60 photographs (b/w) and 18 negatives; 3 cm textual records
History / Biographical
Rubina Isabella Miles (née McGregor) was born October 9th, 1909, in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, the only child of Kate (née Rowe) and William McGregor. Her father, William Thom McGregor was a native of Scotland who, before coming to Canada, travelled to Australia and New Zealand, and served in the Boer War. Ruby Miles and her parents migrated to Australia in 1921. In 1925, the family moved to Papua New Guinea where Mr. McGregor was employed as Head Stockman on the Giligili Estate, part of the Commonwealth Copra Company. The family returned to Canada in 1929. In 1940, Ruby married Leonard "Len" Miles, a native of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Following the Second World War, they settled in Brandon, Manitoba. Ruby spent her adult life as a homemaker. She died in April 2003.
Custodial History
The records came into Ruby Miles' possession through her husband (correspondence while he was overseas) and through the death of various family members. Following the death of Ruby Miles, the collection was donated to the S.J. McKee Archives by Errol Black, the executor of her estate.
Scope and Content
Collection includes c. 15 letters from Kate McGregor, to her parents Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Rowe of Brandon, Manitoba. The letters were written in the years 1925-1929, when Mrs. McGregor and her family were living in Papua New Guinea. Collection also includes photographs and photographic negatives containing images of the Giligili Estate in New Guinea. Collection contains correspondence with Len Miles during his service overseas in the Second World War, as well as Len Miles' service record, death certificate and various memorabilia from his time in military service. Finally, the collection includes various news clippings, documents and correspondence received or retained by Ruby Miles.
The Westman Oral History collection was a project of the Westman Oral History Association and ran from 1980-84. The Westman Oral History Association was created on August 12, 1980, by a steering committee of the Assiniboine Historical Society. The Oral History Association undertook a project called "Voices of Yesteryear." The project was created in order to record and preserve the lives and experiences of early settlers to the Westman area. Work began in 1981, and included interviews conducted with approximately seventy senior citizens from over twenty communities in western Manitoba. The Association held a training session for committee members on April 11, 1981, where 125 participants learned how to conduct an effective interview and how to operate the recorders used in the interviews. The chairman of the Westman Oral History Association was Effie McPhail, the coordinator was Sally Cunningham, and the secretary was Bob Coates. Some of the interviews recorded were used in the early months of 1982 on a local radio station, CKLQ, as part of a program called "Centennial Memories." The project resulted in the creation of the Westman Oral History Collection.
Custodial History
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
The collection includes the audiotapes used to record the interviews, as well as corresponding files for each interview subject. The files contain facts about the interviewees, including date and place of birth, occupations, and marital status. The files also include a summary of the interview heard on each tape.
The interviews were done with men and women pioneers from the Westman area of Manitoba, and describe the daily lives of common people during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. The topics covered in the interviews include the following: Agriculture, Associations and Clubs, Churches and Church Life, Cultural Events, Early Politics, Education, Health Services, Immigration, Local Businesses, Native-White Relations, Pioneer Settlements, Pioneer Way of Life, Social Life, Sports, Transportation, and War Brides. This collection includes interviews with residents from the following communities: Brandon, Boissevain, Brookdale, Carberry, Deloraine, Douglas, Elkhorn, Erickson, Forrest, Glenboro, Hamiota, Hartney, Justice, Kenton, Killarney, Melita, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Ninette, Oak Lake, Rapid City, Reston, Rivers, Shoal Lake, Sioux Valley Reserve, Souris, Strathclair, Virden, and Wawanesa. The interviews also disclose the unique experiences of pioneer women in rural areas. Many of the interviewees provide brief family histories during their interviews.
Notes
Some of the files include photocopied pictures of the interviewees. Description written by Robyn Mitchell (2001).
Very good. Some of the letters written in pencil are a little faded.
History / Biographical
Ruth Alverda Wade was born born July 11, 1912 in Brandon, MB to James and Etta Alverda. She had two younger siblings: sister Gwen and brother Sherry. The Wade family resided at 1837 Princess Avenue, Brandon, MB. Ruth graduated from Brandon College with the Class of 1933.
