From the very beginning, Brandon College has maintained library services for its students. A professor was put in charge of the library, although in the beginning it was little more than an empty shelf in a cabinet. As it grew, there became more of a need for an administrative body. A Library Committee was created in order to keep the library running smoothly. With the construction of the A.E. McKenzie Building in 1960 came a permanent resting place for the Brandon College Library.
Scope and Content
The records include a 3 cm book of Library of Congress Card Orders of Recent Publications from 1957 to 1960. As well, there are applications for employment, minutes from the Library Committee and Sub Committees. There is also correspondence from the Director of Library Services and accession records.
Series has been divided into three sub-series, including: (1) Minutes; (2) Director of Library Services; and (3) Library Accession Records.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 15: Brandon College Library
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 8 (Brandon University Library Services).
Sub-series consists of accession records listing the accession number, author, title, publisher, cost and “source” for each book accessioned into the Brandon College Library. It includes a total of 10 accession catalogues covering the period December 1899 - June 1965: 2 accession catalogues (12x18x5) and 8 accession catalogues (9x12x .75 cm)
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 15: Brandon College Library
File consists of various pension/insurance/retirement plans, correspondence and the constitution of the Brandon University Pension and Insurance Benefits Committee.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series XV: BUFA
Box 5
This item is a continuation of the Brandon College Honor Roll (RG 6, sub-series 16.3, item 16). It lists Brandon College students who served and/or were killed, wounded, gassed or imprisoned during World War I.
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series16: Brandon University/College artifacts
16.3 Artifacts - other
Storage Range
New oversize drawer 4
Related Material
The Evan McDonald Whidden fonds (RG 1 Brandon College fonds, MG 1 1.8) has a considerable amount of correspondence written by Whidden to his family from the front during his service in World War I.
The Brandon College/Brandon University Women's Auxiliary was founded on February 17, 1955, with the purpose of a) foster[ing] good public relations between the university and the community, and to stress the importance of Brandon University to Western Manitoba; b) to gain a better knowledge of the functioning of Brandon University and; c) to improve the surroundings of the College/University's students and the university at large. They were to hold four regular meetings per annum, with an annual meeting in April, and one fund-raising tea a year. The organization raised money through these teas, as well as through receptions, with the intention of donating to the college/university and surrounding community, contributing to the furnishing of residences and offices at teh college/ university, as well as facilitating an annual community visitation day for the public to tour the university. The organization's name was change from the Brandon College Women's Auxiliary to the Brandon University Women's Auxiliary along with the renaming of the school itself on July 1, 1967. The organization was sometimes referred to simply as the Women's Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary was run by an elected President and Board of Executives. Its members, who were all mothers of Brandon College/Brandon University students, paid an annual membership fee. Subcommittees within the organization included those in charge of social organization, membership management, program management, phoning management, press and publicity management and project management; all of these were fronted by their own individual leaders from within the members, under the board of executives. The organization ceased meeting in 1975; the minutes from the final meeting reference difficulties filling executive offices before a motion was carried to disband.
Custodial History
Records were created and held by the Brandon College/Brandon University Women's Auxiliary until their dissolution on October 23, 1975, when a motion was passed to move the records to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records that relate to the organization of and activities coordinated by the Women's Auxiliary, as well as records detailing the contribution that the organization made to the university and community of and around Brandon. The records span the entire existence of the Women's Auxiliary from 1955 to 1975.
Records include meeting minutes, treasurers' statements, financial bookkeeping, correspondence, a copy of the constitution, records of members, members' addresses and phone numbers, lists of members' children attending school and their respesctive degree, lists of council members, event memorabilia, organization letter heads, donation receipts, newspaper clipplings, advertisements, publicity reports, meeting reports, visitation records, scrapbooks and scrapbook inventories.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the records. Description by Kayliegh Penner (October 2016).
