The Chater Protestant School District was established in 1883, with the arrival of settlers in southwestern Manitoba. In 1890, it became the Chater School District following school reform in Manitoba. The original Protestant District school was a wooden structure constructed in the village of Chater a few miles east of Brandon, Manitoba. In 1906, funds were raised for the building of a cement structure to replace the original wooden one. The Chater School District was dissolved in 1966, but the school house continued to serve as a community center until 1973, when it was demolished.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes minutes of the School Trustees (1891-1931, 1940-1959), teaching contracts (1937-1957), financial records of the school (1939-1958), a booklet titled "The Public School Act, The Education Department Act, The School Attendance Act, The Teachers Retirement Allowances Act"(1954), and a collection of school registers (1912-13, 1915-49, 1954-55, 1957-58) from the Chater School District. Included within the minute books of the Chater School District are financial records for the "Chater Association of Patrons of Industry, charter # 3532" (1891-1895). Also included is an ink stamp reading "Chater Protestant School District, No. 181, Manitoba Canada."
The Berbank Red Cross was founded in November 1917, as a local feature of the Great War. The name Berbank was created by combining the names of the two local districts, Riverbank and Bertha, located south of Brandon in the Rural Municipality of Oakland. The Berbank Red Cross sent supplies of various kinds to local soldiers serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe. The organization also organized social gatherings in the Berbank area. With the end of the war most rural Red Cross organizations were disbanded, but the Berbank group agreed to remain intact to assist with the construction of a church. (See accession 28-1997 Berbank Church fonds)
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 1997 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes a minute book, which provides a complete record of every meeting held by the Berbank Red Cross, from its creation in 1917 to 1919, when it became the Berbank Ladies Aid. Fonds also includes a roll call, financial records, and meeting minutes.
Cecil Herbert Edward Johnston was the second child born to Herbert Marmaduke Johnston and Amelia Jane Bird. He was born November 9, 1914, on the family homestead, NE 25-11-18, Elton Municipality, Manitoba. When Johnston was six years old, the family moved to Shingle Creek Community in Florida.
Johnston graduated from the Osceola High School at Kissimmee in June of 1932. He received his B.A.E. from the University of Florida in 1936, his M.A.E. from the same institution in August 1941, and his "doctor equivalency" in 1950. Johnston taught for thirty-seven years in Florida, twenty eight of which he served as an elementary school principal. He retired from public school teaching at the end of June 1973, although he taught Spanish on a part-time basis at the St. John Lutheran School in Ocala from 1975-1977.
Johnston married Helen Mable Cocke on June 22, 1939, in Alachua, Florida. Together they had four childred: Cecil Edward, Kathryn Rebecca, Stephen Robert and David Herbert.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custoridal history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a copy (2 volumes) of the transcript of "A History of the Branches of My Family" by Cecil Herbert Edward Johnston.
Divisions in the transcript include: The Johnston family; the James Johnston family; the Margaret Johnston family; the John Johnston family; the Sarah Johnston family; the McFarlane family; the Bird family, the Bird brothers of Lime Lake (Ontario); the Jane Bird family; the Catherine Bird family; the Sarah Bird family; the Henderson family; Ottawa area families; the Shillington family; and the Nelson family.
Notes
History/Bio taken from Johnston's family history (pp. 18-19, 39). Description by Christy Henry.
An administrative history for the Westman Multi-Cultural Council is currently unavailable.
Custodial History
The Council continued until ca. 2001. It was disbanded because the Federal government ceased providing grants to the Council. The records remained in the custody of Arnis Kaulins, the Council's last president. He donated them to the Archives in 2004.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains records of various ethno-cultural associations affiliated with the Westman Multi-Cultural Council, as well as material relating to the history of the Council, its constitution, membership directories, grant applications, records concerning the administration of Council activities, meeting minutes and financial records.
Storage Location
2004 accessions
Storage Range
2004 accessions
Arrangement
Files numbered 44-49, 92-99 and 125-129 were not included in the original inventory from the West-Man Multicultural Council. To maintain original order they have also been excluded from the inventory below and the WMC filing system remains in place.
