Awards and presentations: Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship presentation. l-r: Dr. C. Belke (scholarship chairman), ?, Mrs. Lesley Moffitt, Dr. H.J. Perkins, President
A number of the letters are samples of "cross writing"
Physical Condition
Some of the letters are fragile, but generally the fonds is in good condition.
Custodial History
Ann Murdoch donated a copy of "My Dear Will" to the McKee Archives in February 2008. The formal donation of the Baker family letters occurred on September 27, 2008 at a reception in the Gathering Space at the John E. Robbins Library.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a collection of about 200 letters primarily written by William Baker (although letters written by other family members are also included), who left Liverpool and settled in Oak Lake, to his son William who remained in England. The letters offer insights on a wide range of subjects including the conditions of immigrants and the Riel "situation".
The fonds also contains a supplement to "My Dear Will: Reflections of Prairie Pioneer Life." This latter publication consists of transcribed copies of the letters in the Baker family fonds. The letters were originally transcribed by Ronald James Parsons and his wife Rita Olive Parsons (nee Blake) and published, along with some letters, photographs and other documents for family c. 1997. The booklet was updated in 2007 by Ronald and Rita's daughter, Ann Murdoch. The Supplement was prepared by Ann Murdock and her sister Dawn Powell.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry.
Finding Aid
My Dear Will booklet
Storage Location
2008 accessions. Booklets and family tree stored in Rare Books: RC 3399.B73Z495 2007 v.1 and v.2.
Robert Harvey's portrait has come loose of the backing. Matting is torn at base.
History / Biographical
John B. Cole, who operated Cole's Photographic Studio, first at 656 15th Street and then at 831 Rosser Avenue, was a photographer in Brandon from c. 1911 to c. 1914.
Scope and Content
Item consists of eleven oval shaped portraits of the members of Brandon College's graduating class of 1913. L to R: Lillian Wilhelmina Speers; Robert Harvey; James Robinson, Muriel Vivien McCamis; Tom Hare Harris; Leslie Alberta Ward; J.R.C. Evans; Evelyn J. Simpson; W.E. Wilkin; Archibald Gordon; and Constance Gunn.
Alfred Walter Pryce was born in England c. 1880. He emigrated from England in 1903 and was hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway, likely in Manitoba. His wife, Kate Louisa Buchan, was older than her husband. She was born in England c. 1873. They were married in England? and she followed her husband to Canada in 1904. Alma Jane Pryce was born June 24, 1905 and Herbert Walter Pryce was born May 12, 1907 in [Elton] Manitoba. In autumn 1911, the Pryce family returned to England for a Christmas visit. They sailed from Halifax on the Empress of Britain and arrived in Liverpool on December 9, 1911. The family returned to Canada on the Empress of Ireland from Liverpool in early 1912, landing at St. John, New Brunswick.
Alfred Walter Pryce died in Brandon, MB on January 31, 1922. Kate Pryce died in Winnipeg, MB on March 18, 1938.
Custodial History
Donated to the McKee Archives by Jennifer L. Bunting in November 2013.
Scope and Content
Studio portrait of Alma and Herbert Pryce, The Railway Foreman's children, taken June 1911 in Kenora, ON. Writing on the back reads: To Granfather with Love from Herbert and Alma. Alma Jane Pryce Age 6 years. Herbert Walter Pryce Age 3 years 5 months. Keonra, Ont. Canada. June 1911.
Notes
History/Bio information provided by Jennifer Bunting. Additional information is available in the custodial file.
Information that accompanied the photograph: Born Wilcox Lake, Ontario, 1870. Died 1964 in Brandon, MB. A long-time member of a number of boards at the College. Played a role in re-establishing Brandon College through Brandon College Inc. and the McKenzie Foundation by donating 90% of the shares in his company to the MB Government to support higher education, specifically Brandon College.
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.
Image has some small cracks across the portrait on the bottom left
Custodial History
Image was donated by Dr. Keith Evans, son of JRC Evans and nephew of Annie Evans Wright.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon College Class of 1926.
Top row (L to R): Anita Grace Sallans; Ida Myrtle Eliason; Muriel Edith Jollow; Harriet Ada Spackman; Rose Jeane Vasey; Hon. Pres. JRC Evans; Margaret Kilgour; Myrtle Christina Evans; Edna Pearl Calverley; Eileen Muriel Ritchie; Annie Evans Wright
Bottom row (L to R): Samuel Ernest McDowell; Thomas Eric Stevens; William August Wenk; George Ralph Berquist; Joseph Lester Gayton; Joseph Clarence Hembling; Robert Hugh Wellwood; Arthur Macdonald Freeman; Harold Francis Batho; George Darragh; Theodore Charles Segsworth; Arthur Percival Macpherson
There are stains and missing pieces on the matting but the photograph itself is in good condition.
Scope and Content
Brandon College Commercial Department of 1913.
Top Row (L to R): A. Diamond; W.C. McGregor; L. Carrick; C. Stewart; E. Fortune; H.F. Shillington; A. Morrison; C. Ketcheson; E. Frampton; and H. McLeod.
Second Row (L to R): H. Burke; H. McConnell; K.J. Shaw; J. Mallory; F.S. Irving; B. Griffin; A. Scott; R. Harwood; G. Clayton; and H. Olmstead.
Third Row (L to R): G. Martin; M. Frisch; A. Burke; M. Howard; M.C. Barlour; C.M. McDonald; M. Fisher; W. Hollies; and I. Raine.
Fourth Row (L to R): G.H. Underhill; M.E. Harkness; E. Anderson; and C.O. Briggs.
Fifth Row (L to R): A. Black; J.F. McLennan; N. Ireland; S. Porter; A Evans; M. Lombard; A.J. Stevens; E. Mode; and P. Chapman.
Last Row (L to R): S. H. Lye; J. Willmott; A. Coultard; C.E. Robertson; D. Hettle; C.L. Badgley; E. Johnson; J.W. Chamber; F. Gillies; and V.G. Shillington.
Faculty in the middle: Dr. Whidden (President) and J.W. Mark (Principal).
Damage to the edges; bottom left corner is missing (names and parts of two student portraits are missing)
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the members of Brandon College's Commercial Class, 1908-1909.
Top row (L to R): H.L. Courtice; W.A. Morden; S.F. Attridge; H.L. Richarb; Annie Evans; I. Graham; L. Cunningham; A. Erickson; L.J. Courtice; K. Winton; A. Duncan; R. Rabe
Second row (L to R): L.P. Lopton; W. Morrison; E.S. Canning; J.R. Riches; J. Sinclair; A. McPherson
Thrid row (L to R): J.W. Forbes; M.I. Chase; E. Thompson; B.A. Moffat; D. McDonald; D.J. Orris; H. Lurass; L.R. Boorman; W. Courtice; H. Strong; E. Breffett
Fourth row (L to R): N. Miller; S. Fleming; A. Weden; L. Sharp; I. Patton; S.A. Gillis; U. Merrill; R. Smith; B. Moon; E. McDonald
Fifth row (L to R): R. Chapman; T. Henley; F. Chapman; J. Pollock; A. Jamieson; F. Shield; J. Kyle; W.R. McLachlan
Sixth row (L to R): [name missing female]; [name missing male]; J.A. Cameron; J. Bergstrom; C.E. Walker, C.A.; A.P. McDiarmid, M.A.D.D.; J. Peaslee; V. Speller; H. Evans; G.V.W. Lauder