Brandon University photograph collection (Observatory Opening)
Spring 1955 Alumni News (report on the founding of the organization)
Arrangement
Records are arranged in chronological order in four (4) subseries: 1) treasurer's books; 2) minute books; 3) textual files; and 4) scrapbooks and miscellany
The “Act to Incorporate Brandon College” was assented to on June 1, 1900 and specified that the Board of Directors would consist of 21 members. The Board was to control all financial matters of the College, though all decisions had to meet the approval of the Baptist Convention.
The first officers of the Board were a Chairman, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The minutes also refer to a “President,” separate from the Principal, but does not define the President’s duties. The Principal was a member ex-officio of the Board. The first duty of the Board was to create an executive consisting of all Brandon members of the Board. The main function of the executive was the operation of the College and transaction of all business arising between Board meetings.
In pursuit of a separate university charter, the Board reorganized its affairs in 1910, appointing an investment committee, a Bursar and a Registrar. The Principal was renamed “President,” and was appointed Chairman of the Executive. The university charter was denied, leading the Board to seek affiliation with McMaster University. The Board of Directors during this time was forced to take a more active role in directing college affairs. In November 1910, the Board moved: ...that the officers of the Board be authorized to make such application for such amendments to the Charter as seem necessary and advisable.
This decision led the Board to draw up the Act to Amend An Act to Incorporate Brandon College which, by 1915, granted the Board authority over all College affairs, following the stated direction of the Baptist Convention.
On May 5, 1916 a nominating committee was struck to name the persons and mandate of all new committees.
During the existence of the Board prior to 1967 the following committees were created:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
In 1918, the Board defined the functions of the Executive Committee as:
The Board of Brandon College shall at its organization meeting each year appoint from among its members an Executive of not less than seven in number. The Executive shall be responsible to the Board and shall exercise all the powers usually incidental to an Executive other than those delegated to the Finance Committee and Endowment Fund Committee, which two Committees shall also be responsible to the Board direct.
FINANCE COMMITTEE, 1918-1926
The Finance Committee was to consist of no fewer than seven members which:
...shall be responsible to the Board and shall under the Board have the general oversight and control of the financial policy of the College insofar as the raising of funds is concerned. The Finance Committee shall not have the power to make any expenditures except such as it may deem necessary to incur in connection with its efforts in raising funds. The Finance Committee shall report to the Board of the College at each meeting of the Board and for the purpose of keeping the Executive in close touch with its activities and of enabling the two committees to work in closest cooperation shall transmit to the Executive a copy of the minutes of each of its meetings to be read at the regular meetings of the Executive and shall give account of the progress made by the Finance Committee and generally of its plans for the future. Members of the Finance Committee shall not all necessarily be members of the Board.
ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE, 1918-1926
The Endowment Fund Committee was created by the following resolution:
The Board of Brandon College shall at its Organization Meeting each year appoint an Endowment Fund Committee which shall under the Board manage the Endowment Fund and direct the re-investment of its principal. The Endowment Fund Committee shall consist of not less than three members who shall not all necessarily be members of the Board.
The creation of the latter two committees was significant because it was the first time that Brandon citizens, not necessarily Baptists, were brought into the administration.
HOUSE AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE, 1923-1926
NEW INSTRUCTORS COMMITTEE, 1923-1936
ADVERTISING COMMITTEE, 1923-1936
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE, 1926-1936
TEACHERS COMMITTEE, 1929-1936
GENERAL PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, 1930-1936
By 1936, however, all Committees were abandoned as Brandon College struggled for its financial survival. After the Baptist Convention withdrew all of its support in 1938, a Provisional Board was established through the Brandon Board of Trade to negotiate with the government for the transfer of Brandon College to the Government of Manitoba. The provisional board succeeded in gathering the needed support for government intervention, and resurrected the College under “An Act to Incorporate Brandon College Incorporated.”
