The Canadian Federation of University Women was founded in 1919 under the leadership of Margaret McWilliams of Winnipeg to promote the interests of women with higher education at local, national and international levels. It is a voluntary, non-profit, self-funded organization with a membership of over 10,000 university-educated women and 122 local clubs. The CFUW promotes high standards of public education; encourages advanced study and research by women university graduates; encourages active participation in public affairs by qualified women; works to safeguard and improve human rights and the economic, legal and professional status of women in Canada; and participates in the work of the International Federation of University Women. The Brandon University chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women was established in 1948. It continues to be active.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains correspondence with other branches of the CFUW, minutes and programs from meetings and seminars held throughout Canada, as well as administrative records and minutes of the Brandon branch. Most administrative records concern the problems of maintaining membership levels and recruiting younger members. Fonds also contains various issues of the "Chronicle," a CFUW publication. Fonds also includes CFUW Brandon minutes, miscellaneous projects, annual reports and member lists, as well as a number of documents relating to the provincial, national and international activities of the CFUW.
The Brandon College Expansion Fund was created by the Board of Directors in the late 1950s in order to raise money for Brandon College. This money would help with the much needed expansion of Brandon College. The school’s physical facilities had become inadequate for the number of students enrolled and the variety of courses offered. The Expansion Fund, with the initial goal of raising one million dollars, would enable Brandon College to provide students with adequate space to learn. The Fund was very successful, as the 1960s were defined by the sound of construction at Brandon College. In 1960, a new Arts and Library Building and Lecture Theatre were built. A Men’s Residence and Dining Hall arrived soon after. A Gymnasium was built, as well as a Women’s Residence and Music Building. By the time that Brandon College received its university charter an Education Building was just being completed.
Scope and Content
The Expansion Fund records contain information regarding the Fund raising campaign during the late 1950s and early 1960s. There are Daily Reports, Situation Reports, and Purchase Orders. As well, there are mailing lists, canvasser lists and division lists. The records contain several Canvasser’s Kits, as well as a booklet entitled “Brandon College Looks Ahead”. There are various reports from 1958 and 1959. The files include Corporate Donor cards, Alumni Addresses, Reference cards, Eastern Canada business contacts, lists of former students, and obituaries of alumni. There are official receipts, newsletters and some correspondence. There is also correspondence dealing with the fundraising campaign for a Centennial Auditorium.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 14: Brandon College Expansion Fund
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 11 (Brandon University Foundation).
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).
See fonds level of the CKX records for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Image shows a Brandon House Builders Association - Meadows sub-division sign advertising the upcoming second annual parade of homes in the new Meadows sub-division.
Surface of image is cracking and there is discoloration.
Scope and Content
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Sawaar Simmons, John Duignan, Bob Hill, Clarence Hathaway, Tom Ford. Middle Row (L to R): Gary Howard (Head Coach), Jerry Hemmings, Dave Bauman, Frank Lindal, Jim Ross (Student Manager), Bob Nevill (Assistant Coach). Front Row (L to R): Jim Henderson, Mike Vaira, Bill Warren, Dick Doer, Joe Parks.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Bill Moody, Rick Condo, Tom Ford, Mike Dean, Jack Gibson, Bob Hill, Ken Rucker. Front Row (L to R): Jim Henderson, Ellis Ware, Dick Doer, Mike Vaira, Bob Fosker.
Image surface is severely degraded (cracking, discoloration).
Scope and Content
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Bob Fosker, Peter Bertram, Frank Bauche, Bohdan Pisak, Lloyd Small, Tom Ford, Brian Pallister, Ryan Gray, Ken Rucker, Mike Vaira, Murray rodgers, Jim Henderson. Front Row (L to R): Kevin MacDonald (Manager), Joe Parks (Assistant Coach), Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Dan Majcher (Statistician). Missing: Elwood Kelher.
Portrait of the Brandon University Bobcats men's basketball team. Back Row (L to R): Gord Campbell, Ellis Ware, Bob Campbell, Lew Worrell, Lloyd Small, Ryan Gray, Dave Smith, Nelson Burrell, Dave Price, Bohdan Pisak, Murray Rodgers, George Rugg, Gord Carmichael. Front Row (L to R): Dan Majcher (Statistician), , Bill Moody (Assistant Coach), Jerry Hemmings (Coach), Kevin MacDonald (Manager) .
Portrait of the Brandon University Bocats men's hockey team. Front Row (L to R): Vern Mott, Avie Hutchinson, Rich Little, Jeff Taylor, Mike Johnston, Hal Burton, Denis Dohie, Brunno Rogger, Rod Winkler, Dan Jackson. Middle Row (L to R): Gary Kaluzniak, Glen Williamson, Darry Stevens, Terry Arksey (Student Manager), Andy Murray (Coach), Doug Steeves (Ass’t Coach), Tim Morrison, Kit Harrison, Brad White. Back Row (L to R): John Swan, Derek Kobernyk, Rick Hopfner, Doug Hedley, John Tresoor, Kelvin Melnyk, Bill Rose, Terry Garden.
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