William Wallace was born in Scotland around 1859. In 1881, when William was twenty-two, he emigrated to Canada with his father and brother. Once here they settled near what is today Forrest, Manitoba. The following spring they moved to the northwest margin of settlement in Manitoba, homesteading in the Shellmouth area. Wallace remained a resident of the region for the rest of his life. William Wallace was active in community affairs. He was appointed to the post of Secretary-Treasurer of the Shellmouth Municipality in 1887, and he held the position until 1904. In 1909, Wallace was injured in a railway accident, and he had to give up farming. He moved to Shellmouth and took up the position of postmaster, which he held for twenty-seven years. He died in 1945, and is buried at Shellmouth cemetery, Manitoba.
Custodial History
The letters contained in the fonds remained in the possession of Margaret Wallace, who was the original recipient of the correspondence. She emigrated to Canada in 1904. At some point the letters passed to William Wallace who kept them in his possession in Shellmouth. In 1941, William contacted Professor E. J. Westcott of Brandon College regarding the fonds. He offered it to the College for safekeeping. Westcott accepted the letters. Westcott passed the letters on to various officers and staff at Brandon College and then Brandon University. Since 1982, the collection has resided in the S. J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of hundreds of letters that William Wallace and his brother, Andrew, wrote to their sister, Maggie, from 1881 until 1904. The first letter, dated 22 March 1881, was written by both William and Andrew aboard the S.S. Prussia as they sailed to North America from Scotland. The last letter was written on 4 January 1904 by William. It was written to inform Maggie and her husband that William had reserved a homestead in their name. This letter marks the end of the fonds. Later that spring Maggie and John emigrated to Canada to be with her family.
William was keenly interested in everything going on around him; his letters and Andrew's reveal what life was like for inexperienced settlers on the Canadian agricultural frontier in the last years of the ninteenth century. Fonds touches on a variety of social, political and economic themes.
Notes
CAIN No. 202641. A partial accession of the Wallace collection was completed in 1992 by Eileen McFadden.
Photograph shows a group of 38 loggers outside their camp. The men are wearing long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, and coveralls. One man is holding a cat on his lap, another appears to be holding a rifle.
Following the Second World War, Canada assisted with the resettlement of Europe's homeless. Orders in Council were passed between July 1947 and October 1948 that permitted the entry of 45,000 "displaced persons," who were referred to as "New Canadians" upon their arrival. (Source: Government of Canada (01 July 2006), "Forging Our Legacy: Canadian Citizenship and Immigration, 1900-1977," accessed on-line at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/legacy/chap-5a.asp)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a young Fred McGuinness holding a microphone in front of a woman. A crowd of people surrounds the pair.
Notes
Writing on back of photograph reads: On duty Calgary Stampede, introducing story of displaced persons being brought to Canada, 1947
The Original Brandon Fire Hall was located on the east half of the north side of the 600-block of Princess Avenue. The hall was in operation from 1884 to 1911.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Brandon's first fire hall on Princess Avenue. The hose tower and stable are visible. The horse-drawn ladder wagon is parked on the street in front of the hall and the rescue ladder is extended against the tower. Five firefighters are standing on the ladder and two are standing at its base.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mrs. E. Harden, 6th Street
The Original Brandon Fire Hall was located on the east half of the north side of the 600-block of Princess Avenue. The hall was in operation from 1884 to 1911.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Brandon's first fire hall on Princess Avenue facing east. The hose tower and stables are visible. The three horse-drawn ladder wagon is parked is on the right. Pairs of horses are harnessed to two hose wagons. A dog sits on the street before the parked wagons.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 1903 or 1905, "First Fire Hall," Princess Avenue, Brandon, Man.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the wooden exterior of Brandon Fire Hall No. 2 before it was covered with a brick veneer. The firemen are standing outside the bay doors which are open and blocked with rope. The hose wagon and ladder wagon are parked inside the building. The harnesses for the horses are suspended from the ceiling.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Mrs. Ed Harden. No. 2 Firehall, 600 Block 11th Street, Brandon, Man. This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Notes
Photograph shows two horse-drawn fire wagons in front of the Brandon Fire Station No. 2. One wagon has a hose, the other wagon has an extension ladder. Fireman Ed Harden is on the reins of the ladder truck (right). Writing on the back of photograph reads: Contributed by Mrs. Ed Harden. 6th Street North, 11th & McTavish Ave, Fire Hall - now School Bd office.