During her time at Brandon College Ruth met Archie MacLachlan. Archibald James MacLachlan was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 1907. He had four brothers: Howard, Edgar, Bruce, Curly and Stirling. When Archie was quite young the MacLachlan family moved to Alberta. Archie came to Brandon c. 1930 to attend Brandon College. During the summers of his years at Brandon College Archie held pastoral charges in Alberta. The first two summers were spent in the Peace River Country and the second two in Etzikom in Southern Alberta. This is the period during which the letters in the fonds were written.
Ruth Wade married Archie MacLachlan on September 19, 1934 in Brandon, MB. Following the wedding the couple moved to Hamilton, ON. Archie graduated from McMaster University with his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1937. During this period their daughter Joann Ruth was born. After his ordination as a Baptist Minister the family moved to North Bay where Archie was minister for four years. The next six years were spent in Vancouver as Archie worked as minister at Fairview Baptist Church in Vancouver. The couple's sons Archibald James and Lachlan Wade were also born during this period.
At the end of the Second World War Archie decided to go back to school. The family travelled to Brandon, where Ruth and the children remained for part of a year while Archie went ahead to Andover Newton to enroll and find a parish that would support him while he went to school. The family was reunited in Penacook, New Hampshire; they lived there for two years while Archie completed his Masters in Sacred Theology. After a brief additional period of study at Harvard University, the MacLachlan family returned to Canada, settling in Toronto while Archie finished his second Masters degree (Psychology) and held positions as interim minister and then assistant minister at York Minster Church. Following the two years in Toronto they moved to Winnipeg.
Eventually Archie left the church ministry and became Chaplain at the Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital. He also continuted to train students in Pastoral Education through the courses he had begun at the Divinity College of McMaster University. He remained at the Hospital until his retirement.
During their married life Ruth was kept busy raising the couple's children and with her work as a minister's wife, particularly her work in the community. She sat on a number of community boards, including positions as President of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec and a member of the Board of Governors for McMaster University's Divinity School.
Ruth MacLachlan died on October 29, 1983 in Missassauga, ON.
Archie married Kathleen Marie (Green) French (b. January 22, 1908, d. June 1, 1998) on June 20, 1987. Archie MacLachlan died in December 1997.
Custodial History
Records were in the possession of Ruth and Archie MacLachlan until their deaths. At that time the records were inherited by their daughter Joann. Joann MacLachlan donated the records to the McKee Archives on October 24, 2009 at a donation event held as part of Homecoming 2009.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of approximately 197 letters written by Ruth and Archie to each other during the spring and summers of 1932, 1933 and 1934. The letters were written during the courtship of the couple and contain details not only on about their lives in Brandon and Alberta but also more personal information about their relationship, families and future plans. Because Ruth and Archie were students at Brandon College during this period the letters also often reflect on events and personalities related to the College, as well as their own personal studies.
Fonds also contains a scrapbook compiled by Ruth during her Brandon College years. It includes photographs, newspaper clippings, graduation cards, event programs, place cards and other ephemera. There are also a few miscellaneous documents - McMaster University examination papers, handwritten sheet music, postcards - that appear to have belonged to Archie. Fonds also contains a graduation photograph of Ruth.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry. History/Bio information taken from Joann MacLachlan's book Ruth and Archie: Brandon and Brandon College 1932-1934.
Ruth and Archie's daughter Joann edited the letters into a book entitled Ruth and Archie: Brandon and Brandon College 1932-1934. A copy of the book is located in the Rare Book collection of the John E. Robbins Library, Brandon University.
William Ridley Sheridan Wade collection (28-2007)
Arrangement
The letters are arranged in chronological order with all of Archie's letters to Ruth for a particular year grouped together, followed by Ruth's letters to Archie for that same year. For preservation purposes photographs in the scrapbook have been removed and placed in photograph storage, with their corresponding scrapbook page number noted on the back. Because of the fragile condition of the scrapbook a note has been made concerning the original location of many items that have become detached from their original location in the scrapbook. These items remain with the remnants of the scrapbook in one archival housing. Note that Ruth did not place items on every page so the numbering is not sequential for scrapbook items. Some items were loose at the back of the scrapbook and therefore have no corresponding page number.
