In the early 1960's, A.E. McKenzie set out to right a book chronicling the first 38 years of Brandon College's history. To achieve this goal, he contacted a number of former faculty member and students of Brandon College, and asked them to contribute their recollections of the College. The testimonials were published along with a message from Brandon University's President at the time, Dr. John E. Robbins. Brandon College Inc. also contained comments from McKenzie regarding the Re-establishment of the College.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub sub series contains correspondence discussing textual and photographic content of the book, clarification of facts, and the format and printing of the book. There is also one newspaper clipping and some proofs. A large part of the sub-series is comprised of the contributions and mailing list for the project. Two copies of the completed book are also been included.
The remainder of the documents in the sub-series deal with reactions to the project. Testimonials from well-known individuals such as Mrs. Olive Diefenbaker, a former student at the College, the Minister of Education, and the Premier of Manitoba are contained in the sub-series. As well, fonds includes numerous letters from other individuals, thanking and congratulating McKenzie on the project are included. There is also a file relating to the reaction – not unanimously favorable - of the Brandon College Board of Directors to the project.
The majority of the photographs used in the History of Brandon College Inc. are also included.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds
MG 5 A.E. McKenzie fonds
1.1 Brandon College Inc.
Contains the following files:
9.1 Class list and lost alumni 1941-1948
9.2 "Spectrum" April 1944
9.3 "The Sickle" 1941-1945 (missing 1944)
9.4 Graduation programmes 1927, 1940-1952 (includes photo of Arts Banquet, Brandon College 1942)
9.5 "The New Era" 1947
9.6 Murray McPherson diary 1942
9.7 The Quill and The Sickle account book [1939-1941]
9.8 Brandon College documentation 1942-1943
9.9 Calendar 1940-1941
9.10 Murray McPherson's notes 1938-1939 (Brandon Collegiate)
9.11 Brandon College notes [1941-1944] (2 files)
9.12 Commencement programme 1944
9.13 Brandon College commencement programmes 1944, 1945, 1952 (also contains 1937-1938 Brandon College calendar and a copy of "S.J. McKee of Brandon College" by Tommy McLeod)
9.14 Physics notes [1942]
9.15 Murray McPherson - math and physics notes 1943
9.16 Murray McPherson - math notes 1944
9.17 Murray McPherson account book 1938-1940 (Brandon Collegiate)
9.18 Miscellaneous pamphlets re: Brandon College and hockey 1909 - ca.1945 (including Student Handbooks 1940-1944 and the 1913 convocation programme, the 1909 Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association constitution, pamphlets from The Boys' Brigade and a pamphlet with etiquette and manner advice for teenagers)
Notes
Part of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
These records were produced between 1987 and 1988, the researching and writing period for The Wheat City: A Pictorial History of Brandon monograph. Published in 1988 by Western Producer Books (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), The Wheat City is a 117-page soft cover book, containing black and white images.
Western Producer Books pitched the book’s concept to Fred McGuinness in the fall of 1987. This book was part of the publisher’s “city series” which focused on smaller cities such as Medicine Hat and Prince Albert. It was estimated that the book would contain a 6,000-word introduction followed by approximately 80 archival photographs of Brandon spanning from early settlement to the late 1950s/early 1960s.
Brandon University history major Pam Svistovski worked as McGuinness’ research assistant and McGuinness obtained images for the book from his own personal collection, the Brandon Sun, Lawrence Stuckey, the Archives of Manitoba, and the Western Pictorial Index.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness during the writing phase of the monograph The Wheat City. 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 consists of textual records and photographs created and collected during the production of the monograph The Wheat City. It includes correspondence, newspapers articles, drafts and black and white photographs from the Archives of Manitoba, Western Canada Pictorial Index, and Illustrated Souvenir of Brandon.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was obtained from The Wheat City’s acknowledgements and a letter to Mr. Fred McGuinness from Western Producer Books, dated September 24, 1987 (McG 5.6, File 11)
Where known, archival reference numbers for photographs obtained from the Archives of Manitoba and the Western Canada Pictorial Index and considered/used in The Wheat City have been provided in the item level description
Accruals
Closed
Repro Restriction
Images published in the monograph and stored in files copyright protected by their respective organizations
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Clarence Hopkin collection
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible research materials pertaining to this monograph may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2) Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), Manitoba: The Province & The People (McG 5.4), and Manitoba Enterprise (McG 5.5)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to picture sources
See RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), 7.1.4.1 (Brandon- Great Depression REsearch Project) and RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), 7.1.4.2 (Northern Great Plains History Conference) for History/Bio information.