The new Board of Directors was appointed October 11, 1939 during a general shareholders meeting. The officers of the Board were a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer. There were also six new standing committees appointed, with mandates listed under clause 16 of by-law 1:
FINANCE COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty it shall be to oversee the finances of the Corporation and make recommendations to the Board as to investments of Monies received for endowment or scholarship purposes, and to prepare and submit the annual budget.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... who shall have general supervision of the real and personal property of the Corporation.
ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to obtain a student body for the College, to co-operate with the President and Faculty for such purpose and report to the Board as may be required from time to time.
FACULTY COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to make preliminary arrangements for the engagement of teachers and who shall make recommendations to the Board for consideration in the engagement of such teachers.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to maintain the membership of the Corporation and see that proper records of the same are maintained.
ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE, 1939-1967
... whose duty shall be to obtain endowments for the future operation of the College and to obtain gifts for scholarship purposes.
In 1942 the Public Relations and Progress Committee was established and a Public Relations Officer was hired. A Consultant Committee was appointed in 1948 with the sole purpose of overseeing the transfer of McKenzie Seeds to the provincial government for financial support through the McKenzie Foundation.
Scope and Content
Series consists mainly of minutes of meetings and correspondence between various Board members and the College. It is a very detailed and descriptive compilation of the decision-making processes at a higher education institution. There are copies of minutes from the Executive Committee in amongst the general Board Minutes. Series also contains a copy of an appraisment of Brandon College Inc. by the General Appraisal Company Ltd. (Vancouver) completed in 1957.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 1: Board of Directors
Arrangement
Series has been divided into one sub-series: (1) Minutes of General Board Meetings.
The Brandon College Alumni Association was created in the spring of 1912. The Arts Class of 1912, the Theological graduates and also the Ad Eundem graduates met together with old graduates who were in the city. It was decided to form an Alumni Association of Brandon College open to all Arts and Theological graduates, past, present and future, as well as those admitted Ad Eundem. An executive was elected, Reverend J.C. Bowen of Winnipeg being appointed President, and J. Dempsey, Class of 1912, Secretary. The matter of drawing up a constitution was left to the executive.
A meeting was held by the executive on November 21, 1912 in order to discuss membership into the Association. A resolution was eventually passed that approved the basis set down the previous spring: All Arts, Theological and Ad Eundem graduates were to be admitted into the Association.
The Alumni Association was created by students in order for graduates and former students of Brandon College to maintain contact with the College and each other and to promote the College’s interests.
The Alumni Association’s activities included: publication of the quarterly Alumni News, mailed to all members and associate members; administration of the Alumni-contributed $17 000 J.R.C. Evans (Memorial) Student Loan Fund, providing interest free loans to worthy students; representation on Brandon College Board of Directors; contributions to College expansion; organization of Association branches in major cities and of social events for Alumni members.
Scope and Content
The records of the Alumni include newsletters, "Alumni News," and various other documents dealing with the association.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 7: Brandon College Alumni Association
The first organization involving the students of Brandon College was created in 1899 or 1900. It was entitled the Literary Society. This society was run by students and faculty to cultivate literary and musical gifts and to provide training in public speaking and in the transaction of business. In 1901, a College branch of the Y.W.C.A. was formed as well as a Students’ Missionary organization. A College branch of the Y.M.C.A. followed in 1902. The Brandon College Athletic Association was created in 1904 to direct the affairs of the various athletic games.
The first idea of a Student Council-type organization began in 1906 with the creation of the Students’ Committee. This committee was created in order to develop a worthy College spirit and to promote a worthy College life.
“A committee of five students shall be appointed annually early in the college session whose office it shall be to confer with the Resident Master on matters pertaining to residential life, and with the Faculty on matters pertaining to the general life of the College. This committee shall consist of five members, three resident and two non-resident. In matters relating to the residence the three resident students alone shall act. This committee shall represent the Student Body in any matters in which that body may wish to confer with the Faculty, or may of its own motion confer with the faculty on any subject thought to be of interest in promoting proper College life.”