Box 1 – Files:
1. Irish Association of Western Manitoba
2. Irish Association of Western Manitoba #2
3. Western MB Jewish Association
4. Welsh Society of Western MB
5. Immigrant Association of Western MB
6. Hartney Multicultural Association
7. Latvian Group
8. Laotion Society
9. Brandon Greek Cultural Association
10. Lukkenfest
11. Ethnic Organizations – Rural West-Man
12. Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg
13. Canada-India Friendship Association
14. Polish Gymnastic Sokol Association
15. Rivers Ukrainian Society
16. West-Man Highland Dance Association
17. MB Multicultural Resources Centre
18. WMC Flay Display
19. WMC History
20. WMC Logo (Multicultural Folder)
21. Charitable Status
22. Constitution
23. Ad-hoc Constitution Committee
24. Multiculturalism Act
25. Immigration Act
26. Multiculturalism Secretariat
27. Applications for Race-Relations Co-ordination
28. Applications
29. Secretary/Bookkeeper
30. Ad-hoc Nomination Committee
31. Personnel Policies
32. Legal
33. Corporation Act Forms
34. Incorporation Papers
35. Pamphlets, Songs etc.
36. Entrepreneurship Awards
37. Citation for Citizenship Award
38. Goal Aidon Scholarship Fund
39. Quote of Accounts
40. List of Schools
41. Membership Applications and Lists (*RED BINDER*)
42. Reports and Other Info (*BLUE BINDER*)
Box 2 – Files:
50. WMC Directory
51. 2004 Applications of Funds
52. Other Donations Grants
53. Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations
54. Brandon Area Community Foundation
55. Race-Relations 2001-02
56. Canadian Heritage
57. Ethno-cultural community Support Program
58. Multicultural Grants Advisory Council
59. Record of Employment Forms
60. T-4 and T-4A Forms 2001
61. GIFI Forms
62. Wages – Income Tax
63. Wages – Secretary/ Bookkeeper
64. Travel/Staff
65. Telephone/Fax/Internet
66. Rent
67. Postage
68. Photocopier
69. Office Supplies and Stationary
70. Office Equipment/Repairs
71. Miscellaneous
72. Meetings/General
73. Meetings/Annual
74. Insurance
75. Equipment Rental
76. Dues, membership, Subscription
77. Community Development
78. Cultural Programs
79. Bank Charges
80. Audit/Legal Fees
81. Advertising and Printing
82. GST
83. Miscellaneous
84. Accounts Receivable
85. Bank/Plan 24 Admin
86. Petty Cash
87. 1999 Account Book
88. 2002 Reports
FLOPPY DISKS:
A – West-Man Logbook
B – Workbook for Community Planning
C – CHRC “20 Years” Logo
D – Annual General Meeting
E – Y2000 AGM
F – Constitution/1999 Membership List
G – Activity Report
H – WMC Budget 1999
I – AGM 1999
J – Documents
K – Documents
L – Documents
M – Documents
N – Documents
O – Documents
Box 3 – Files:
100. Meeting Minutes 1999-2000
101. AGM 1999
102. AGM 2000
103. Annual Report 2001
104. AGM 2002
105. AGM 2003
106. 2003/04 Annual Report
107. Annual Reports (copies)
Box 4 – Files:
108. ESL Classes
109. Various Organizations
110. Travellers Day Parade
111. Rural Forum
112. Race-Relation Coordinator 2002
113. Race-Relations Coordinator 2003
114. Potluck Dinner
115. Newspaper Clippings
116. International Dinner
117. IDERD
118. Brandon West-man Regional Winter Festival
Box 5 – Files:
119. Fair (Food Fair)
120. Ethnic Cooking Class 2002-03
121. Ethnic Cooking Class
122. Contact Reservations
123. Citizenship and Heritage Week
124. Meeting Minutes 2001-2003
VHS Tapes
CD-ROM Discs
Box 6 – Files:
131. Invoices 1999-2000
132. Invoices 2000-01
134. 2001-2002 Audit
136. 2003 Audit
Box 7
VHS Tapes
CD-ROM Discs
The Westridge Senior Citizens Club was established in 1981, in response to an invitation from the President of the Westridge Community Centre. The club was funded through a New Horizons grant. During its existence the club provided a variety of recreational and social opportunities to it members.