Custodial History
See RG 6, 7.1.4.1 and RG 6, 7.1.4.2 for Custodial History information.
Scope and Content
Sub sub series has been divided into two sub sub sub series, including: (1) Brandon - Great Depression Research Project; and (2) Northern Great Plains History Conference.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
7.1 Faculty of Arts
A.E. McKenzie was involved with Brandon College from its very beginnings. He was present at the cornerstone-laying ceremony of the Brandon College Building in July of 1900; he became a member of the Brandon College Endowment Committee in 1918; the following year he was on the Finance Committee. By the mid-1920's, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the College. In 1928, he was part of a group that convinced the Baptist Union of Western Canada, the principal funding body for the College, to provide money towards reducing the College’s accumulated deficit. McKenzie and other members of the College Board had advised the Union that they were developing an endowment plan to provide continuing financial support for Brandon College.
In 1931. Mr. McKenzie organized the Brandon Board of Trade to help save the College when the Baptist Union indicated its intention to withdraw financial support to the College. When efforts to have the City of Brandon provide finacial resources to the College failed, A.E. McKenzie organized the Brandon Citizen's Campaign to raise enough money to enable the College to open the next year.
In 1938, when the Baptist Union did withdrew support from the College, McKenzie offered to establish a $100,000 endowment, which he later raised to $300,000, to ensure the continuation of the College. On August 1 of the same year, the Board of Trade, of which McKenzie was a member, set out to raise $15,000 to match the offer the government had made to the College. In September 1938, McKenzie increased his endowment again, this time to $500,000. As a result, of McKenzie's endowment and the fundraising efforts of the Board of Trade the charter establishing Brandon College Incorporated was approved on April 17, 1939.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series includes correspondence between McKenzie and Lowes with various government officials - Duff Roblin, Hon. George Johnson, Hon. Stewart E. McLean and Comptroller-General George D. Iliffe. There is also correspondence with the company lawyer, William Johnston. Documents within the series consist of the Act to Incorporate Brandon College, Inc. and Bill 86, as well as an indenture and an agreement between C.S. Eaton, G.C. Edwards, A.E. McKenzie, D.H. Hudson and E.J. Tarr. There are also a number of documents written by McKenzie that were presented to the Brandon College Board of Directors. Brandon College Inc. resolutions regarding the McKenzie Foundation are also included.
The sub-series has one sub sub series: MG 5 1.1.1 History of Brandon College Inc.
The Brandon College Bulletin was a forerunner to the current Brandon University annual report. Nothing else is known about its origins. The publication was a product of the Brandon College Board of Directors.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of copies of the Brandon College Bulletin for: 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
Sub-series consists of copies of The Brandon College Gazette, including: Vol. 1, No. 4 (May 11, 1937); Vol. 2, Nos. 1-4 (May 2, May 5, May 9, and May 11, 1938). It also includes a document entitled "Hand 'Bill' The Stick." This document is an endorsement of Bill Potoroka as a nominee for the position of Senior Stick.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
During the Great Depression, Fred McGuinness launched his career with the Brandon Sun as a paper career beginning in 1933. His route had him delivering papers in Brandon’s downtown core, to many of the city’s, now, historic or demolished buildings. Four years later he was employed in the city working for CPR telegraphs as a messenger and then as an operator. These early Brandon experiences weaved their way into McGuinness’ newspaper columns, his broadcasts, and his books. In turn, McGuinness’ readers shared with him their own memories about Brandon and its local history.
