In July 1928, Verna Althea Whitfield married William Arthur Gamey (b. 1892) in Winnipeg. For the first year of their marriage they both taught at Lockport, before moving to Winnipeg in 1929. Their only child, William Roy, was born there. In 1933, the Gameys moved to the Gamey family farm located at N1/2 12-16-22, near Strathclair. Verna's nephew Robert Kerr, from Kelowna, B.C. joined the family in 1949. Art and Verna left the farm in the spring of 1956, and moved into the house formerly owned by an aunt, Miss Bella Gamey. Art Gamey was a staunch supporter of the Co-operative movement and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). He died in January 1968.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custoridal history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains documents relating to the Manitoba Farmer's Union, including copies of its publication "The Voice of the Farmer" (1961); the United Church of Canada, primarily Strathclair (1960-1989); the Manitoba Women's Institute and the National Institute for the Blind (1959-1976); the Manitoba Federation of Agriculture (1945-1961); the Birtle Presbyterian Church (1986-1989); the Social Credit League in Manitoba and B.C. (1947, 1953); the Manitoba Provincial Council of Women (1958-1959); the Manitoba Centennial Corporation (1966-1968); and the Shoal Lake Fair and Hamiota Exhibition (1949-1981).
Fonds also contains diaries (1923-1926); various political publications, newspaper clippings, and correspondance, primarily concerning the CCF and the New Democrats (1945-1971); the Cooperative Union of Canada (1949-1964); and the Manitoba Farm Forum (1942-1963). Included as well, are clippings from the Brandon Sun dealing with a wide variety of topics (1970-1991); publications on home/farm/highway safety (1949-1975); and the Manitoba Pool Elevators (1950-1955).
Fonds also contains correspondence to and from both Verna and Art Gamey.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from "Our Story to 1970" published by the R.M. of Strathclair and compiled by The Centennial History Committee (pp. 255-257).
RG 4 Manitoba Pool Elevators; Women's Institute collections: Manitoba (8-2002), Strathclair (7-2002), Rathwell (6-2002), Minnedosa (2-2002), Cordova (4-2002), Clanwilliam (3-2002), Crocus (5-2002), Douglas (20-2006), Binscarth (12-1997), Southwest A Region (26-1997); and the Greenway Fair (35-2006).
20 cm textual records; 51 lantern slides (measuring 22 cm x 20.5 cm); 44 photographs (41 measuring 17.5 cm x 23 cm and 3 measuring 26.5 cm x 35 cm)
History / Biographical
J.D. McGregor was a leading agriculturist from Brandon who served as Lieutenant Governor in the province of Manitoba during the 1930's. The Hon. J.D. McGregor was born in Amherstburg, Ontario August 29, 1860. He came west with his father in 1877, and entered the horse and cattle trade. McGregor established Glencarnock Farm north of Brandon and created one of the finest Aberdeen-Angus cattle herds in North America. In 1912 and 1913, his cattle (Glencarnock Victor and Glencarnock Victor II) were selected Grand Champions at the Chicago International. McGregor was a Liberal in politics with close ties to Clifford Sifton. From 1897-99, he served as mines inspector in the Klondike during the gold rush in that region. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1929-1934. James Duncan McGregor died March 15, 1935.
Custodial History
This collection was donated to Brandon University in 1971 by McGregor's daughter Mrs. E.C. Harte. The collection was accessioned in 1998 by the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of photos and slides, principally of the Klondike during the gold rush era (1897-1902); Government House seating plans and speeches from a wide variety of events (1912-1934); correspondence of McGregor's, primarily from his time as Lieutenant Governor (1912-1934); a (23.75 oz.) gold bag; a state publication "Instructions for Lieutenant Governors;" documents pertaining to the history of the Manitoba Winter Fair; and documents dealing with the early career of Winston Churchill.
Janet Louisa May More was born on the family homestead south of Hartney, Manitoba in 1896. She attended Chain Lakes School and Hartney High School prior to completing Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees at the University of Manitoba. Following her graduation, More taught in various Manitoba schools for fifty years. In addition, she was a member of the Manitoba Education Association, the Manitoba Library Association, the Turtle Mountain Teachers' Association (of which she was the first President), and the Manitoba Teachers' Society, which nominated her for a Life Mmembership. Janet Louisa May More retired in 1967, and resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba until her death.
Additional biographical information for Janet Louisa May More can be found in her profile as a "Memorable Manitoban" on the Manitoba Historical Society website (http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/more_jlm.shtml).
Custodial History
Materials passed into the hands of Gerald Brown who donated them to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Collection contains curriculum materials related to the study and teaching of Chemistry, Algebra, Geometry, Mathematics, English and French language studies in Manitoba dating mostly from the 1940s. Collection also contains Christmas concert and dramatic materials; notes from the Manitoba Fine Arts Committee (April 1939); and notes concerning the Manitoba Camera Club, the Manitoba Drama League, Manitoba Society of Artists, Manitoba Adult Education Association, Winnipeg Sketch Club and the Manitoba Handicraft Guild.
The construction of the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium was considered first during a meeting of the Brandon City Council in 1953. In 1962, the City of Brandon was given permission by Manitoba Premier Duff Roblin to proceed with the construction of the auditorium as a centennial project to celebrate Canada's centennial in 1967. Constructed on the Brandon University campus, the auditorium was completed in early 1969.
Custodial History
This collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of one scrapbook with newspaper clippings and pamphlets about the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium and its construction.