In 1909 the Debating Society was created for training in public speaking. A Publications Committee was created in 1910 to publish the new student magazine, The Quill. The Students’ Committee became known as the Student Council in 1915. Also in 1915, a Committee on College Activities was formed. This consisted of the President, two faculty members and two students. It was appointed by arrangement of the College Council each year to regulate the various activities of College life. It became known as the Functions Committee in 1921.
The 1920-1921 College Calendar is the first calendar that mentions the Brandon College Students Association. It states under the heading of Student Organizations that:
“The Literary and Debating Societies , the Athletic Association, the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. are integral parts of the Brandon College Students’ Association, and are managed by committees appointed by the Association.”
1921 saw the formation of the Students’ Christian Movement which replaced the Y.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. Under the Students’ Christian Movement group, students held weekly devotional and educational services, and conducted Bible and mission study classes.
The 1936-1937 College Calendar shows that a change took place that year in the student council. Instead of just five students of the College being elected to the Council, there are now two separate councils. The calendar states that:
“The students of the men’s and of the womens’ residences appoint annually a representative committee of five, whose function it is to consider the interests of College life from the point of view of the residence body, conferring with the Faculty when necessary.”
Although these groups of five were known as the student council, there was a Student Executive of the Brandon College Students Association that was a separate entity. It consisted of the Senior Stick, the Lady Stick (since 1923), the heads of various boards, and the class presidents. This governing student body continued until 1966 when it underwent an extensive reorganization. During that year, the positions of Senior and Lady Sticks were abolished so that the elected student president could be a man or a woman. This president would be assisted by elected ‘sticks’ from each faculty of Arts, Science, Education and Music. This form of government continued until 1967, when Brandon College became Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The Student Association files cover a wide variety of topics and consist mainly of minutes from various student groups and clubs on the Brandon College campus. The records are a first hand look at how student governments were run during the Brandon College era.
Series has been divided into twenty four sub-series, including: (1) Lady Stick's Notes; (2) Memorial Gymnasium Book; (3) Minutes (Literary Board); (4) Expansion Fund Committee; (5) Athletic Board Finance; (6) Finance Board; (7) Main Executive Committee; (8) Functions Committee; (9) Athletic Association/Athletic Board; (10) Contemporary Club; (11) Social Science Club; (12) BCSA Records; (13) Co-Ed Association; (14) English Club; (15) Sports Awards; (16) Record of Social Events; (17) Brandon College Ministerial Association; (18) Ledgers; (19) Freshie Week Committee; (20) Arts Banquet Committee; (21) French Club; (22) Intervarsity Night Report; (23) Publications Committee; and (24) Student Missionary Band.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 14 (BUSU - Brandon University Students Union).
The Ministerial Committe was created with the purpose of discovering prospective students for the Baptist ministry. To become recognized as a student in Theology, a student had to be examined by the Ministerial Committee. The committee looked at the student’s intellectual, moral and spiritual fitness for the work of the ministry. He was then graded on his chances at entering the ministry. The committee could tell him that he was not suitable for ministerial work, or they could put him on the “encouraged” list. After repeated meetings with the Committee, a student could be voted as “accepted” as a prospective Baptist ministerial student.
Scope and Content
These records consist of a book from the Ministerial Committee. It contains the records of prospective theological students, including comments on their spirituality, morality and intellect. It records which students were rejected, encouraged and accepted into the program. Some notable students interviewed in this collection are: J.R.C. Evans, John Hart, Charles Stone, H. Friend, J. Church, and Tommy Douglas.
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).
These records were created by the Director of Library Services from the year 1957 until 1963. It is mainly business correspondence and memorandums. The files include correspondence between the Director of Library Services and various people regarding the library. There are also memorandums to the faculty.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 14: Brandon College Library
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), sub-series 8.1 (Director of Library Services).
In 1995 the History Department at Brandon University hosted the Northern Great Plains History Conference held annually at a university in the northern plains region of Canada or the United States. The Department of History, Brandon University hosted the conference again in September 2008.
