Photograph shows Robert (Bob) Ford dressed as the Pied Piper playing a soprano saxophone surrounded by children in costume, some carrying Brandon University Alumni pennants. Photo was taken during the Brandon University Homecoming Parade held in downtown Brandon.
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).
Photograph shows a crowded and muddy Brandon street. A military parade consisting of a band and mounted cavalry fill the street. A banner extends across the street reading: Brandon Heartily Wecomes Her Returning Heros.
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
The Brandon Collegiate was built in 1907 and officially opened in 1908. Architect W.A. Elliott designed the building, which was faced with brick from Wisconsin (order 65,000 bricks). Located at 527 Louise Avenue, it ceased to be Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI) in the summer of 1974. It was renamed New Era School on the recommendation of Marion Pye, who was a teacher at BCI in its last years. The name "New Era" was also the name of the BCI yearbook.
Custodial History
Sent to Fred McGuinness from Martin Kavanagh of Brandon.
Scope and Content
Photograph is an outdoor class picture of Brandon Collegiate Institute students standing on the front steps of the school.
Notes
History/bio information obtained from Lawrence Stuckey descriptions and the Manitoba Historical Society website. The negative for this photograph can be found in McG 1.2 File 19.
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
Image was given to Carla Eisler in Alumni Relations by Barry Gordon in 2013. Eisler transferred it to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon College Class of 1927.
Top row (L to R): Doris Millicent Heath; Rose Alexandra Hyndman; Edith Marie Irish; Kathleen Condell; Margaret Lilian King; Ruth Eliza Willey; Ruth Ethel Clement; Leta Marian Fry; Alice Aileen Brandon; Gertrude Fanny Louise Godley; Emma Gruenke
Bottom row (L to R): Donald Alleyn Ritchie; Clarence Edmund Erickson; Lloyd Crawford; Eric Livesay Yates; Harold Pratt Clark; Hon. Pres. Cyril Richards; Robert Ormond Shuttleworth; Armand Daniel Stade; John Arvid Strahl; Denis Marland Phillpotts; John McLellan; Lawrence Gladwyn Macpherson.
Notes
Barry Gordon is the son of Ruth Eliza Gordon (nee Willey), Brandon College class of 1927. Duplicate is BUPC 9.79a
Image is warped on the right side and is coming away from its backing board
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon College Class of 1927.
Top row (L to R): Doris Millicent Heath; Rose Alexandra Hyndman; Edith Marie Irish; Kathleen Condell; Margaret Lilian King; Ruth Eliza Willey; Ruth Ethel Clement; Leta Marian Fry; Alice Aileen Brandon; Gertrude Fanny Louise Godley; Emma Gruenke
Bottom row (L to R): Donald Alleyn Ritchie; Clarence Edmund Erickson; Lloyd Crawford; Eric Livesay Yates; Harold Pratt Clark; Hon. Pres. Cyril Richards; Robert Ormond Shuttleworth; Armand Daniel Stade; John Arvid Strahl; Denis Marland Phillpotts; John McLellan; Lawrence Gladwyn Macpherson.
Some warping. Small hole in background on middle left
Custodial History
Photo was donated to the McKee Archives by Bernice La Buick in 2012. She bought it that summer at a yard sale as part of a box of miscellaneous items.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon Collegiate 3B class of 1920.
Top Row (L to R): M. Harris; Daisy Patmore; H. Warren, Secretary Treasurer; R. McDorman; M. Abey; K. Cantelon
Second Row (L to R): R. Baldwin; D. McDougall, Principal; J. Gibson
Third Row (L to R): C. Anderson; M. Muller; G. Coristine, Class President; E. Grentham; M. Dorrett; A. Hepinstall
Fourth Row (L to R): M. Skene; M. Davidson; F. Merrell; V. Fielding
Fifth Row (L to R): E. Dorrett; L. Mummery; F. Adolph; M. Maxwell; H. White; E. Kennedy
Sixth Row (L to R): I. Powell; M. Price; F. Green; E. Chalmers
Bottom Row (L to R): J. Mazer; H. Waluk; L. Harper; Miss MacMorine, Class Teacher; Marjorie McKenzie; J. Campell; J. Bolton
Photo was donated to the McKee Archives by Thelma Fisher in May 2015.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon Normal School class of 1940.
Top Row (L to R): H. Hannah; W. Coulthard; E. Holditch; H. tennant; F. Williams; J. Pettifpher; H. Peterson; A. Embury; I. Campbell; J. Hainsworth; I. Vig; M. Townson
Second Row (L to R): L. Thornton; W. Lochhead; M. Ardron; D. Archibald; Miss M.A. Yeomans, Physical Culture; Mr. C. Moore, Principal; K. Watson; J.S. Caldwell; S. Bradley; J. Christie
Third Row (L to R): M. Witt; H. Mikkelsen; O. Scott; M. Scharff; D. Duncan; Miss B.A. Pilling, Primary Art; I. Duchesneau; E. Hawson; M. Simpson; D. Strath; B. Wiggins
Fourth Row (L to R): E. Henderson; C. Smithson; M. Nelin; J. Campbell; M. Young; V. Brown; G. Wenman; I. Turcotte
Fifth Row (L to R): E. Sommerville; M. Reid; I. Henderson; M. Lychacz; E. Duncan; M. Taylor; J. McPhail; D. Irwin; T.V. Cole; J. Regner; M. Skuce; P. Osman
Bottom Row (L to R): G. Pue; A. Berkhold; D. Pue; B. McLean; E. Nash; J. McFarland; J. Bonner; D. Cousins; E. Pratt; N. Boake; K. Middleton; I. Goldie
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.
At one point the photograph may have belonged to S. Louise Wickstrom, who attended Brandon College in the 1920s. The photograph came into possession of the Alumni Office at Brandon University. The Alumni Office transfered it to the McKee Archives in July 2009.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of the students and faculty of Brandon College in 1921. Photograph was taken outdoors in front of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall.
Notes
Writing on the back lists two Wickstroms: S.L. and N.O. Duplicate is BUPC 9.6
The Brandon Normal School was an arm of the provincial Department of Education. Manitoba Normal schools were initiated in the early 1880s (1882 for protestant teachers and 1883 for Roman Catholic ones) to meet the demand for teachers in the province's schools. Normal schools were held in Brandon at various locations until the construction of the Brandon Normal School in 1912 under the Roblin government. The Brandon Normal School operated until 1946.
Scope and Content
Portraits of the students and staff of the Brandon Normal School in 1906-1907.
The Brandon Normal School was an arm of the provincial Department of Education.Manitoba Normal schools were initiated inthe early 1880s (1882 for protestant teachers and 1883 for Roman Catholic ones) to meet the demand for teachers in the province's schools.Normal schools were held in Brandon at various locations util the contruction of the Brandon Normal School in 1912 under the Roblin government. The Brandon Normal School operated until 1946.
Custodial History
Photograph was donated to the McKee Archives in 2006 by Frank Becker.
Scope and Content
Portraits of the students and staff of Brandon Normal School class (1908).