10 cm textual records;
2 class portraits;
and 1 small print
History / Biographical
Stella and Gladys Sleigh were born and raised in Rossburn, Manitoba, and attended Normal School in Brandon, Manitoba, in the late 1910's and early 1920's. Both subsequently pursued teaching careers in Manitoba. Katherine McLean also attended Normal School in the early 1890's, and was from Virden, Manitoba.
Custodial History
Janette Donnelly has donated this collection of material that belonged to her mother and aunt, Stella and Gladys Sleigh, respectively. Included in this collection is a booklet that belonged to Donnelly's great-aunt Katherine Sinclair (McLean). This collection was donated to the McKee Archives by Janette Donnelly of McGregor, Manitoba, on September 15, 1999.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of portfolios and notebooks kept by Stella and Gladys Sleigh while attending Brandon Normal School. The portfolios contain drawings and projects that the women made. The notebooks contain information about education in Manitoba in the early 20th century. There is also a portrait taken of Gladys Sleigh around 1920 and two Normal School portraits included in this collection. The collection also includes a notebook kept by Katherine Sinclair (McLean), which describes lessons given to prospective teachers at the Virden Normal School in the early 1890's.
Notes
CAIN No. 202609 (under Stella and Gladys Sleigh fonds).
The United Grain Growers, a farmer controlled co-operative elevator association, was established in 1917, with the amalgamation of the Grain Growers Grain Company (1906), and the Alberta Farmer's Co-operative Elevator company (1913). Its original purpose was to provide a co-operative alternative to privately owned grain elevators.
Custodial History
This collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Collection includes copies of correspondence between T.A. Crerar, President of United Grain Growers and Colin Burnell, President, Manitoba Co-operative Wheat Producers (1925-26); correspondence directed to the Shareholders of United Grain Growers (1926-38); minutes of a meeting between representatives of the United Grain Growers and the provincial wheat pools (1937); as well as a variety of publications about the history and activities of the United Grain Growers (1917-18, 1927, 1929, 1951, 1956).
Laurie V. Smith served as the President of the Brandon Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion during the 1940s.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes correspondence, policy documents, and publications relating to the activities of the Royal Canadian Legion, primarily in Brandon under the Presidency of Laurie V. Smith, during and after the Second World War. Prominant themes include the aquiring of gifts for hospitalized veterans, primarily through the Canadian Legion Christmas Tree project, veteran rehabilitation, and promotion of the Canadian Victory Loans project.
The first Women's Institute in Canada was created by Mrs. Adelaide Hunter Hoodless in Stoney Creek, Ontario, on February 19, 1897. The Women's Institute was created to unite rural women with the hopes that this would help women improve their homes and communities. The motto of the Women's Institute became, "a nation could not rise above the level of its homes." The group was to be non-partisan and non-sectarian to allow for maximum participation. The Women's Institute became one of the very few ways for rural women to meet and share ideas and problems with others. The Women's Institute spread throughout Canada and reached Manitoba in 1910, when Morris and Valley River, Manitoba, formed Women's Institute branches. The Women's Institute branches in Manitoba were known as Home Economics Societies until 1919, when they became branches of the Manitoba Women's Institute. The Home Economics Societies specialized in community service work. At first, the groups concentrated on home management and child care, and eventually they became involved with social and political issues. In addition to community work, the Women's Institute branches also invited many guest speakers to their meetings and promoted education and the dissemination of information to rural women on subjects such as canning, growing fruits and vegetables, dental hygiene and rural electrification. The Manitoba Women's Institute continues its work today.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 2002 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
This collection has been artificially created and consists of miscellaneous newspaper and magazine clippings, handbooks, newsletters, photos and song sheets collected by various unknown Manitoba Women's Institute branches. Some newletters included in the collection are "Institute News" from the Manitoba Women's Institute, "National Farm Forum Guide", "Federated News" from the Federated Women's Institute of Canada and "The Country Woman" from Associated Women of the World. The newspaper clippings in the collection relate to Women's Institute branches around Manitoba and the rest of Canada.
Related women's institute collections in the McKee Archives include:
Manitoba Women's Institute; Minnedosa Women's Institute; Cordova Women's Institute; Clanwilliam Women's Institute; Rathwell Women's Institute; Strathclair Women's Institute; Crocus Women's Institute; Southwest A Region - Manitoba Women's Institute; Douglas Women's Institute
This record group was artifically created in January 2007 by Tom Mitchell and Christy Henry of the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
The record group consists of various fonds and collections concerned with the political, cultural, social, and educational life of western Manitoba. See the Subject Access field for a list of titles.
