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.
Portrait of the 1917-1918 Brandon College Women's field hockey team.
Front Row-L to R: Marie Cameron (later a medical missionary), Bessie Turnbull (Jane and Tina’s sister), Gwen Whidden (daughter of President H.P. Whidden), Isabel Cummings ’19, (later a history teacher in Winnipeg).
Back Row-L to R: Frances Yeomans (nee Wolverton) ’19, Mabel Gibson (later married a Professor of Economics), Christina Turnbull ’21, (married C. G. “Kelly” Stone).
Photograph of the Brandon University women's field hockey team. Rookie of the year: Lynn Boyce. Most improved player: Marg Chalmers. Most valuable player: Shelley Hartel. G.P.A.C. champions. Missing: Rona Henderson.
Photograph of the Brandon University women's field hockey team. Rookie of the year: Linda Dalling. Most improved player: Nicola Andrews. Most valuable player: Shelley Hartel. G.P.A.C. all-star: Shelley Hartel. Conference: 1-2-1. Overall: 6-2-13.
Photograph of the Brandon University women's field hockey team. Manitoba Small College champions. Missing: Mary Ellen Tyler, Linda Smith, Ruth Ann Johnson.
File consists of correspondence, copies of legal documents, a copy of the plan establishing the Foundation, background information on McKenzie Seeds and the McKenzie Seed Foundation, minute excerpts and financial information.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondnece and subject files
Box 5
A.E. McKenzie was born in Wilcox Lake, York County, Ontario in 1870 to F.B. and Maria (Carley) McKenzie. His family came to Manitoba in 1883. He was educated in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated from the Collegiate Institute at age 21. In 1897 he founded the Brandon Seed House. McKenzie was present at the cornerstone-laying ceremony of Brandon College on Juy 13, 1900. From that moment on, he was very involved in the College, first as an interested businessman, and later as a member of its Board of Directors. In 1902, McKenzie married Laura Bell in Port Arthur. They had two daughters, Marjorie Bell and Kathleen. In 1906 the Brandon Seed House was incorporated and from then on was known as the "A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.."
McKenzie became a member of the Brandon College Endowment Committee in 1918. The following year he was on the Finance Committee. By 1925, McKenzie was a member of the Board of Directors. In 1928, he was part of a syndicate that advised the Baptist Union that they were developing an endowment plan to provide continuing financial support to the College and talked the Union into providing $10 000 towards the accumulated deficit.
In 1931, McKenzie organized the Brandon Board of Trade to help save Brandon College when the Baptists said they could no longer afford to keep the College. After the By-law failed, he helped to organize the Brandon Citizen’s Campaign to raise enough money so that the College could open the following year.
When the Baptists withdrew support in 1938, McKenzie was one of the central figures on the Brandon Board of Trade that decided to save the College from closure. A representative delegation from Southwestern Manitoba of over 60 men descended upon Premier Bracken’s office to try and convince him to help the College. On June 12, 1938 McKenzie said he would set up a $100 000 endowment to Brandon College. He subsequently raised this amount to $300 000. On August 1, 1938 the Board of Trade launched a campaign to raise $15 000 to match what the government was prepared to offer the College. McKenzie was asked to provide Brandon College with $3000 personally. In September of 1938, McKenzie upped his endowment once more to $500 000. The fund raising worked however, and the chater establishing Brandon College Incorporated was assented to on April 17, 1939. On June 6, 1939 a by-law was again presented to the citizens of Brandon, and fortunately it passed.
In 1941, McKenzie received an honorary L.L.D. from the University of Manitoba. The A.E. McKenzie Foundation was created in 1945 by the provincial government, who had assumed 90% of the A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. stock.
On September 25, 1964 McKenzie died at the age of 94. He never retired, but worked full time until two weeks before his death. The funeral was held in the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre. The Arts and Library Building at Brandon College was completed in 1960, and is known as the A.E. McKenzie building, in honour of the man who contributed so much time, effort and financial help to the College during a crucial period in its history.
Custodial History
Records were accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
A.E. McKenizie’s records in the Brandon College fonds are very useful from an administrative point of view. Because McKenzie was so involved in Brandon College from the very beginning until his death in 1964, it is easy to understand how the College Administration arrived at decisions. There is correspondence between McKenzie and various regarding College and Board of Director business. There are Brandon College financial statements and letters regarding the A.E. McKenzie Foundation. The records contain newspaper clippings, pamphlets and lists of names of members of various Brandon organizations. As well, McKenzie has letters regarding Building Expansion in the 1940’s and minutes of Board of Director meetings. There are also several photographs. One photograph is the 1919 graduation picture of Zoe Hough. Another is tentatively identified as Frances Wolverton, also of the Class of 1919. There are two more photographs of unidentified young women.
Portrait of the Brandon University Lady Bobcats field hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Naomi Marumoto, Gisele Bauche, Pat Challis, Debbie Norbery, Mary Field. Back Row (L to R): Nancy Stanley (Coach), Glenda Bodnariuk, Gwen Connon, Eileen Hannig, Ruth Ann Johnston, Vicki Hanwell, Bobbie Lelond, Marcia Hale, Connie Turnbull, Denise Horbas, Pat Butterfield (Manager).
There is a tear at the bottom of the photograph towards the right corner.
Scope and Content
Portrait of the Brandon University Lady Bobcats field hockey team. Back Row (L to R): Mary Jo Abbott, Diane Cop, Mona Harley, Brenda Johnson, Kirsty Henderson, Wendy Benyk, Jean Dell, Nancy Stanley (Coach). Front Row (L to R): Janet Fraser, Bev Cooper, Bev Morrison, Laurie King, Lucy Evans, Rona Henderson.
Library Foyer, 2nd floor Library and Arts Building. Receipt of a gift of journals from the Winnipeg Free Press. L-R Eileen McFadden, College Librarian; John Robbins, President; Ray Hegion, Library Staff
Caption on the photograph: President Dr. J.R.C. Evans gets the Field Day underway by ? for the men's 100 yard dash.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the 100 yard dash held at Kinsmen Stadium during Brandon College's track and field day. L-R: Lloyd Henderson, ?, ?, Jerry Jerrett, ?, ?, Jack Medd.
Caption on the photograph: Jack Medd of Rounthwaite romps home easy winner of the long distance run. Medd was aggregate winner for the men piling up 41 points, 17 more than his nearest rival. At the provincial high school meet earlier this year Medd captured the Manitoba half mile championship.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jack Medd running the long distance run at the Brandon College track and field meet held at Kinsmen Stadium.
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