The Women's Institute was founded in 1897, in Stoney Creek, Ontario by Adelaide Hoodless. By 1913, institutes were established in every Canadian province. In 1919, provincial representatives met in Winnipeg to form the Federated Women's Institute of Canada. The Women's Institute was designed to promote quality of life in rural Canada and to foster the advancement of rural women. The first Women's Institute in Manitoba was organized in 1910, in Morris, Manitoba. The Cordova Women's Institute was formed on April 28, 1961. The group met in member's homes until 1966, when it began to meet in the recently closed school. The Institute raised money for scholarships and charities by holding teas, bake sales and raffles. The group also held courses for its members to learn about various subjects of interest to rural women. The Cordova Women's Institute disbanded in 1978.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 2002 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains the Cordova Women's Institute's Annual Reports from 1961-1978. It also contains the minutes from the group's meetings from 1961-1978. The financial records of the Institute from 1961-1978 are included in the fonds.
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
Martin Kavanagh was born in Wicklow, Ireland in 1895. He was educated in Wexford, Dublin and London. Following his arrival in Canada in 1923, Kavanagh was employed as the Principal of Treherene High School. In 1929, he joined the staff of Brandon Collegiate Institute. He taugh Latin and Geography at the Collegiate until 1963. In 1946, Kavanagh published The Assiniboine Basin: A Study of Discovery, Exploration and settlenment. In 1963, he published La verendrye - His Life and Times. Martin Kavanagh died in 1987.
Custodial History
Fonds remained in the possession of Kevin Kavanagh and James Wall following Martin Kavanagh's death. Wall donated his portion of the fonds to the McKee Archives in November 2004. Kevin Kavanagh donated his portion of the fonds in December 2004.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains an unpublished autobiography written by Martin Kavanagh and several draft narratives for a slide presenation based on Kavanagh's biography of La Verendrye. Fonds also contains one file of business correspondence c. 1971.
Edith Mary Laycock was born on June 25, 1913. She attended Brandon Collegiate from 1929 until her graduation in 1931. Ms. Laycock attended Brandon College from 1931-1934, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1935, she attended the Wheat City Business College and graduated from the Stenographic Course. Ms. Laycock was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a stenographer for many years and belonged to the Canadian Pacific Expressmen's Mutual Benefit Society from 1939.
Edith Laycock was very interested in drama. While attending Brandon Collegiate and Brandon College she participated in school and college plays. She was involved in drama and theatre throughout her aadult life. Edith Laycock directed many of Brandon College's major productions beginning in 1950. She was also the director of many of the plays put on by the Brandon Little Theatre from 1950. Ms. Laycock also performed in the Little Theatre productions when she was not directing.
Ms. Laycock was also involved in many other elements of Brandon life. She served alternatively as the vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and production manager of the Little Theatre throughout the 1940's and 1950's. She was the Social Manager for the Brandon Festival Committee in 1948, the Publicity Chairperson for the Brandon Music Festival Association in the 1950's, and the Secretary of the Brandon Overture Concert Association. Laycock also wrote play reviews for the Brandon Sun in the 1950's. She was the director of the Manitoba Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. In the 1960's Laycock was a member of the Brandon Council of Women and Chairperson of its Arts and Letters Committee. She was also the Vice-President of the Brandon Art Club in 1960. Edith Laycock also held a 12-week class in creative dramatics for children at the Allied Arts Centre in the early 1960's.
Edith Laycock died in Brandon on December 17, 1987.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of memorabilia kept by Edith Laycock. A large part of the collection consists of programs from plays that Laycock performed in or directed during the 1950's and 1960's. There are also numerous newspaper clippings about Laycock's plays including reviews, pictures, and advertisements. This collection also includes a folder of programs from the Brandon Little Theatre productions in the 1950's, as well as clippings about the Little Theatre. There are also numerous articles about miscellaneous drama and art events throughout Brandon, Manitoba, and Canada. The fonds also includes Laycock's daybook from 1962, and travel notes from Laycock's 1952 trip to Great Britain and Europe. The latter contains a passenger list for the Empress of Scotland, August 5, 1952. The collection further includes Canadian Pacific Railway passes dating from 1947-1963 and a copy of the Canadian Pacific Pension Plan. Fonds also contains material from the various organizations that Laycock was involved with including the Brandon Council of Women and Beta Sigma Phi. Fonds includes 12 photos that appear to be family photos from Laycock's childhood. Finally, the fonds contains various copies of plays that Laycock performed in or directed.