The idea of the Keystone Centre was first mentioned in 1958, at a meeting of the board of directors of the Manitoba Winter Fair. The Manitoba Winter Fair wanted a new facility because the old Wheat City Arena had a leaking roof and a deteriorating west wall. The old facility also had limited space and the Winter Fair felt it needed more space for expansion. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba also had problems with their facilities, such as old barns and poor display areas. The idea of the Keystone Centre was put on hold until 1969, when the boards of the Provincial Exhibition and the Manitoba Winter Fair joined together as the Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba and the Wheat City Arena was sold and demolished. The original estimate for the cost of the Keystone Centre facilities was $4.5 million and funding would be proportioned so that the federal and provincial governments would each put in one-third of the money, with the rest coming from local donations. The financial campaign for the Keystone Centre began in 1970, and construction began in November 1970. The grand opening of the Centre was in March 1973, and coincided with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair of that year.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains many folders full of correspondence, financial statements, meeting minutes and other documents relating to the development and construction of the Keystone Centre from 1970-1974, including those from the Keystone Executive Committee, as well as the Building Committee. Fonds also contains one folder that pertains to the Brandon Area Agricultural Development Survey from 1959. This folder contains the names and locations of all farmers in the Brandon area in 1959. The Brandon Area Agricultural Development Survey was created in 1959, in order to make farming in the Brandon area more profitable. The survey was aided by Doane Agricultural Service from St. Louis, Missouri, who had success creating agricultural development programs in the United States. Fonds also contains folders from the Provincial Exhibition with correspondence, pamphlets, estimates, and studies from the 1960's. There is also one folder belonging to the Manitoba Winter Fair, which contains correspondence and financial statements relating to the Wheat City Arena. Fonds also contains information pertaining to the proposals made in the 1960's, for the building of the Keystone Centre, as well as one folder about the Keystone campaign from 1970-73. There is also one folder about the opening of the Keystone Centre, which contains newspaper clippings and guest lists. Finally, the fonds contains information about a court case involving Albert Bobyk and Robert Stewart. Stewart was the project manager for the Building Committee and Bobyk worked on the Keystone Center. The fonds includes a report about the trial of the two men who were charged with fraud involving their work on the Keystone Centre.
Gordon Sterling Jory was born July 3, 1907 in Brandon, MB to Isaac and Mabel Jory. Educated in the city's public schools, Jory worked as a bookkeeper for MacArthur's and then for the Federal Government as an auditor for the Unemployment Insurance Commission. He retired in 1968. Among his interests were the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge #19, for which he served as Grand Master in 1944. Jory also held membership in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and the Rose Croix of that organization. He also enjoyed lawn bowling at Stanely Park and coffee with friends. Gordon Sterling Jory died on May 2, 1990 in Brandon, MB. He is buried in Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Custodial History
In 1968 Gordon Jory contacted Eileen McFadden, Director of the Brandon University Library, with a proposal to donate his collection of Manitoba postal covers to Brandon University. He wanted a permanent home for what he knew was a valuable historical record. His collection was donated to Brandon University that same year. The volumes were stored on the Mezzanine floor of the McKenzie Building by the Library, and responsibility for the collection was transferred to the McKee Archives when it took over that floor in 1997.
Scope and Content
Throughout his adult life, Jory was an avid collector of stamps and in particular of postal covers. In the course of his collecting, he assembled a historic collection of Manitoba postal covers. Collection consists of four albums of postage covers collected and compiled by Gordon Sterling Jory. Volume 1 includes squared circle postal stamps for Winnipeg for the years 1892-1898. Volume two includes squared circle postal stamps for Manitoba towns other than Winnipeg for the years 1893-1904. Volume three contains general postal covers for Manitoba for the period 1879-1906. Volume four includes general postal covers for Manitoba from the years 1893-1910. Specialists will also recognize many interesting railway post office (RPO), broken circle, and other postmarks of the period.
Notes
History/Bio information from Jory obituary (Brandon Sun May 9, 1990). Description by Christy Henry and Tom Mitchell.
Leonard Salisbury Evans was born on August 19, 1929 in Winnipeg, MB and was educated at the University of Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, Simon Fraser University and the University of Ottawa. He was employed as an economist and a professor of economics before entering political life. Evans first ran for public office in the Canadian federal election of 1953 as a candidate for the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation in the constituency of St Boniface. Evans was elected to the Manitoba legislature as a New Democrat in the provincial election of 1969 in the constituency of Brandon East. He was appointed Minister of Mines and Natural Resources in the Edward Schreyer government. Later he assumed the position of Minister of Industry and Commerce. He occupied this position until the defeat of the Schreyer government in 1977. Evans was re-elected in the provincial elections of 1973 and 1977. Following the return to government of the New Democratic Party in 1981-1988, Evans held various senior cabinet posts. Evans served as opposition finance critic from 1988 to 1999. Evans retired from active politics with the 1999 provincial election.
Custodial History
These records were created during the 1990s and held in the Brandon East constuency office until they were brought to the S.J. McKee Archives by Drew Caldwell in November 2003. Drew Caldwell succeeded Len Evans as the MLA for Brandon East in the 1999 provincial election.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of correspondence between Evans and various constituents on a wide range of topics - personal and otherwise - and subject files on social, economic and political matters relevant to Brandon East.
Notes
Description by Tom Mitchell.
Access Restriction
Constituency correspondence closed for thirty years from the date of its creation.
Henry Hlady was born in Brandon, Manitoba on October 30, 1916, the son of Philip and Katherine Hlady, both natives of Austria. He was educated in public schools in Brandon. During the Great Depression, Hlady spent time - October 1933 to May 1934 - in work camps for the single unemployed in Riding Mountain cutting down tress and clearing bush. He sought to join the Canadian Army in 1942 but was rejected for medical reasons.
Hlady apprenticed as a carpenter with Sprattling and spent many years with Magnacca Construction before becoming a private builder. He retired in 1984 from the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation where he was employed as a building inspector.
Hlady was a life-long Liberal in politics and an active trapshooter. In 200 he was honoured by the Brandon Gun Club and made a Life Member of the American Trapshooters' Association for his dedication to the sport. Hlady was also active with the West End Community Centre and a member of the Westoba Credit Union Board of Directors.