Custodial History
Accession 34-1997 was donated to the McKee Archives ca. 1997 by members of the Department of History at Brandon University (Gerhard Ens, James Naylor, Hans Burmeister and Andrew Pernal). Accession 15-2009 was donated to the McKee Archives in May 2009 by James Naylor, Chair of the Conference Committee.
Scope and Content
Accession 34-1997 includes curriculum vitae and abstracts relating to each paper presented at the conference, copies of the program and related administrative records for the conference.
Accession 15-2009 consists of records generated during the course of preparing for and hosting the 2008 Northern Great Plains History Conference. Includes records dealing with: registration, finances (including grants), exhibitors, call for papers, program and session organization, audio visual, governing council for the conference, accomodations, participants (including curriculum vitaes, applications, proposals, abstracts), and the grad prize. Accession also contains: various tickets, programs, correspondence, papers by grad essay entrants, signs, instructions, mailing list, handouts, and reference materials (past conferences etc.)
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
7.1 Faculty of Arts
7.1.4 Department of History
In 1914 World War I broke out in Europe. As soon as Britain became involved in the war, Canada, as part of the British Empire, was involved. As soon as Canada became involved in the war, Brandon College became involved. In keeping with the patriotism of the time, Brandon College organized a Canadian Officers Training Corps in 1915. It was soon a common sight to see students drilling several times a week in every type of weather. Often the women of the college would offer food and drink after the more grueling experiences. In 1916, a Brandon College platoon was organized under J.R.C. Evans. When he was declared medically unfit to go overseas, the command went to Lieutenant William Carey McKee. Carey was the son of S.J. McKee. He had graduated from Brandon College in 1914, and secured his M.A. in 1915. The Brandon College platoon joined up with the Western Universities Battalion, the 196th. The men went overseas in 1916, most remained there until after the war. Sadly, their admired leader, Carey McKee, was killed on August 26th, 1918 at Arras, just months before the end of the war.
Over thirty other Brandon College men failed to return home from the war. Remaining students immediately began planning for a memorial gymnasium to honour their fallen friends. They eventually raised over $20 000 towards the gym, but the money was given as a gift to the administration during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s when the College was in dire need of money. Although the Students’ Memorial Gymnasium Fund went on for several years, due to lack of money and rising building costs, the memorial gymnasium was never built.
The C.O.T.C. remained on the campus, but it was not as integral a part of daily routine until the late 1930s. Once again, hostilities broke out in Europe. This time, however, Canada did not automatically become involved in the war when Britain did. In an attempt to show the world its independence, Canada waited five days before officaially declaring war. By 1940, the C.O.T.C. was in full swing again. As well, part of Brandon College was given to the Royal Canadian Air Force for use as classrooms and accomodations.
After the cessation of World War II, the C.O.T.C. remained on campus. The S.J. McKee Archives has records of the organization up until 1960. The 1951 Brandon College Calendar decribes the University of Manitoba contingent of the C.O.T.C., so at some point the two organizations were amalgamated. The 1954 Brandon College Calendar decribes the R.C.A.F. (Reserve) University of Manitoba Squadron that students can apply for. Finally, the 1957 Brandon College Calendar contains a description on the Regular Officers Training Plan, which students could apply for. All of these programs were still in effect when the College was granted its University Charter in 1967.
Scope and Content
The first member of Brandon College to join up was a professor, Philippe Louys. He happened to be visiting his father in France when hostilities broke out. He joined the French Army, and was almost immediately taken prisoner. For several years he tried to escape, finally being successful on his fourth try. Louys immediately began retraining in the French Army, but as soon as he was ready to fight again, the war ended. Philippe Louys’ story is not uncommon in the history of Brandon College. The professors and students felt it was their duty to join the ranks and fight along with the rest of the British Empire. Most of them left the halls of the College, and many never returned.
