Frank Pimentel's images of 'One Room Dwellings' provide a commentary on people's lives and their place in the society. The portraits of people in their homes, surrounded by objects that define their daily life, their aspirations or dreams, seem first straightforwardly objective. Nevertheless, the political content in these images is not accidentally delivered by the camera lens. Pimentel is not merely an eye behind the camera; rather than sentimental longings, the artist offers his audience a critical and at the same time understanding view of human condition.
Dimensions
40 X 32 cm
Size Overall
50.5 X 40.5 cm
Medium
Limited edition portfolio of 30 Ektacolor photographs
During his 30 years with The Medicine Hat News and the Brandon Sun, Fred McGuinness took an active roll in his respective communities and cultivated his interest in local histories; he was actively involved with the Chamber of Commerce and rural development initiatives. Consequently he was invited to guest speak and chair sessions on local history, rural development, and the economy while providing his personal insights as a newspaper publisher. McGuinness’ work as a Canadian Centennial Commission representative (1963 – 1967) was an appointment that required he deliver speeches provincially and internationally. McGuinness also appeared to draft press releases and speeches for local politicians.
McGuinness also delivered community workshops on memoir writing, a past time he continued until shortly before his death in 2011, and wrote about memoir writing in his Brandon Sun column “The Diary.” He included that “Diary” article, along with copies of his published Reader’s Digest artiicles in his workshop materials. Individuals writing memoirs or interested in McGuinness’ memoir writing style may also be interested in McGuiness’ “Foundation of a Writer’s Library” and “The A-B-C and X-Y-Z of Researching and Writing a Local History Story.”
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and sessional instructor. 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
The Talks and workshop subseries contains records created and collected by McGuinness over his lifetime and include: published copies of speeches delivered by individuals other than McGuinness; drafts of speeches McGuinness gave while working in Medicine Hat (Alberta) and the Brandon Sun; and copies of workshop materials pertaining to rural development and memoir writing, including copies of memoirs and articles, correspondence, useful references, and activities/exercises.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the Talks and workshops subseries (McG 6.3), and Freelance materials (McG 3)
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 teaching career may be found in other subseries of the Fred McGuinness collection. Workshop participants and readers of McGuinness’ columns often submitted memoirs to McGuinness (see McG 1.2 McGuinness Correspondence and McG 4.1 Local history)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Photograph was in possession of Mrs. Ruby Miles, who passed the image on to Fred McGuinness. McGuinness makes reference to Mrs. Miles and this photograph in his Sunbeams column (Brandon Sun 14 September 1978).
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a horse drawn wagon advertising Cowan's Cocoa. The Gilmore Advertising Company of Toronto appears to be responsible for the ad and the wagon is numbered "No.4". Three men appear in the photograph: one behind the reigns, one in the rear seat of the wagon, and other standing at the rear axel.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: Pringle & Booth, 181 George Street, Toronto. Writing on the back of the photograph matting reads: Mrs. R. Miles, R.J. Brdgdon?, Right Side 2.50 a day.
Date obtained from http://photographersofontario.ca
Negative shows a residential living room with a woman (Hazel Spellmeier) seated in a chair holding a Siamese cat. Standing on her left is her daughter (Bobbie). A man (Sgt. Wilf Spellmeier) is seated on the arm of a couch while he attempts to photograph the women. The interior of the residence is consistent with 1960s furnishings.
Notes
Negative was stored in a Medicine Hat News envelope with the following typed on the front: Sgt. Wilf Spellmeier, wife Hazel and daughter, Bobbie.
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 banquet room in the Prince Edward Hotel. Rectangular tables are organized in an U-shape layout. The tables are covered in white linen table cloths and have place settings.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a studio portrait of moustached wearing a three-piece suit, seated with six girls. The girls are wearing dresses, ribbons in their hair, and several have broaches pinned at their necks.
Flora C. Cowan (nee Cruickshanks) was born on July 15, 1902 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1913. Flora married Edgar Clarence Cowan (1894-1951) on August 15, 1922. The couple had two children: Franklin and Ruth. Edgar, who served in the First World War with the Royal Canadian Engineers, was employed as municipal engineer at Springfield, MB. In 1927, Edgar was appointed district engineer with the highways branch in Boissevain; a year later he was transferred to Brandon and the family moved to the city.
For much of her life, Flora was a leader in the Brandon community. During the Second World War, she mobilized Brandon's volunteer efforts and in 1953, she was appointed Dean of Women at Brandon College. In 1954, Flora became only the second woman ever elected to the Brandon City Council. She served on the council for 16 years and stepped down as Dean of Women in 1969. A champion for Fairview Personal Care Home, she chaired its board for more than 20 years. Flora Cowan Hall on the Brandon University campus is named in her honour. Flora Cowan died on September 25, 1986 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Flora Cowan about her involvement in community and civic affairs in Brandon, 1927-1981. This first hour includes the following subjects: church involvement, including the union of the Methodist and Knox churches, the Women's Auxiliary and volunteer work; the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE); her recollections during her tenure as Dean of Women at Brandon College, including the death of JRC Evans, the official opening of the McKenzie Building, the expansion of campus, the layout of Clark Hall, social functions, the granting of the University charter, the retirement of John E. Robbins, the BJ Hales Natural History Museum and her retirement; her work as an alderman on Brandon City Council; and the history of Fairview Personal Care Home. The interviewer is Marjorie Fitton.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the article reporting Edgar Cowan's death by drowning and Flora Cowan's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Related Material
Brandon College fonds
Audio Tracks
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James Cowan was born on May 26,1884 in Archie Municipality. He attended school at Le Claire and Cherry Grove and later farmed southeast of Mcauley, MB. Jim married Caroline (Lena) Willamina Johnson (1887-1965) in 1914, and together they had five children: Marjorie, Helen, Archibald, Elmer and Clarence. James Cowan died in December 1982. He is buried at Elkhorn Cemetery.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing a narration by Jim Cowan of his life story.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Find A Grave website and Ancestry.ca. Transcript by Tanner Garnham. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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