Hlady married Mary Plowman in 1943 or 1944. Together they had three children: Ronald, Judith and Lynda. Henry Hlady died on April 8, 2010 in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
Records were in Henry Hlady's possession until his death when they passed to his wife Mary Hlady who donated them to the McKee Archives. Two photographs were in the possession of Hlady's daughter Judith Grievson prior to their donation to the Archives.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of various personal documents concerning Henry Hlady including a birth certificate (copy) and certificate of baptism (copy), communion certificate, public school records, certificate of medical rejection for service in the Canadian Army, newspaper clippings, obituary, and funeral program. Collection also includes documents and photographs concerning Hlady's time spent - October 1933 to May 1934 - in federal government work camps for single unemployed men in Riding Mountain, including a handwritten letter to E.S. Stozek (dated February 2008) about Hlady's memories of his time at Camp Seven and the other relief camps in the area.
Herbert (Bert) Goodland was born in Birkenhead, England in 1877 and moved to Canada with his parents James and Hannah in the late 1800's. James Goodland died in 1920 and is buried in Brandon, MB.
In 1900, Bert Goodland became Farm Manager at the Brandon Indian Residential School. He also taught Agriculture; a position he held until 1922. Goodland married Marjory Broughton in 1903, and they had one daughter, Dorothy, in 1908.
In 1922, the family moved to Alberta, where Goodland took on a similar job at an Indian Residential School near Edmonton. After his retirement in the 1940's, he and Marjory moved to Chilliwack, BC, where Marjory died in 1955. Herbert Goodland's last years were spent in Ontario and he died there in 1970.
Custodial History
Photographs were created/collected by Herbert Goodland during the period he taught at the Brandon Indian Residential School. The photographs passed from Goodland's wife Marjory to their daughter Dorothy and then to Dorothy's daughter Doreen Oke. Oke donated them to the McKee Archives in November 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of 32 b/w photographs (some loose, some as part of album pages) of the Brandon Indian Residential School. Subjects include school grounds, buildings and students. There are also a few photographs of Brandon and one reproduced image of the Goodland family.
Notes
History/Bio provided by Doreen Oke. Description by Christy Henry.
Cover of Young School minute book is moderately damaged, but pages are in good condition with only minor water damage and a few ripped pages.
History / Biographical
Dorothy Cox (nee Frost) moved from Elm Creek to Justice in 1946 to work as a schoolteacher. In 1948, she married Laval Cox and together they had four children: Larry, Herd, Rosalie and Heather.
In 1949, Dorothy and Laval purchased Gibb Gillespie's PSV business and began hauling grain, cattle and agricultural equipment. Dorothy went back to teaching in 1959, first at Justice and then Elton Collegiate. After retiring from teaching in 1978, Dorothy started a greenhouse, which operated for 21 years.
All six members of the Cox family were active in community events and organizations. Dorothy was involved in establishing the baby band in 1951; her sons Larry and Herb were members. Along with Laval, Dorothy was a leader of the Cubs in 1955-1956 and again in 1958-1959. Laval was the leader of the local hockey club in 1958, and of a bible study group in 1960. Larry, Herb and Rosalie were avid skaters in 1960-64. Heather and Rosalie were enrolled in senior grades of Sunday school in 1970.
Custodial History
Records were collected by Dorothy Cox, a resident of Justice, over a number of years. She donated them to the McKee Archives on April 4, 2012.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records related to the history of the Justice district. It includes a history of the Justice Church (1910-1970); minute and expense books for the Justice Hockey Club (1949-1966); a minute and expense book for Young Protestant School (1884-1898); a copy of the Justice 100th Anniversary community history (2009); and four color photographs of Justice Church.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the content of the collection. Description by James Heaman (2012).
Hubert Clayton Weidenhamer was born near Dand, Manitoba in 1926. He was raised in Dand and attended school in the Dand Consolidated School District. Weidenhamer enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1943. He became a member of the Priness Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Following training in Canada and England Weidenhamer was sent to Italy. He was badly wounded in battle in mid-September and died of his injuries in November 1944 at age 21. He was buried in the Ancona Military Cemetery, Ancona Italy.
Custodial History
These records were in the possession of Bea Chapin (née Weidenhamer) following their creation in the 1940s until they were donated to the S. J. McKee Archives in January 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of correspondence from Hubert Clayton Weidenhamer to his sister Bea. The letters begin in the spring of 1943. Weidenhamer had enlisted in the Canadian Army in January 1943. His letters detail his induction into miltary life in Fort Garry, Winnipeg and his training experience in Canada, principally at Camp Ipperwash, Lambton County, Ontario. He relates his experience of travels on leave to Detriot. Weidenhamer left Canada from Halifax in late 1943 and arrived in Great Britain in December for additional military training. In England, maintaining his morale, waiting for deployment, and coming to terms with British currency were challenges. Transferred to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Weidenhamer was deployed to Italy in March 1944. The letters dating from March 1944 to September relate in oblique fashion his's experience of military life on the Italian frontier as the Canadian Army fought its way north - "hard fighting" - and the impact of the war on Italian cities and the countryside. He was "proud" of his conduct in action. Weidenhamer's last letter is dated September 11, 1944.
Collection also includes correspondence on Weidenhamer's behalf from his military Chaplin; two press clippings dealing with his military career, and several facimiles of telegrams and correspondence from the Canadian government officials related to Weidenhamer's death and burial in Italy.
Maureen Johnson (nee Sills) was born in Brandon, MB in 1936 and grew up in western Manitoba. She spent three years in Ethiopia (1958-1961) and two years in Houston, Texas before taking up permanent residence in Winnipeg, MB. She attended Brandon College in 1953-1954, living in the Tower Room of Clark Hall.
From 1960-1979, Johnson raised her family, volunteered in the St. Vital community and was Secretary to the Manitoba Schools Science Symposium (1973-1977). She worked in the Office of the President at the University of Manitoba from 1980 to 1996.