McGuinness was passionate about the social history of regional communities and the province as a whole. In the 1970s, McGuinness was instrumental in helping to establish the Rural Resource Centre, the predecessor to Brandon University’s SJ McKee Archives. He co-authored several monographs about Manitoba’s social history with Brandon University Professor Ken Coates and published a pictorial history about Brandon. He was also a community booster and was consulted to serve on, promote and write about local, provincial and rural development initiatives. In his obituary, the last piece he would publish in the Brandon Sun, McGuinness wrote that he had a “deep and continuing interest in anniversaries.”
In its editorial piece on the passing of Fred McGuinness, the Brandon Sun commented that McGuinness had a “genuine interest in the stories and memories that are part of every Canadian’s experience…He loved driving through small Westman towns and communities, stopping at the local coffee shop to strike up conversations with the locals.” He continued writing his Diary column for the Brandon Sun and mentoring aspiring writers in his memoir writing workshops until his death in 2011.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a 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
The subseries consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. As part of his research and writing process, McGuinness kept numerous files on various subjects and continued to add to them throughout his career. He accumulated his local history materials by personally collecting newspapers and clippings, books, and magazine articles; by readers’ forwarding materials for his interest; and from workshop participants submitting memoirs and personal narratives for his interest, review and feedback.
Local history materials consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, biographical documents and memoirs, obituaries, and manuscript drafts on Brandon (Manitoba) topics including:
the City of Brandon’s origins, anniversaries (75th, centennial), reunions (Victoria 1969, Toronto 1977)
historic buildings and streets (Brandon’s Central Heating System, Brandon’s Fire Department, Brandon Gun ClubBrandon water power plant)
businesses (Assiniboine River ice harvest; Brandon woolen mills, skating arenas; Snellie brothers (Russell, MB); Meighen, Haddad, & Co., Prince Edward Hotel)
citizens and early pioneer/families (Armitage family, Beaubier family, Thomas Black, J.A. Brock, Henry Carroll, Q.C., Chalmer-Harden families, Clement family, Flora Cowan, Eliza Durston, William A. Elliott, Dr. Fleming, Hall family, Eleanor Kidd, Jack Lane, William Langdon, Lindenberg family, A.E. McKenzie, Margaret Muir, William Muir, W.S. Orchard, Mrs. Osmond (Griswold), General Thomas Lafayette Rosser, Harry Spafford, Allena Strath, George Treherne, Wallace family)
institutions (ACC, Brandon Research Station)
military units (181st Battalion)
museums (Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum)
local newspapers
politicians (R.O. Lissaman, Sir Clifford Sifton)
railways (1916 Brandon trainwreck)
religious organizations (Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus, Beresford Church)
McGuinness also maintain files on the local history of surrounding communities, including: Birtle, Beresford, Camp Hughes, Hartney, Kemnay, Russell, and Souris.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from “We’re Going to Miss You, Fred,” Brandon Sun, March 24, 2011, A8
Items dating to the 1880s are photocopies and transcripts of original materials
In the file level inventories, 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
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
John Everitt collection
Clarence Hopkin collection
Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
William Wallace papers
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible work and correspondence pertaining to his research materials may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection Monograph series (McG 5) and subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Talks and workshops (McG 6.3). McGuinness also “filed” many clippings between the pages of his books in his personal library (see McG 8 Library series)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
File consists of course evaluations, performance reviews, a copy of Burmeister's curriculum vitae, and a course outline for An Introduction to the History of Germany, 1648 to the Present.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series VIII: Faculties and Schools
7.1.1 Dean of Arts
Box 2
File consists of copies of Burmeister's curriculum vitae, retirement documents, application and promotion documents, sabbatical documents, a self evaluation form, a newsclipping regarding Burmeister's community service award, and records regarding various committee appointments.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series VIII: Faculties and Schools
7.1.1 Dean of Arts
Box 2
The sub-series contains the minutes from Library Committee meetings. There are also minutes from the meetings of various sub-committees such as the Open Shelf Sub-Committee and the Sub-Committee on Apportionment of Library Funds. Includes minute books and files.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 14: Brandon College Library
The Brandon College Honor Roll is a list of the Brandon College students who served and/or were killed, wounded, gassed or imprisoned during World War I.