The records consist mainly of correspondence having to do with the Canadian Officers Training Corps. There are also letters refering to Brandon College students who served in the World Wars. As well, there are lists of Unit Orders and Syllabii for the instructors of the C.O.T.C. There are also files regarding the War Maintenance Fund from 1918 and 1919. These records are a good source of material for studying how Brandon College viewed the outbreak of hostilities in Europe, and how the College responded to the crisis. Also, they show how attitudes changed about war and the college’s role in it from the period of 1915 to 1960. The Presidents’ files also have information on the role the military played at Brandon College. Finally, the series contains attestation and application for military training forms (1941-1943).
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 11: Brandon College Military Training Programs
These files were created from 1899-1967. They include almost all of the financial records from this time. Before the creation of the Bursar position in 1910, the files were probably created by Dr. McDiarmid and Dr. McKee. After 1910, it is assumed that it was primarily the Bursar’s responsibility to update the ledgers. As well, various committees were involved in the creation of these ledgers, such as the Refund Committee and the Library Committee.
Scope and Content
Many of the Ledgers in this collection contain clear information about how Brandon College raised and spent its money. There are General Accounts Ledgers that give an overall view of the College’s finances, as well as Financial Reports from 1910 through to 1969. There are several ledgers entitled Cash Receipts and Disbursements and Petty Cash.
Some interesting files from a researcher’s point of view are the Student Accounts Ledgers. Dating from 1899, these ledgers contain information regarding each student that attended Brandon College. The ledgers record the tuition, board and other students expenses, how it was paid and who it was for. There are also Book Accounts. These two books describe the books students had to buy for their classes. There is a book of room deposits, as well as a list of students by their hometown and denomination.
The Miscellaneous file is probably the most interesting one in the collection. There is a ledger created by Sadie Northam in 1898. The book contains expenses from what was possibly the Dining Room, as the purchases are mainly large amounts of groceries. The collection also includes the minute book from the Refunds Committee from 1914 to 1923. This committee heard appeals from students who desired some or all of their money back from the College. A very intriguing article in the miscellaneous file is that of the COTC Day Sheets. This ledger runs from March through April of an unknown year, although it most likely was 1915 or 1916. It has a list of students that were in the COTC and has columns for each day that they had drill practice. They COTC drilled twice a day, and the Day Sheets mark if the student was present for drill, and if he was not, what his reason for being absent was. It also contains a list of duties for the duty officer, as well as some memorandums.
There are two books in this series that record the Staff salaries from 1918 to 1921 and 1926 to 1928. There is also a ledger from the Brandon College Institute, Session 08. There is no date on this ledger, and it is not quite certain what the Institute was, as there is no other mention of it. Although the collection has been divided under various headings, it must be noted that there is considerable overlap, especially between the General Accounts, Cash Receipts and Disbursements, and the Student Accounts Ledgers.
The series has been divided into six sub-series, including: (1) General accounts ledgers; (2) Financial reports; (3) Cash receipts and disbursments ledgers; (4) Petty cash ledgers; (5) Student accounts ledgers; and (6) Miscellaneous ledgers and minute books.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 13: Brandon College Ledger and Minute books
pages 26-34 and an Addendum setting out tender terms for construction of proposed new Science Building.
Physical Condition
Generally good.
Scope and Content
Document sets out requirements - materials and methods and conditions of construction - for the proposed new science building at Brandon College. Documentation includes electrical fixtures, heating and plumbing.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.1 Documents
These records were produced between 1984 and 1985, the researching and writing period for the book The Pride of the Land: An Affectionate History of Brandon’s Agricultural Exhibition. Published in 1985 by Peguis Books (Winnipeg), Pride of the Land is a 222-page soft cover book, containing hundreds of pictures, and 50,000 words of text.
BU faculty members Dr. Kenneth “Ken” Stephen Coates, Assistant Professor of History, and Mr. Fred McGuinness, Lecturer in Journalism, authored the book. Assisting the writers was a research team of four BU history students, which were referred to as “The Pride Team”: Diane Fowler, Rob McGarva, Bruce Stafeld, and Byron Williams.
