Opened Feb. 15, 1892; Contained opera house on second floor; Area under canopy east side held butchers' stalls.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon City Hall, front and east side
Notes
This and several other pix by Martel c. 1904 from a book of photos by Wm. Martel & Sons, Photographers, Brandon, printed by Warner's Book Store, Brandon. Have seen this book inscribed Feb. 1905. As no publishers or copyright date printed in it we know pix taken 1904 or earlier. L.A.S.
Opened Feb. 15, 1892; Contained opera house on second floor; Area under canopy east side held butchers' stalls.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon City Hall, front and west side
Notes
This and several other pix by Martel c. 1904 from a book of photos by Wm. Martel & Sons, Photographers, Brandon, printed by Warner's Book Store, Brandon. Have seen this book inscribed Feb. 1905. As no publishers or copyright date printed in it we know pix taken 1904 or earlier. L.A.S.
Discolouration/bleaching in the centre, mild tearing in the corner, missing fabric on some letters.
Scope and Content
Item was created by the Brandon College class of 1927 as part of their commencement activities. The flag, which is made of wool, features the class colours of black and orange, as well as the class motto "In omnia paratus" ("Prepared for everything"). The flag has a pocket for hanging.
Notes
Loose translations for the class mottos were provided by Dr. Rosanne Gasse (Latin) and Dr. Steve Robinson (Greek), as well as from googling the mottos in October 2006. Description by Trinity Nylen/Jessica Old (February 2024) and Christy Henry.
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.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
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).
Originally built as a courthouse and jail in 1884, the building's use as a courthouse ended with the construction of a new courthouse on 11th Street and Princess Avenue in 1908. It continued to be used as a provincial jail until December 1979.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Old Provincial Jail
Notes
Additional historical information provided by Fred McGuinness collection (20-2009).
Originally built as a courthouse and jail in 1884, the building's use as a courthouse ended with the construction of a new courthouse on 11th Street and Princess Avenue in 1908. It continued to be used as a provincial jail until December 1979.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
The building pictured was built in 1906-1907. Prior to its use as the Public Library, the building housed the Merchants Bank of Canada. The Library left this location in 1984 when it moved to the former Co-op store on 7th Street & Princess Avenue. This building subsequently became the Brandon Chamber of Commerce building in September of 1985. According to Stuckey, the façade of the building is to remain as heritage building, with interior renovations undertaken with government financing.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Brandon Public Library [branch of Western Manitoba Regional Library].
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