Fred McGuinness’ broadcasting career began when he enrolled at St. Paul’s College, an affiliate of the University of Manitoba. In 1945, he became chairman of the Radio Subcommittee working as the Director of the University Radio Series where he was responsible (i.e., writing, casting, directing) for a half-hour Saturday afternoon radio programme.
McGuinness sold his first manuscript to the CBC in 1947, recording a 14-minute broadcast titled the “Class A Circuit” about the Royal American tour. The script was based on work McGuinness had done as a Director of Publicity and Exploitation (1947 to 1952) for the Royal American Shows while the show toured with the fairs on the Canadian prairies.
McGuinness began developing broadcast scripts in earnest for the CBC when he returned to Manitoba in 1966. By the 1970s, McGuinness was writing copy for CBC’s Radio Noon and Information Radio, as well as producing Ashgrove Farm, a CBC radio drama.
By 1980, McGuinness was hosting the CBC Radio broadcast Neighborly News from the Prairies. The radio program was cancelled by the CBC in 1983 after much outcry, but was resurrected with Altona broadcaster CFAM later that year with McGuinness at the helm. The radio show concluded its run in the summer of 1987.
In 1985, McGuinness returned to broadcast with the CBC and is popularly known for his “Manitoba Reports” that he delivered on CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski. He held his position as the prairie correspondent for 12 years. In the final three to four years of the Morningside show, McGuinness was asked to write non-political essays for broadcast. These “Letters Assignments” would be later published in 1999 by Great Plains Publishing as Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a radio broadcaster, newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
Fred McGuinness was involved in a number of radio broadcasts in his life. The records in this subseries are the result of that work. The subseries contains drafts of possible broadcast scripts dating to the 1950s and early 1960s, drafts of CBC broadcast scripts for CBC’s Radio Noon, Information Radio, Ashgrove Farms radio drama, and Neighborly News from the Prairies. McGuinness appears to have annotated his scripts to reflect breathing, pauses, and other factors that could impact the delivery of his script on air.
The S.J. McKee Archives does not appear to have broadcast scripts pertaining to McGuinness’ CBC Morningside years.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the Radio broadcast script subseries (McG 6.1), McGuinness’ book Letters from Section 17 (published by Great Plains Publications in 1999), and his column “A Mourning Sigh for National Institution, “ Brandon Sun, May 29, 1997
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible materials pertaining to his broadcast career may be found in other series of the Fred McGuinness collection. McGuinness’ UofM student radio club certificates can be found in his scrapbook (McG 1.4). A sound recording of one of McGuinness’ UofM broadcasts can be found in McG 7
CBC Radio Archives - Morningside
Trent University, Peter Gzowski fonds (99-015)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
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
Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Alva/Alvery/"Alvie" Reddell/Riddell/Ridall Spafford (b. 15 Mar 1891, d. 23 Aug 1985) was born in Enterprise, Manitoba, in the R.M. of Turtle Mountain. In 1911, he married Francis Ethel Harrison (d. 1979) in Killarney and had three children. Alvie farmed in Bannerman from 1902 to 1936, after which he moved to Boissevain to work as a Rawleigh salesman. In 1942, the family moved to Brandon where Alvie worked as a conductor with the CNR until his retirement. Alva Spafford passed away at the age of 94 at the Brandon General Hospital. His funeral was held in Killarney, Manitoba. (Source: Obituary, Brandon Sun, 23 Aug 1985)
Scope and Content
Postcard is a studio portrait of the Spafford brothers. Alvie is seated, Harry is standing.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: out of the past, Harry & Alvie Spafford, 1909 Winnipeg. The back of the postcard reads: Harry on left, Alvie on right, in our early, days, Railway.
Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Alva/Alvery/"Alvie" Reddell/Riddell/Ridall Spafford (b. 15 Mar 1891, d. 23 Aug 1985) was born in Enterprise, Manitoba, in the R.M. of Turtle Mountain. In 1911, he married Francis [sic.] Ethel Harrison (d. 1979) in Killarney and had three children. Alvie farmed in Bannerman from 1902 to 1936, after which he moved to Boissevain to work as a Rawleigh salesman. In 1942, the family moved to Brandon where Alvie worked as a conductor with the CNR until his retirement. Alva Spafford passed away at the age of 94 at the Brandon General Hospital. His funeral was held in Killarney, Manitoba. (Source: Obituary, Brandon Sun, 23 Aug 1985)
Scope and Content
Postcard is a studio portrait of the Spafford brothers. Harry is seated on the left, Alva ("Alvie") is standing with his right arm around his brother.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Harry on left, Harry & Alva Spafford, our early Railroad days in Winnipeg 1909 or 1910.