The Pride Team was tasked with collecting and synthesizing exhibition documents and other materials in city, provincial, and federal records spanning 100 years. Many local newspapers and committee minutes were consulted.
The authors cover 103 years of Brandon Fair history, starting with the first fair in 1882 followed by the development of other agricultural fairs and exhibitions in Brandon, specifically The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, and the Ag-Ex livestock show.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness, Coates, and The Pride Research Team during the process of the creation of the book, The Pride of the Land: An Affectionate History of Brandon’s Agricultural Exhibition. The materials were donated to the SJ McKee Archives by the authors circa 1988. The Archives accessioned the records in 2008.
Scope and Content
The subseries consists of textual records, created and collected during the production of the monograph Pride of the Land. It includes research cards created by the research team, copies of newspaper articles from very early editions of Brandon newspapers (such as the Brandon Sun, Brandon Daily Sun, Western Sun, and The Independent), copies of fair/organizational minutes, photocopies of photographs used in the publication, and chapter drafts. Of particular interest are the detailed summaries of Provincial Exhibition minutes that were specifically produced for each book chapter.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from a Brandon University press release dated June 1985, about the Pride of the Land Project (see file 64)
Description Note: The original accession number is noted on the front of each file folder. The circled number indicates the original file order in the 6-2008 accession
Accruals
Closed
Language Note
Fred McGuinness often uses journalistic jargon to label his files. A “brite” refers to a short, amusing story
Pride of the Land acronyms:
PEM = Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba
RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police
WAAA = Western Agricultural & Arts Association
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been arranged according to book chapter. McGuinness often organized his ideas and research materials by potential brite topic
These records appear to have been produced between 1986 and 1987, the researching and writing period for another monograph, Manitoba: The Province & The People. Published in 1988 by Windsor Publications (Burlington, Ontario), The Keystone Province: An Illustrated History of Manitoba Enterprise is a 184-page hard cover book, containing 250 black-and-white illustrations and 40 colour photographs.
The authors cover 378 years of Manitoba entrepreneurial history, starting with the Aboriginal Peoples and the early fur trade, ensuing Red River settlement, followed by the war years, and emerging Manitoba economies. The final chapter of the book contains select profiles of Manitoba businesses, many of which were acknowledged as financial contributors to the project.
BU faculty members Dr. Kenneth “Ken” Stephen Coates, Assistant Professor of History, and Mr. Fred McGuinness, Lecturer in Journalism, authored the book. Dr. Coates accepted a position as an assistant professor of Canadian History at the University of Victoria during the book’s production. BU Professor of History, Dr. William R. Morrison, was credited as the picture researcher for the publication. Free-lance writer Roger Newman was responsible for preparing the Manitoba business biographies in the final chapter. The book was produced in co-operation with the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness and Coates during the creation of the monographs Manitoba: The Province & The People and The Keystone Province: An Illustrated History of Manitoba Enterprise. The materials were donated to the SJ McKee Archives by the Estate of Fred McGuinness circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries consist of textual records, created and collected during the production of the monographs Manitoba: The Province & The People and The Keystone Province: An Illustrated History of Manitoba Enterprise. It includes journal articles, book chapters, Government of Manitoba industry publications, a few original photographs used in the publication, and drafts for chapter “brites.”
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from the The Keystone Province: An Illustrated History of Manitoba Enterprise dust jacket and patrons section of the book
In the file level inventory, square brackets at end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
Accruals
Closed
Language Note
Fred McGuinness often uses journalistic jargon to label his files. A
“brite” refers to a short, amusing story. McGuinness often
organized his ideas and research materials by potential brite topic
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Files in this subseries have been arranged according to the order in which brites first appear in the book
Documents
McG 5_5 Keystone Province MB Enterprise inventory.pdf