Johnson is a visual artist and photographer, and is a member of the Winnipeg Sketch Club, Manitoba Society of Artists and Winnipeg South Photo Club. Her work is on permanent display at Medea Gallery (www.medeagallery.ca) where she has been a member since 1985. She also has work in the Rental Program at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.
For biographical information on Sarah Persis Darrach see RG 1 Brandon College fonds, Series 9: Clark Hall women's residence.
Custodial History
The original photographs in accession 10-2009 are in the custody of Maureen Johnson in Winnipeg, MB. Copies were digitally scanned by Johnson and sent to the Archives in March 2009. The 1921 photographs of Brandon College students were given to Johnson by Eileen McKenzie, her aunt, who attended Brandon College at that time. The photos of Sarah Persis Darrach (Johnson's great-aunt and maternal grandmother's sister) are from her family albums.
All of the records in accession 14-2009, except for the 1920 Quill and the Clark Hall Rules 1912, were collected by Johnson during her time at Brandon College. The Quill issue belonged to Johnson's aunt Eileen McKenzie, a student at Brandon College in the early 1920s. The records were in Johnson's possession at her home until their donation to the McKee Archives in May 2009.
Scope and Content
Accession 10-2009 consists of seventeen digital photographs. Seven photographs are of Sarah Persis Darrach (nee Johnson), taken primarily during her time as a nursing sister during World War I. Two photographs are of Eileen McKenzie. The remaining photographs depict students and student activities at Brandon College in the early 1920s.
Accession 14-2009 consists of a copy of the sound recording and program for Mr. College Spirit, a musical comedy presented by the Brandon College Literary Board and written by James Struthers and Kenneth Gunning. Accession also includes fifteen photographs from 1953-1954, when Johnson attended Brandon College. Subjects include: Freshie King and Queen; Graduation Banquets (1955, 1956); senior and lady sticks; Jim Casey Trophy; Grand March 1954; Capettes basketball team 1954; Glee Club 1953; Variety Night - Men's Chorus; Caps Football Team; Caps Hockey Team 1954; Cheerleaders 1954; Caps Basketball 1954; and Touques.
Textual records include graduation banquet and commencement programs, news clippings, programs for Variety Night and Be Your Age, a list of football cheers and a copy of the Fall Number of the 1920 Quill. Textual records also include two color photocopies: Clark Hall Rules 1912 and Johnson's Arts and Science Departments, Brandon College Registration card.
Notes
History/Bio information and Custodial History provided by Maureen Johnson (April 2009). A review of the play, written by Kay Rowe, appeared in the March 6, 1953 issue of the Quill.
Good. A number of the items in the collection show evidence of tearing around the edges, missing covers etc. The photographs show bends and tears.
History / Biographical
Clarence Frank Hopkin was born September 11, 1913 in Brandon, MB. He worked for the family bakery (Hopkin's Bakery), which was located on the southside of Rosser Avenue downtown, for the railroad in the mail cars and the Brandon Post Office. At the same time Hopkin's worked for the Post Office he and his wife operated Hopkin's Home Bakery from their house after the downtown bakery had ceased operations.
Hopkin's was a member of the First Baptist Church and a Golden K Kiwanis Club member. He took an active interest in community theatre, attending and participating in a number of plays. In 1994, Hopkin received the Mayor's Volunteer Service Award for Education in recognition of his volunteer work at Betty Gibson School where he read to and with the students there.
Hopkin married Ivy Margaret Ward on June 2, 1945 in Brandon. Ward was born in 1913 and predeceased her husband in 1986. Together they had two children: Keith and Elaine.
Clarence Frank Hopkin died in Brandon on March 17, 2009.
Custodial History
Records were collected by Hopkin's and possibly other family members at the house on 7th Street where the family lived for approximately 100 years. After Hopkin's death in March 2009, his daughter Elaine and granddaughter Holly contacted the Archives regarding donation of some of the materials to the McKee Archives. Visits were made to the Hopkin's house by Archives staff the week of April 13-17, 2009, at the end of which the records in the accession were officially donated to the Archives.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records collected by Clarence Hopkin over the course his life, which document his personal interests and certain community events.
Included in the collection are: scrapbooks (mostly newspaper clippings); play programs from productions staged by the Brandon Little Theatre; cookbooks; four play scripts; copies of the BCI New Era yearbook (1926, 1928 (may not be complete - missing cover), 1929); 1946 Brandon Business and Professional Classified Directory; Brandon College/University programs from recitals, plays and convocations; materials related to the radio show broadcast by First Baptist Church; Harrison High Literary Society play programs; miscellaneous programs to events held in the city; Brandon City District Drama Festival and The Mantioba Drama League Provincial Festival programs; The Brandon Canadian Concert Association programs; information on the Brandon Street Railway and the Criddle family; advertisement cards from Brandon businesses; a typescript copy of "How Englishmen Get That Way;" and a radio broadcast talk by Christopher Ellis.
It also contains copies of: Northern-Lights and Shadows by J.S. Clark; A Bundle of Burnt Cork Comedy by Harry L. Newton; Picturesque Brandon; Petit Pettitt: Biography of a Brandon Oldtimer by Joan T. Thompson; and Pioneer Patches by Mildred Donley.
Collection also includes four photographs and one negative. Negative: Brandon Collegiate Form 3A, 1928-1929. Photographs: City Hall looking southeast; Grain elevator on Pacific Avenue; Brandon Central Fire Station; interior parlour photograph.