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
The Women's Institute was founded in 1897 in Stoney Creek, Ontario, by Adelaide Hoodless. By 1913, institutes were established in all the provinces. In 1919, provincial representatives met in Winnipeg to form the Federated Women's Institute of Canada. The Women's Institute was designed to promote quality of life in rural Canada and to foster the advancement of rural women. The first Women's Institute in Manitoba was organized in 1910, in Morris, Manitoba. The Clanwilliam Women's Institute was created on March 24, 1947. The first president of the Institute was Mrs. Margaret Erven. The construction of a community hall was the initial project of the Institute, but it also made contributions to the maintenance of the local rink and to local charitable causes. The Institute continues to operate as of 2002.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 2002 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes the minutes of the meetings of the Institute from 1947-1977. Included in the minutes are member lists from the various years. The Certificate of Organization for the Clanwilliam Women's Institute, dated September 5,1947 is included as well. There is also a handwritten copy of the history of the Clanwilliam Women's Institute. Finally, the fonds includes the Institute's Annual Reports from 1949-1952 and from 1963-1965.
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
See RG 1 Brandon College fonds, Sereis 11: Brandon College military training programs for history/bio information for the Canadian Officers Training Corps at Brandon College.
Custodial History
See MG 1 Brandon College Teaching and Administration, 1.11 Martin Johns fonds for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the members of the Brandon College Canadian Officers Training Corps (C.O.T.C.) during World War II. J.R.C. Evans is seated in the middle of the second row. Henry Stewart Perdue is seated to his right.
Notes
"With best wishes, J.R. Evans" is written on the back of the photograph.
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.
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.
Photograph shows a docked ship, possibly the HMCS Alachasse. Naval flags fly from the mast and a sailor is at the bow of the ship. A naval officer is standing on the dock near a parked vehicle.
The Odd Fellow Lodge in Minnedosa was created in 1884. Membership was open to white males over the age of 21, who were in good health and had good moral character. The organization was established as a mutual friendly association to provide social and financial support to its members. According to its Constitution, OddFellow members have five duties: to visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, to bury the dead, to educate the orphan, and to aid the widow. The organization existed until 1991.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 2000. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of minutes from Minnedosa Odd Fellow meetings from 1884-1991. There is also one book kept by the Sick Committee from 1924-1949, in which the committee kept track of sickness and injuries among members and what each sick or injured man received in wages lost from the lodge. The fonds also includes a roll call book from 1884-1920. There is also a member and visitor register for the years 1972-1980, and an envelope of approximately 40 completed application forms from the 1940's and 1950's. Finally, the fonds includes a minute book of the Patriarch Militant IOOF of Brandon, Manitoba, which covers the years 1909 to 1922.
The OddFellows has a long international history as a mutual assistance society for men. OddFellow Lodges were open to white males over the age of 21, who were in good health and possessed good moral character. Upon joining an OddFellow's Lodge, a member received social and financial benefits. The Constitution of the Subordinate Lodges in Manitoba, 1899, notes that OddFellows Lodges were obliged to teach the importance of fraternity. Under the organization's constitution, lodge members assumed five obligations: to visit the sick, to relieve the distressed, to bury the dead, to educate the orphan, and to aid the widow. The Progress Lodge of the Basswood OddFellows was created in 1910; it continued as a group until early 1955, when it amalgamated with the Minnedosa OddFellows. The Progress Lodge of the Basswood OddFellows included men of many different occupations and social classes including, farmers, merchants, ministers, teachers, agents, carpenters, grain buyers, clerks, and laborers.
Custodial History
The records of the Basswood Oddfellows Lodge were in the possession of Donald McNabb, who for many years was an active member of the Minnedosa Oddfellows. He donated the records to the McKee Archives in June 2000.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of five books. The first book is a membership list from 1910-1948. The list includes the members' names and occupations, the date that they joined the lodge, and their status within the hierarchy of the lodge. The other four books consist of minutes for the years 1910-16, 1916-25, 1935-44, and 1945-54.
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