Mrs. Flora Cowan (1902-1986) was born on July 15, 1902 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the daughter of Adam and Helen Cruickshank and immigrated to Brandon with her parents in 1927. She married E.C. Cowan, and they had two children, Franklin and Ruth. From 1953 until Brandon College became Brandon University, she served as the Dean of Women. In 1966 she received the Good Citizenship Award of the Golden Boys of Manitoba. She was a member of the I.O.D.E. and a life-member of the International Peace Garden, and the Provincial Council of Women. From 1954 to 1970 Mrs. Cowan served as a member of the Brandon City Council and was the first woman to be appointed acting mayor. She was also the Chairman of the Board for Fairview Home, Inc. In 1967, Mrs. Cowan received the Trillium Business and Professional Club Woman of the Year Award. She was also a member of several other community committees. The women's residence at Brandon University, Flora Cowan, is named in her honour. In December 1980, Mrs. Cowan finally retired from her many positions. She died in Brandon on September 25, 1986 at the age of 84.
Photograph shows a group of individuals posing with Queen Elizabeth II. Fred McGuinness is standing behind the Queen.
Notes
Behind the photograph is a letter dated 15 November 1984 to Fred McGuinness, Brandon, Manitoba, from Michael B. Decter, Clerk of the Executive Council, Cabinet Secretary, re: Her Majesty's Visit to Manitoba
Mayor Rick Borotsik (b. 08 Sep 1950) was born and raised in Brandon, Manitoba. He attended Brandon University, graduating in 1971. He served on Brandon City Council from 1977 to 1985. In 1989, Borotsik was elected mayor; a position he held until 1997 when he stepped down to run as the Progressive Conservative Candidate in the Federal Election. Borotsik was successful in his bid and served as the Brandon-Souris MP for two terms, decling to run in the 2004 Election. Borotsik returned to politics in 2007, he won the provincial election, serving as the Progressive Conservative MLA for Brandon West from 2007 to 2011.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a heatshot of Mayor Rick Borotsik
Notes
History/bio information obtained from CBC News (15 Dec 2010) "Longtime politician Borotsik calls it quits" accessed 08 Dec 2015 at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/longtime-politician-borotsik-calls-it-quits-1.911809
Frederick Gallagher McGUINNESS (b. 1891 – d. 23 May 1968) was born in Ottawa, Ontario. While in Brandon, he was a student (1911) and secretary of Boys’ Work for the YMCA in 1913. He moved to Winnipeg where he graduated from the Manitoba Medical College in 1917. On 3 December 1917, Lieutenant F.G. McGuinness enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Winnipeg. He served in France with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was a Medical Officer attached with the Ninth Royal Irish Fusiliers. Lt. McGuiness survived the war and returned to Winnipeg where he married Myrtle Eva White in Winnipeg on 12 September 1922. They would have a son Jim “Jimmy” and a daughter Elizabeth (Shannon). Dr. McGuinness practiced in Obstetrics and Gynecology and taught at the University of Manitoba’s Medical School from 1923 onwards. He was instrumental in helping his nephew, Frederick George McGuinness return to school after he was injured in the Second World War. Dr. McGuinness died in Winnipeg at the Deer Lodge Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a graduation portrait of Frederick Gallagher McGuinness in his university robes, likely from the University of Manitoba's medical school.
Notes
Writing on back photograph reads: Brandon, Great Granma Gilmour, (Granma Chalmers' mother), (Kate Harden's Grandmother), came from Scotland to Brandon, spring of 1882
Catherine "Kate" Harden (nee Chalmers) (b. 24 May 1890, Brandon; d. 22 Sep 1975, Kenora) was the daughter of Ed and Agnes Chalmers, early residents of Brandon, Manitoba (c. 1882). Kate worked as a cashier at Nation & Shewin's from 1913-1914 before marrying Edward Harden (b. 26 Jan 1886, Hawkhurst, Kent, England; d. 10 April 1962, Brandon) on 03 December 1914. At the time, Harden worked as a driver with the Brandon Fire Department. The couple had two daughters, Edith and Agnes. (sources: Manitoba Vital Statistics database and Henderson's Brandon City Directories)
Custodial History
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows two men and two women standing outdoors on a carpet. Kate Harden (nee Chalmers) stands on the right, her husband Edward "Ted" Harden stands second from the left.
Notes
Writing on back photograph reads: ?, Ted Harden, ?, Kate Harden. Photograph is stamped Crawford's Drug Store, Brandon, Man. [Date range determined from drug store period.]
According to Fred McGuinness, Brandon's first automobile was purchased by Dr. Matheson. He sold the car to grocer William Muir.
Custodial History
Digital reproduction attached to correspondence addressed to Bax and Spouse from Fred McGuinness [2005]
Scope and Content
Photograph shows an elderly man holding a baby in an early motor car.
Notes
In correspondence addressed to Bax and Spouse from Fred McGuinness [2005], McGuinness identifies the man seated in the automobile as William Muir and the infant as Kelvin C. Baxter of Winnipeg [b.25 Mar 1908], grandson of Robert M. Coombs of Brandon.
Photograph shows two males in coats, ties, and gadsby caps. The man on the right is likely William Frederick McGuinness, father of Brandon Sun editor Fred McGuinness.
Photograph shows an elderly man and woman seated in a photography studio posing for a formal portrait. The man, James Darroch, is wearing a three-piece suit and is seated in a cane chair. The woman is wearing a black dress and is seated next to her husband.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: April 11 1913 - 85, Mr. & Mrs. Darroch, parents to Mary Darroch Pope, my grandmother, Fred McG 8.1.90
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