Notes
History/Bio information provided by Hopkin's daughter Elaine in April 2009.
Gerry Beaubier was born in Wainwright, Alberta to Beatty and Babe Beaubier. He completed his high school in Saskatoon, before receiving a BSc in Geography from Brandon University.
Before attending university Gerry served in the army as a special reserve, while working as a night clerk at the Bessbourough Hotel in Saskatoon. His post-graduate career consisted primarily of work for Canada Agriculture, under the PFRA Branch (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration). Later he would work as an Executive Manager, helping develop forage and range management programs for several post secondary schools, including, Assiniboine Community College, as well as schools in Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Saskatoon.
Gerry Beaubier married Joyce Abercrombie, of Saskatoon. Together they had two sons: Neil and Dean. Neil, an Account Advisor for the Royal Bank, was born in Regina, and currently works in Swift Current. Dean was born in Swift Current, received his PhD in Education and currently lives in Forrest working at Elton Collegiate.
The Beaubiers, who were originally from Ireland, emigrated to the Canadian West, making Gerry part of the fourth generation of his family to call the region home. His great-grandfather, along with his grandfather and great uncle were amongst the first one hundred settlers in Brandon. Together they first built the Beaubier House, a boarding house for early settlers and travellers. After it burnt down they began construction on the Beaubier Hotel, which stood at the corner of 8th Street and Princess Avenue in Brandon until August 17th, 2008. His grandfather, David Wilson Beaubier, continued to build and operate hotels throughout the prairies, including the Empire Hotels (of Brandon and Saskatoon) and The Park (Moose Jaw).
David Wilson Beaubier served as a secretary of the Orange Lodge of Manitoba. As an Orange Lodge Colonel, he worked with other Orange Lodge members, to recruit throughout the prairies for the purpose of World War One. For his efforts , David was promoted to Leftenant Colonel, and later Captain of the 99th Manitoba Rangers. David's sons (Gerry’s father, at University of Manitoba, and uncle at McGill), were both working towards undergraduate degrees when war broke out in 1914, and each would leave school to join their father at Camp Hughes.
Custodial History
Gerry Beaubier collected these photos primarily in the years 2000-2011, largely
from family and friends who knew of his interest in the topic. They were donated to the S.J. Mckee Archives in 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of digital photographs of those who trained for battle in World War I at Camp Hughes and in Brandon, Manitoba. It also includes a digital copy of the cover of the Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, who departed from Brandon in 1917.
The photos, taken primarily at Camp Hughes, are of a number of battalions, including the 34th, 100th, 108th, 181st and 214th. The photo, PT in England, is a postcard sent home from Beaty Beaubier. The Massey Harris building seen on the right side of, WW1 B parade0001, was used to house troops throughout the war. The man standing alone at the front of the parade in, 181 Parade, is David Wilson Beaubier.
Notes
Information for the biographical and custodial histories was provided by Gerry Beaubier on September 25, 2013. Description by Dustin Lane (October 2013).
Popularly known as the “voice of the prairies,” Fred McGuinness was known by many titles and honorifics: wordsmith, apiarist, author, beekeeper, brother, columnist, editor, father, historian, husband, journalist, memoirist, Morse operator, member of the Order of Canada, member of the Order of Manitoba, public speaker, publisher, radio broadcaster, son, telegrapher (CP), telegraphist (Navy), vice-president, and writer.
Frederick George McGuinness (b. 21 January 1921 – d. 22 March 2011) was born in Brandon, Manitoba. He attended Park and Earl Oxford public schools. Upon his father’s death in 1933, McGuinness worked as a paper carrier for the Brandon Sun, whose route covered the City’s downtown core. In 1937, he quit school and began working for the CP Telegraph Service initially as a telegram messenger and later as a Morse code operator.
In 1939, McGuinness enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in Winnipeg and served as a wireless operator on the HMCS Alachassee. On 23 September 1940, McGuinness was seriously injured in a naval accident when his ship ran aground; McGuinness’ leg was broken when the ship’s tow cable snapped and he spent the next 11 months convalescing at Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While in hospital McGuinness contracted scarlet fever and diphtheria and developed osteomyelitis as a complication of his femur facture. McGuinness returned to Winnipeg to continue his convalescence at Deer Lodge Hospital and was ultimately discharged from the navy in 1941.
Fred McGuinness’ newspaper, public speaking, and broadcasting career began after he enrolled at St. Paul’s College in 1941. At St. Paul’s, which was affiliated with the University of Manitoba, McGuinness was able to complete his high school equivalency and university preparation courses. Additionally, in 1942, he served as a Sports Editor for St. Paul’s College Crusader student newspaper.
In 1943, McGuinness began his undergraduate university career at United College, which was also affiliated with the University of Manitoba. From 1943 to 1946, McGuinness served on the student union’s Public Relations Committee; in 1945, he became chairman of the Radio Subcommittee working as the Director of the University Radio Series where he was responsible (i.e., writing, casting, directing) for a half-hour Saturday afternoon radio programme. During this period McGuinness also uitilized his pervious military experience to work as an Assistant Veterans Counsellor in the univeristy, and, following a recommendation from the President of the University of Manitoba, as a speaker for the War Finance Committee in the Winnipeg Area.
In 1946, McGuinness moved to Port Arthur to work in public relations with the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. He married Christine Thompson (d. 14 August 2009) in Port Arthur, Ontario on 29 June 1946. Married for 61 years, the couple had four children together: Colleen, Fred Jr., Gallagher, and Timothy.
