The notebooks in accession 17-2007 were in the possession of Wesley Wong, former member of the Physics Department at Brandon College, who mailed them to Martin Johns in 2002. Wong suggested Johns donate them to the McKee Archives, which he did on January 28, 2004. The photographs in accession 8-2009 were sent to Carla Eisler, Alumni Relations Officer, Brandon University by Ken Johns (Martin Johns' son) following Martin's death. Eisler transfered them to the Archives in February 2009.
Scope and Content
Accession 17-2007 contains two lab record notebooks used by Martin Johns while he was a member of Brandon College's Department of Physics. The notebooks record class lists, grades, absences, and seating charts for courses Johns taught, as well as regulations for lab reports and major assignments.
Accession 8-2009 contains twenty-one black and white photographs dealing with Brandon College students, faculty and buildings. There a a few photographs of Brandon, as well as one of the Queen Mother from her visit to Brandon in 1939.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Martin W. Johns bio file in the Archives reading room.
View is southeast and was probably taken from the roof of McMaster Hall. Photograph shows the greenhouse situated on top of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.