Sub-series Brandon College track and field programs for 1920 and 1922; two copies of Brandon College songs and yells, along with a typed copy of the class song for the class of 1929; a copy of the Brandon College students' directory for 1914-1915; and a donations pamphlet for the Brandon College Students' Memorial Gymnasium ca. 1918.
Notes
Located on the front page of the Memorial Gymnasium pamphlet is a proposed campus development plan showing the site of the proposed gymnasium, with other additional facilities including: a science building, a library/chapel, a conservatory, and a new women's residence.
At the front of the Brandon College songs and yells is a copy of the Brandon College Students' Association constitution.
The students' directory contains the constitution of the Literary Society, and a newspaper clipping regarding the death of Dorothy Nelson (nee Werthembach), former Dean of Women at Brandon College 1934-1935.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
The University Calendar is the authoritative statement of the institutional structure, faculty and staff, and academic program of Brandon University. Since the creation of the College in 1900, calendars have been produced annually, with only a few exceptions, by the Registrar's Office.
Up until 1991-1992, the calendar was called the general calendar. In 1991-1992, it was called the undergraduate general calendar. Beginning in 1992, the calendar was produced every two years instead of annually, except for 1998-1999, until 2003. The 1992-1994 calendar contains both the undergraduate and graduate general calendars, and starting in 1994 a separate undergraduate and graduate calendar was produced.
Custodial History
The Brandon College/University calendar was produced by the Registrar's Office. Individual copies of the calendar were held by the Registrar's Office until their transfer to the University Archives.
Scope and Content
The sub-series consists of general calendars, general undergraduate and graduate calendars, as well as calendars for the School of Music, the Faculty of Education, and for spring and summer sessions. It has been divided into three sub sub series, including: (1) Calendars - bound archival copies; (2) Calendars - researcher's copies; and (3) Calendars - miscellaneous.
Notes
The Registrar, acting in his/her capacity as Secretary of Senate, is responsible for the production of the University calendar.
File consists of evalutaions, correspondence, political leave documents, application and appointment documents, sabbatical documents, payroll information, promotion documents, and documents regarding Clark's involvment with IMPACTE/CORE.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series VIII: Faculties and Schools
7.1.1 Dean of Arts
Box 2
The Brandon College Senate was created in 1900 under “An Act to Incorporate Brandon College.” At the time, however, the Senate was not given a clear policy mandate. The Act stated: The Professors in said College, together with three members of the Board of Directors nominated by the said Board for that purpose, shall constitute the Senate, to whom shall be entrusted the reception, academical superintendence and discipline of the students and of all other persons within the said College.
Despite general authority over the discipline of students, measures to enforce discipline and the power to appoint or remove professors rested with the Baptist Convention. As a result, the Senate remained largely ineffective until 1910 when the Board re-defined their function as follows: The Senate be composed of the Council of the College together with three members appointed by the Board of Directors. That this body shall be responsible for all matters that concern the determination of the curriculum, the recommendations to the Board regarding appointments of instructors in subjects otherwise specifically assigned to individual members of the several faculties.
These new powers provided the Senate with a rational boundary of authority including some control over the curriculum, but its main function was still recommendations to the Board on matters concerning faculty. There are no known documents regarding the Brandon College Council, which existed from 1910 to 1915. Affiliation with McMaster was a contentious issue with faculty. Courses had to correspond with those in McMaster, effectively eliminating the Brandon College Senate from its authority over academic matters.
