Stephen Adolph Magnacca was born December 10, 1902 in Winnipeg, MB. He joined the Winnipeg Highland Cadets in 1914, and at the age of 15, he added two years to his age and joined the Winnipeg Light Infantry. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on June 15, 1923. In 1933, he was promoted to the rank of Major. In 1956, he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment; he was made a Colonel in 1967.
Magnacca married Grace Rosina Jones in 1927 and together they had two children: Patricia and Allan. Grace Jones was born in Cardiff, Wales on November 22, 1901. She came to Winnipeg as a child. For a few years before her marriage she worked as the circulation manager of The Nor'West Farmer. Members of St. Matthew's Church, Grace Magnacca was active in the Anglican Church Women of Canada (ACW). Following her husband's death she moved to Winnipeg. Grace Magnacca died in Winnipeg, MB on December 20, 2004.
The Maganacca family lived in Winnipeg until Magnacca's military career took him to Brandon in 1940; his family followed in 1942. The Magnacca's ran an Officer's Kit Shop and then in 1947, opened a real estate business named Magnacca Agencies.
Magnacca served two terms as Mayor of Brandon (1961-1969). He was also President of the Assiniboine Historical Society. For meritorious community service, Magnacca was given a Manitoba Golden Boy Award (1969) and a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.
Stephen Magnacca died on August 4, 1980 in Brandon, MB. He is commemmorated by Magnacca Crescent in Brandon and the Magnacca Research Centre at the Daly House Museum. He was elected a Life member of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities and in 1973, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of Mayor Stephen Magnacca and his wife Grace Magnacca dressed in period costumes for Canada's Centennial in 1967.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Manitoba Historical Society website (http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/magnacca_sa.shtml) and the December 31, 1969 Brandon Sun article Experience of being the wife of the mayor has brought satisfaction to Mrs. Magnacca.
Approximately 5000 photographic negatives, and some colour prints.
History / Biographical
Morris Predinchuk was a professional photographer, who during the period 1987-1999, was retained by Brandon University to photograph convocations and graduants. Each of the personal portraits was the product of a contract between Predinchuck and a graduant for a graduation photograph. Morris Predinchuk died in Moosomin, Saskatchewan on January 16, 2007 at the age of 75 years.
Custodial History
The images were picked up by the Archives from Predinchuk's business in the Towne Centre Mall on Septemeber 27, 2005.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of negatives and prints of approximately 2600 graduants and honourary degree recipients at Brandon University spring and fall convocations from 1987-1998 and the spring convocation of 1999. All the images were taken by Morris Predinchuk.
Notes
For descriptive purposes it was decided to group the negatives by convocation rather than describing each individual negative. Predinchuck's obituary appeared in the January 19, 2007 edition of the Brandon Sun.
Repro Restriction
Copyright privileges do apply. Copyright was assigned to the University through the donor form.
Storage Location
Brandon University Photograph Collection
Series 1: Convocation, scholarships and awards
1.2 Morris Predinchuck fonds
Boxes 1-3
Arrangement
Original order - chronological. All of the negatives are labelled and placed in labelled envelopes.