This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
According the 1911 Henderson's Brandon City Directory, the Brandon Fire Department - headquartered at Seventh Street and Princess Avenue - had 16 permanent firemen. For equipment the department had one steamer, two chemicals, two hose wagons, one hose reel, one aerial aldder, one hook and ladder wagon, and 10 horses. The city had 34 electric fire alarm boxes and 114 fire hydrants. The pumping station had a capacity of 3.5 million gallons in 24 hours. By 1913, the Brandon Fire Department had 19 permanent employees on its roster and added 2 more horses as well as an 80 horsepower combination motor truck.
Notes
Photograph shows a pictorial nominal roll of the 18 members of the 1912 Brandon Fire Department. A logo of crossed hoses, axes, ladder, and helmet adorn the centre of the photo. The Cornell Trophy for the Brandon Fire Brigade is pictured at the top centre. Photos of two building fires are featured at the top corners. The Central Fire Hall and No. 2 Fire Hall are pictured at the bottom corners.
Members include: D. McDonald, T. Flowers, E. Harden, J. Adams, J. Daniel, Lt. A. Mowat, T. Calder, A.E. Elborne (secretary), F. Benson, A. Mair?, T. Dunnett, A. Flett, J. Todd, Lt. G. Taylor, M. Watson, A. Thomas [Calder?], Capt. R. Daley, Chief J. Melhuish, Eng. E. Boyes. Also pictured are Mayor J.W. Fleming and Alderman C.B.Coleman (chairman).
Photograph was removed from a photo album. Photograph is ripped.
History / Biographical
According the 1911 Henderson's Brandon City Directory, the Brandon Fire Department - headquartered at Seventh Street and Princess Avenue - had 16 permanent firemen. For equipment the department had one steamer, two chemicals, two hose wagons, one hose reel, one aerial aldder, one hook and ladder wagon, and 10 horses. The city had 34 electric fire alarm boxes and 114 fire hydrants. The pumping station had a capacity of 3.5 million gallons in 24 hours. By 1914, the Brandon Fire Department had 19 permanent employees on its roster and added 2 more horses as well as an 80 horsepower combination motor truck.
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows two horse-drawn fire wagons in front of the Brandon Fire Station No. 2. One wagon has a hose, the other wagon has an extension ladder.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Ed Harden, Driver on the left, 1914, 11th McTavish. This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
Photograph was removed from a photo album. Photograph is creased and has tape residue.
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of Brandon Fire Hall No. 2. The wagon engines are in the foreground. The firemen stand in the background, holding the bridles of the horses that are standing at the entrances of their stalls. The interior of the hall shows a brick floor and tin ceiling. Stairs lead to a wooden door that is likely the entrance to the living quarters and offices on the second floor.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: Ed Harden, Driver on the left, 1914, 11th McTavish. This picture is the same as the negative in the Lawrence Stuckey collection. Stuckey obtained a copy of the photo from George Lepard, father of Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard).
After the cancellation of McGuinness’ CBC Radio broadcast “Neighborly News from the Prairies” that he hosted from 1980 to 1983, McGuinness continued working with the CBC. He was popularly known for his work as the prairie essayist for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, a position he held for 17 years.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness (left) and Peter Gzowki (right) having coffee in a restaurant.
Notes
Writing on the back of the postcard reads: Baron! Dear Fred - okay, okay so the photos aren't great...these are your copies anyways! How you are well - Love Shelley (the Countess)
Photograph shows a promotional shot of CBC Radio host Peter Gzowki for CBC Radio One.
Notes
Writing on the back of the postcard reads: Baron! Dear Fred - okay, okay so the photos aren't great...these are your copies anyways! How you are well - Love Shelley (the Countess)
According to the Canadian Old-time Radio Alliance website, the Happy Gang radio show was established by Bert Pearl for the CBC in 1937. The show remained on the air until 1959. Colgate Palmolive was the radio show's first sponsor. Other sponsors included Carnation Milk, Mills' Flower, and Red Rose.
Custodial History
Photograph sent to Fred McGuinness from Lillie S. Wilkins of Killarney, MB
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group portrait of the "The Happy Gang" family. The promotional photograph was produced for the 143rd anniversary of the Colgate-Palmolive company.
Notes
Members of the Happy Gang are identified on the back of the photograph along with "a message" from Bert Pearl, the M.C. for the Happy Gang. Date of photograph determined from Colgate-Palmolive company history.
Photograph was sent to Fred McGuinness from Shirley
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness seated in a recording room with a female colleague. Microphones and recording equipment can be seen on a desk behind the pair.