In 1915 the Senate was re-organized following the “Act to Amend An Act to Incorporate Brandon College.” With this reorganization the Senate assumed a more direct role in the selection of faculty and tutors. As well, the Senate became a stronger advisory body of the faculty.
The Brandon College Senate remained relatively unchanged until 1939 when, under by-law 1, the Board defined the Senate functions as:
Power to regulate instructions and to determine the methods and limits of instructors.
To prepare a calendar of the College for publication.
To recommend to the Board the establishment or abolition of, or any changes in departments, chairs, lecture-ships, bursaries, scholarships and prizes, and generally have charge of all matters of an academic character, but shall not have any power to incur any expenditures or liabilities on behalf of the Corporation until specifically authorized by resolution of the Directors, nor shall their powers be construed as authority to engage teachers for the Corporation.
Along with these functions the Senate was also the body that possessed the binding authority to deal with all academic grievances.
The Senate under the new Charter and by-law 1, consisted of the President, Chairman of the Board, seven members from the faculty (including President and Registrar), and six members from the Alumni. The Registrar was to act as Secretary.
The Senate was changed once more in 1959. This change led to a more significant role in the administration of Brandon College.
Scope and Content
These records consist mainly of minutes from various faculty council and executive meetings from 1900 to 1942 including Arts, Science and Theology faculties. Included as well are Minutes of the Ministerial Committee of the Baptist Union of Western Canada As well, there are University of Manitoba Senate Minutes dating from 1950 to 1958.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 5: Brandon College Senate
Consists of the BCSA constitution, electoral procedure documents, nomination forms, the Brandon College Crests and Awards Board constitution, the Brandon College Finance Board constitution, the Brandon College Athletic Board/Athletic Council constitution, the Brandon College Board of Publications constitution, the Brandon College Literary Board constitution, the Sigma Mu constitution, and BCSA statistical summary of Committee meetings.
6 cm (excluding The Quill, The Sickle, Student Handbooks and The Spectrum)
History / Biographical
See sub-series descriptions for History/Bio information on:
The Quill
(RG 6 Brandon University fonds, series 14 (BUSU), sub-series 14.5 (publications), 14.5.3 (The Quill))
The Sickle
(RG 6 Brandon University fonds, series 14 (BUSU), sub-series 14.5 (publications), 14.5.1 (The Sickle))
Student Handbooks
(RG 6 Brandon University fonds, series 14 (BUSU), sub-series 14.5 (publications), 14.5.2 (Student Handbooks))
Brandon College Bulletin
(RG 1 Brandon College fonds, series 12 (Brandon College publications), 12.4)
Brandon Reflections
(RG 1 Brandon College fonds, series 12 (Brandon College publications), 12.5)
The Spectrum
(RG 6 Brandon University fonds, series 14 (BUSU), sub-series 14.5 (publications), 14.5.1.3 (The Spectrum))
Scope and Content
Series consists of magazines, newspapers, yearbooks, bulletins and directories published by Brandon College. It has been divided into seven sub-series, including: (1) The Quill; (2) The Sickle; (3) Brandon College Student Handbook; (4) Brandon College Bulletin; (5) Brandon Reflections; (6) Miscellaneous Brandon College publications; (7) The Brandon College Gazzette; and (8) The Spectrum.
Notes
Although many of the records in this series are part of RG 1 Brandon College fonds, it was decided administratively, because of the continuity with Brandon University and the ongoing character of the records, to locate the Quill, the Sickle (and the Spectrum) and the Student Handbooks within RG 6 Brandon University fonds as part of series 14 (BUSU), sub series 14.5 (BUSU publications).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 14: BUSU
14.5 BUSU publications
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 12: Brandon College publications
Related Material
RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), series 14 (BUSU), sub series (BUSU publications).
Arrangement
Due to the relocation of the Quill, the Sickle, the Student Handbooks and the Spectrum within RG 6 Brandon University fonds, sub-series' 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and 12.8 do not exist within the arrangement of RG 1 Brandon College fonds.