Photograph of an northeast corner 10th Street and Princess Avenue and the rear of buildings facing 200 block on 9th Street. The business in foreground is Thunderbird Bowl. The rear of the Brandon Inn is in the background.
Notes
Photograph dated from "Tara's Bulba," the movie playing at the Strand Theatre and similiar vehicles captured in the photograph.
Photograph shows a view of downtown Brandon from the northeast corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. Thunderbird Bowl is in the foreground. Painted advertisements on the sides of buildings include: The Mitrou's Cafe and Tea Room and Brandon Musical Supply Ltd. Vehicles parked on 10th Street are facing north.
Notes
Photograph dated from "Tara's Bulba," the movie playing at the Strand Theatre and similiar vehicles captured in the photograph.
Photograph of an east side of 10th Street facing north from Princess Avenue. Visible businesses include: Thunderbird Bowl, Canadian Pacific Telegraphs, Pittsburgh Paint & Glass, Strand Theatre, Trans Canada Credit Loans, Ted Heming Jewellers, Carlton Cafe, McKenzie Seeds, Clement Block, Mitrou's Cafe and Tea Room, and Brandon Musical Supply Ltd. Vehicles parked on 10th Street are facing north.
Notes
Photograph dated from "Tara's Bulba," the movie playing at the Strand Theatre and similiar vehicles captured in the photograph.
The Brandon Daily Sun (26 May 1924, 16) reported the annual church parade of Brandon Lodge 173 Sons of England was held on Sunday, May 25, 1924. The Brandon City Band lead the parade with H.J. Barter, P.P., serving as parade marshal. Over 100 members paraded to St. Mary's Church. Representatives from a variety of lodges participated, including Alexander, Neepawa, Souris, Wawanesa, and Lodge Carpenter Juveniles.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a parade travelling southwards on 10th Street between Rosser and Princess Avenues. A mounted rider wearing white appears to be leading the parade. A car draped with American and British flags follows. A band follows the vehicle. Individuals wearing white hats walk up the street.
Business visible on the west side (100-block) of 10th Street include: Doig, Rankin, & Robertson, Limited; Bowling Alley, Billiards; Olympia Cafe Candies. The second storey on the Hughes Building has not been erected. The Alexandra Block, Strathcona Block, Olympia Block are visible. A large Union Jack flys from the Canadian Pacific Station. Vehicles are diagonally parked on both sides of 10th Street.
Notes
Back of photograph is stamped: Hughes & Co. Ltd., 1009 Princess Ave., Brandon, Man. Date for photograph obtained from licence plates.
Photograph shows Ted Heming Jewellers on the east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, with the Strand Theatre to the south of the building complex. Other visible businesses in the Strand Block include: Hughes & Co. Ltd., Smart's Stationery, Waddell's, and Metropolitan Life.
Notes
Photograph dated from "Gidget," the movie playing at the Strand Theatre
Photograph shows the Strand Block on the east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba. Visible businesses in the Strand Block include: Hughes & Co. Ltd., Smart's Stationery, Waddell's, the Strand Theatre, and Metropolitan Life.
Notes
Back of the photograph is stamped: Clark Smith Studio, per July 27/59
Photograph of east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, between Rosser and Princess Avenues. Visible businesses include: The Bank of Montreal, Barclay's Shoe Store, Carlton Cafe (in the former Cigar Factory), and Ted Heming Jewellers. The McKenzie Seed building is visible in the background.
Photograph shows the east side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, between Rosser and Princess Avenues. Businesses visible in the Brown Block include (from north to south): Singer, Pittsburgh Paint & Glass, O. Stark & Son, Elna Sewing Centre, and Canadian Pacific Telegraphs. The Prince Edward Hotel is visible in the background.
Doig's, originally located on Rosser Avenue, moved to the 10th Street location in 1921.
Scope and Content
Photograph of west side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, facing northwest. Visible businesses in the Alexander Block include Doig's, Box Brothers Hardware and Allied Hardware Stores, followed by Simpsons-Sears and Barry Neill Men's Wear in the Strathcona Block. The Johnny Smith Block is visible in the background.