In 1947, the couple returned to Winnipeg when McGuinness took a job as a Public Relations Officer for the National Employment Service’s Unemployment Insurance Commission (UIC). During the 1950 Winnipeg Flood the UIC offices served as a communication base between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments and McGuinness received commendation from the military for his assistance during the disaster. While employed with the UIC, McGuinness also travelled the summer fair circuit with displays promoting the UIC and its benefits. During that time, Royal American Shows also hired McGuinness as its Director of Publicity and Exploitation while the show toured with the fairs on the Canadian prairies. As part of his responsibilities McGuinness had to submit weekly reports to Billboard Magazine on the Royal American fairs. McGuinness also sold his first manuscript to the CBC in 1947, recording a 14-minute broadcast titled the “Class A Circuit” about the Royal American tour, after his summer fair schedule concluded.
McGuinness continued his work with Royal American and the UIC until he accepted a position with the Saskatchewan government in 1952 to promote its upcoming 1955 golden jubilee. McGuinness worked closely with Tommy Douglas during the jubilee preparations, driving the premier to sites throughout the province. His experience with the Saskatchewan Jubilee preparations lead to McGuinness being appointed as a provincial representative to the Canadian Centennial Commission in 1963.
Fred McGuinness worked with The Medicine Hat News for 10 years, starting in 1955, when he was hired as an assistant to the paper’s publisher. In 1958, he was promoted to publisher of the newspaper. At the same time McGuinness was also appointed vice-president of Southam Company Limited. In addition to his administrative and editorial work, McGuinness also authored a column titled, “The Lighthouse” while employed by The Medicine Hat News. During his time in Medicine Hat, McGuinness was heavily involved with the Chamber of Commerce and community service organizations. His position within the community had him delivering talks to many local groups and working in tandem with the Chamber to actively solicite businesses to the City.
In November of 1965, McGuinness resigned as publisher of The Medicine Hat News and moved with his family to Winnipeg where he was appointed manager of the New Personnel and Information Division with James Richardson and Sons. At that time McGuinness began developing broadcast scripts for the CBC in earnest.
In November 1966, McGuinness was hired as associate editor and vice-president to the Brandon Sun. He moved to Brandon with his family and had a career with the paper until his death in 2011. During that time McGuiness also had an extensive career as a freelance writer and journalist for the CBC, Reader's Digest, and prairie weekly newspapers, as well as authoring several books. By the 1970s, McGuinness was writing copy for CBC’s Radio Noon and Information Radio, as well as producing Ashgrove Farm, a CBC radio drama.
During his years with the Sun, McGuinness wrote a tri-weekly “Sunbeams” (sometimes spelled “Sun Beams”) column using the nom-de-plume F.A. Rosser. The F.A. stood for “Fifth and,” and referenced the fact that the Brandon Sun offices and publication plant occupies the city block between 6th Street and 5th Street along Rosser Avenue, and McGuinness’ office overlooked the intersection at 5th Street and Rosser Avenue. The Sunbeams column was similar in style and content to McGuinness’ “Lighthouse” column for The Medicine Hat News; commenting on a variety of current events, Sunbeams also included book reviews, local events, and reminiscences.
In 1979, McGuinness started writing the syndicated weekly news column “Neighborly News.” He would write the column for 22 years until his age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diagnosed in 2001, became an impediment to his research, writing, and editing abilities. The column initially began with a dozen subscriptions from prairie weeklies and grew to publication in 55 weeklies.
The “Neighborly News” column evolved from the interest in and the impending cancellation of McGuinness’ CBC Radio broadcast “Neighborly News from the Prairies,” that he hosted from 1980 to 1983. The show was cancelled in 1983 but was picked up by Altona broadcaster CFAM later that year with McGuinness at the microphone. The radio show ended its run in the summer of 1987. McGuinness continued working with the CBC, however, and is popularly known for his work as the prairie essayist for CBC Radio’s Morningside with Peter Gzowski, a position he held for 17 years.
Many of McGuinness’ Morningside essays were autobiographical in nature. He often reported about life on Christmas Tree Farm, a section of land where the McGuinnesses built their dream home in the late 1970s. The couple planted a Christmas tree farm on the property and Christine maintained an extensive kitchen garden, while Fred tended honey bees. Life on the farm made its way into radiobroadcasts, Neighborly News columns, and the book Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays.
Upon his retirement in January 1987, McGuinness was made publisher emeritus of the Brandon Sun. A week after his retirement, he began writing a new column for the Sun called the “Diary.” McGuinness continued writing the “Diary” until his hospitalization in 2010. The Diary column was primarily a historical retrospective of Brandon, although it also touched on broader topics of interest to McGuinness during the time period.
During the 1980s and 1990s, McGuinness co-taught an undergraduate journalism class at Brandon University with English Professor John Blaikie. Around that time, he also partnered with Brandon University History Professor Ken Coates and published a number of popular books on Manitoba social history. McGuinness also delivered community workshops on memoir writing, a past time he continued until shortly before his death.
McGuinness took an active roll in the community and cultivated his interest in local history. Consequently he was invited to guest speak and chair sessions on local history, rural development, and the economy while providing his personal insights as a newspaper publisher. His previous experience with the Saskatchewan Jubilee and Canadian Centenial Commission made him a desirable committee and board member for many local organizaitons and planning committees. McGuinness’ lifelong commitment to prairie social history, earned him numerous awards and recognitions including an honorary doctorate from Brandon University, the Order of Manitoba, and the Order of Canada.
Fred McGuinness died on 22 March 2011 in Brandon, Manitoba.
