Encyclopedia of World Art Library Reading Room, 2nd floor Library and Arts Building. Presentation by the Brandon College Alumni Association of a cheque for the final payment on the Encyclopedia of World Art as a memorial to Ernestine R.W. Whiteside, former Lady Principal of Clark Hall. L to R William Bridgett, President, BCAA; F. Joan Garnett, General Secretary, BCAA; Eileen McFadden, College Librarian; Dr. R.F. B. King, Associate Dean of Arts and Chairman, Faculty Library Committee
Portrait photo of J.E. Robbins with Robbins Library plaque. Library Reading Room (centre) looking east Dr. A. Lloyd Dulmage, President, Robert Campbell (student) - at lecturn, Eileen McFadden, Director of Library Services
Charles Wayland Lightbody was born in Kansas in 1904. He spent part of his childhood in Brandon, MB where his father worked in the agricultural sector. He obtained his B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1924 and spent 1924-1925 at the Univeristy of Tornoto working on an M.A. degree. In 1925, heentered Worcester College, Oxford as the Rhodes Scholar for Saskatchwan and recived an honors B.A. from that institution in 1928. During 1929-1930, he studied at Harvard University.
From 1930 to 1942, Lightbody was an instructor and assistant professor of history at St.Lawrence University. During that period he also recieved his M.A. from Oxford (1936) and completed his Ph.D. at Cornell University. In 1942 and 1943, Lightbody was engaged in research for the U.S. Army; in 1944 and 1945 he resumed public lecturing, broadcasting and writing. Following the war he spent three years at his home in Chappaqua, New York concentrating on historical research.
Lightbody joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchwan in 1948, leaving in 1962. He spent a year that the Univeristy of Regina before coming to Brandon College in 1963, where he was made head of the History Department in 1964. He was on sick leave for most of his last year at Brandon University.
Charles Wayland Lightbody died in Brandon, MB on January 8, 1970.
Scope and Content
Portrait of Charles Lightbody.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Brandon Sun (January 8, 1970) and a January 13, 1970 Brandon University News Release. Both are located in the Charles Lightbody biography file.
How to read : a drill book for the cultivation of the speaking voice, and for correct and expressive reading : adapted for the use of schools, and for private instruction
Education curriculum collection room opening westward off Library Reading Room, Library and Arts Building. L. to R. Ralph Berry, Margaret Ariss and students
Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
Robert Troy Blair died on July 2, 2024 in Saskatoon, SK. He is buried in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