Photograph of west side of 10th Street, Brandon, Manitoba, facing northwest. Visible businesses in the Alexandra Block include Doig's, Box Brothers Hardware and Allied Hardware Stores, followed by Simpsons-Sears and Barry Neill Men's Wear in the Strathcona Block. The Johnny Smith Block is visible in the background.
Photograph shows the west side of 10th Street between Rosser and Princess Avenues. Visible businesses include: Brandon News & Record Shop, Fashion Fabrics, Recreation Bowling & Billiards, Bottomley's, Barry Neill Men's Wear, Simpsons-Sears. Painted on the north face of the Strathcona Block are two advertisements, one for Sutherland and Robertson [Grocery] and the other for Boyd Electric Co. Ltd. Union Jack flags hang from some businesses and light standards.
Photograph shows the west side of 10th Street between Rosser and Princess Avenues. Visible businesses include: Recreation Bowling & Billiards, Bottomley's, Barry Neill Men's Wear, Simpsons-Sears, Allied Hardware Stores, Box Brothers Hardware, Doig's. Painted on the north face of the Strathcona Block are two advertisements, one for Sutherland and Robertson [Grocery] and the other for Boyd Electric Co. Ltd.
Photograph shows the Kresge store on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Rosser Avenue. Other 10th Street businesses that are visible on the west side of the street include: James Richardson & Son Investments, Beneficial Finance and Loans, Bass' Storkland, Brandon News & Record Shop, Recreation Bowling and Billiards, and Bottomley's. The Welcome Brandon sign can be seen in the top right corner of the photograph.
The West End Millinery & Dry Goods shop appears in the 1914 Henderson's Brandon City Directory. The store was located in the Avenue Block at 1124 Rosser Avenue. Mrs. A. Barker was listed as the proprietor and milliner. By 1917, Mr. A.F. [Arthur Fred] Barker became the proprietor and Mrs. Barker remained the milliner. By 1919, the shop moved to 130-10th Street, across from the Strand Threatre, where it remained until c.1933.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by G. Baldock in 1971
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the store interior of West End Millinery & Dry Goods located on 130-10th Street. Coats are hanging from a rack, clothing is displayed on dress forms as well as on wooden tables that are lined up in the centre of the shop. The store's tin ceiling, light fixtures, and hardwood floors are visible.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Part of West End Millinery & Dry Goods 10th St across from Strand Theatre, 1922
The West End Millinery & Dry Goods shop appears in the 1914 Henderson's Brandon City Directory. The store was located in the Avenue Block at 1124 Rosser Avenue. Mrs. A. Barker was listed as the proprietor and milliner. By 1917, Mr. A.F. [Arthur Fred] Barker became the proprietor and Mrs. Barker remained the milliner. By 1919, the shop moved to 130-10th Street, across from the Strand Threatre, where it remained until c.1933.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by G. Baldock in 1971
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the store interior of West End Millinery & Dry Goods located on 130-10th Street. A shelving unit lines the wall and is filled with boxes, bolts of cloth, and yarns. Displays can be seen on the top of the shelves as well as on wooden tables that are lined up in the centre of the shop. The store's tin ceiling, light fixtures, panelling, radiators, and hardwood floors are visible.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 1/2 of West End Millinery & Dry Goods, 10th St across from Strand Theatre, 1922
Photograph shows seven men posing in front of a wood-framed shack on 10th Street. The men are wearing three-piece suits or vests and long-sleeved shirts. One man can be seen holding an axe another a saw. A double ox-team wagon is in front of the structure.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 10th St. May 1882, Brandon. Photograph is stamped Public Archives Canada.
Photograph shows the intersection of 10th Street and Princess Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba. View is facing northwest along west side of the 100-block of 10th Street. A stationary policeman/divider is at the centre of the intersection. Visible businesses include: Doig's, Plaza Shoe Shop, and Cambridge Clothes Shop. A horse-drawn sled is parked in front of Doig's store. The Olympia Block, Cecil Hotel, and CPR Station are visible in the background.
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