Custodial History
Records in this collection were acquired by the S.J. McKee Archives in four accruals. Prior to their donation to the Archives the materials were in the possession of Fred McGuinness.
Accession 18-2002 contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness until the publication of Only in Canada, a history of the Kinsmen Club Association in Canada co-authored with BU history professor Ken Coates. During the research and writing process for the book, originals and copies of Kinsmen Club of Canada records were amassed at the McKee Archives. Coates and McGuinness added their research materials to these records circa 1987. The Kinsmen records have since been deaccessioned by the McKee Archives and transferred to Kin Headquarters in Ontario.
Accession 6-2008 contains records created and collected during the writing of the Provincial Exhibition book, Pride of the Land. Fred McGuinness, who co-authored the book with Ken Coates, donated these records to the McKee Archives circa 1988. The materials in the accession relating to Souris, Manitoba, were given to McGuinness by Kay Sullivan in August 2007, and were subsequently deposited in the Archives. The material in the accession related to Kemnay, Manitoba, was given to Colleen McGuinness (Fred’s daughter) by Mona McKinnon (nee Corkish) in the fall of 2007. Colleen then passed the materials on to her father, who in turn donated them to the S.J. McKee Archives.
Accession 20-2009 contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness over the course of his career as a newspaper journalist and during the research and writing period of the Brandon history book, The Wheat City. Records remained in his possession at his home until their transfer to the McKee Archives on July 28, 2009.
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness over the course of his career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the S.J. McKee Archives in March 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The records in this collection touch on every aspect of Fred McGuinness’ life. From his childhood, his education, his war experience, his newspaper and freelance career, his work in radio and public speaking, and his family the collection covers both his personal and professional life. In addition to the records created by McGuinness, there are also records created and collected by a variety of his relatives (on both sides of the family), as well as correspondence from his readers. The collection includes newspaper clippings, research materials, letters, certificates, scrapbooks, photographs, books, periodicals, pamphlets, sound recordings, artifacts, maps, newsletters, magazines, teaching materials, workshop materials, and financial records.
Because of McGuinness’ wide-ranging interests, the records include a significant number of subjects, both within his own writing and correspondence, but also within his library. They would be of particular interest to researchers who share McGuinness’ passions for local history and rural topics.
The scope and importance of McGuinness’ work in the prairies also resulted in a number of noteworthy honors, in particular the Order of Manitoba and the Order of Canada. The collection contains materials related to both.
The Fred McGuinness collection consists of nine (9) series further divided into subseries, including: (McG 1) Personal papers; (McG 2) Newspaper career; (McG 3) Freelance; (McG 4) McGuinness research materials; (McG 5) Monographs; (McG 6) Broadcasts, lectures, workshops; (McG 7) McGuinness artifacts and sound recordings; (McG 8) McGuinness library; and (McG 9) McGuinness photographs.
See the Arrangement Note for a more detailed breakdown of the collection’s arrangement.
Notes
The description of the Fred McGuinness collection was made possible by financial assistance from: The Manitoba Government Department of Tourism, Culture, Heritage Sport and Consumer Protection through the Manitoba Heritage Grants Program & The Fred McGuinness Endowment for Rural Archives, Brandon University
Information for the history/biography was compiled by the Archives and can be found in the Fred McGuinness timeline containing footnotes (see the S.J. McKee Archivist). Additional information was taken from his book, Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays, which is autobiographical in nature
Description by Suyoko Tsukamoto and Christy Henry (2015)
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available for each subseries, see subseries descriptions
Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
Trillium Business and Professional Women’s Club records
Oriole Vane-Veldhuis collection
William Wallace papers
Fred McGuinness local history collection (John E. Robbins Library)
CBC Radio Archives – Morningside
Trent University, Peter Gzowski fonds (99-015)
Kin Headquarters, Mississauga
Arrangement
The arrangement was artificially created by the Archives with the intention of grouping like materials. Records within files were placed in chronological order wherever possible. An inventory of the prearranged materials is available (consult the Archivist)
McG 1 Personal papers
McG 1.1 McGuinness family papers and letters
McG 1.2 Fred McGuinness correspondence
McG 1.3 Fred McGuinness Ltd. business documents
McG 1.4 Fred McGuinness certificates and scrapbook
McG 2 Newspaper career
McG 2.1 The Medicine Hat News
McG 2.2 The Brandon Sun
McG 2.3 Neighborly News
McG 3 Freelance
McG 3.1 Reader’s Digest
McG 3.2 Miscellaneous freelance
McG 4 McGuinness research
McG 4.1 Local history research materials
McG 4.2 Newspaper clippings
McG 5 Monographs
McG 5.1 Pride of the Land (1985)
McG 5.2 Only in Canada (1987)
McG 5.3 Old Pathways, New Horizons (1995)
McG 5.4 Manitoba: The Province & The People (1987)
McG 5.5 The Keystone Province: Manitoba Enterprise (1988)
McG 5.6 The Wheat City (1988)
McG 5.7 Chronicle of Canada (1990)
McG 6 McGuinness broadcasts, lectures, workshops
McG 6.1 Radio broadcast scripts
McG 6.2 BU Journalism course
McG 6.3 Talks and workshops
McG 7 McGuinness artifacts and sound recordings
McG 8 McGuinness library
McG 8.1 Books
McG 8.2 Booklets
McG 8.3 Maps, newsletters, and periodicals
McG 8.4 Pamphlets
McG 8.5 Magazines and newspapers (oversize)
McG 9 McGuinness photographs
6-2008 photographs
20-2009 photographs
1-2015 photographs