Custodial History
The records were retained by the club's recording secretary, Miss. Myrtle W. Grieve, following the disbandment of the club. She donated the records to the S.J. McKee Archives in October 2005.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of membership lists, minutes and financial records of the Westridge Senior Citizens Club during the period of its existence from October 1981 to its disbandment in September 2005.
The Birtle Indian Residential School was opened by the Presbyterian Mission on December 3, 1888. Prior to that date, there had been a school allocated within the Birtle district for the Bird-Tail Sioux within Treaty 4. The new boarding school was located within the town limits of Birtle along the Bird-Tail River. The school was made of stone, was three stories high (not counting the basement), and was designed to accommodate fifty students. Connected to the school was thirty acres of land. The main building consisted of the school room, refectory, kitchen, and boys and girls dormitory. Besides the main school building, there was a barn that could accommodate fifteen head of cattle, a root-house and a small shed in which the parents would keep their ponies in the winter when they would come to visit the children. In the front of the residence there was a square piece of ground fenced off which consisted of a lawn and flower garden. The back of the residence was graveled for twenty yards. A garden of four acres was also connected with the school where vegetables were grown for use at the school.
Upon the opening of the school, there was considerable opposition on behalf of the parents as to the children being lodged and boarded such a substantial distance away from the greater Native population. This dissipated as the school gained acceptance within the Native community and attendance gradually increased as a result.
The headmaster at the original Bird-Tail school at the time of its assimilation into the Birtle Indian Residential School was J.D. Burgess. The first principle of the Birtle Indian Residential School was Rev. G.G. McLaren. He held the position from 1888 until November 1894, when he was replaced by Neil Gilmour. William J. Small became principle in 1896, and remained in that position until 1901.
The principal studies at the school were reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling and drawing. Although there were no trades associated with the school, the students were instructed in basic industries. The students also received moral training at the boarding schools. Girls were instructed in the branches of housework (washing, ironing, scrubbing , baking, cooking, sewing, knitting, tailoring, dressmaking, milking and butter-making). Boys were instructed in gardening, caring for stock, sawing, chopping and splitting wood, and were expected to help with the carpentry needs around the building. Special attention was also given to ethics and speaking English in class. There was also extensive religious training. Students were expected to attend church at least once each Sabbath in addition to their morning and evening worship and the study of the Bible and catechism in class.
During the summer the students participated in an abundance of outdoor exercise and recreation. The boys played a variety of sports, including baseball and soccer. The girls were allowed to go on long walks in the country or were given free time outdoors to take part in whatever they desired. Certain students exhibited a musical flare by playing instruments such as the madolin or the harmonica. One student, Hugh McKay, even worked part time at the local printing press during his tenure at the school. In the winter, students participated in ice-skating twice a week and the boys were allowed to play football for an hour a day. The girls could go on their walks and two or three times a week were taken for a drive a few miles into the country. There were two large playrooms within the main building for use during bad weather or when it was too cold outside for recreation during the winter.
Custodial History
Fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of one attendance register from the Birtle Indian Residential School for the years 1888-1898. The total number of students within the register is 133. The attendance record covers the student's name, the date of their admission , their age, "full or half blood" Native status, tribe (ie. Sioux), band (ie. Bird-Tail Sioux), parents' names and father's rank, whether the parents were living or dead, parents' religion, places and periods of previous education and educational level of the student at the time of their registration. The average annual attendance at the school was forty-five students.
Students include (listed in the order in which they appear in the register): Elizabeth Benjamin; Arthur Johnston; Hagar Bunntec; Susan Hunter; Julia Eastman; Dayar David; Charlie Hanchia; Louis Eastman; Andrew Ben; Irad Bunn; Cilas Bohha; Ellen Benjamin; Carolyn Simpson; Joseph Charles; Esau Thunder; Odes Thunder; Maggie Ben; Angus Bone; Duncan Burgess; Nobaire Bone; Susan Gambler; Hugh McKay; George Bird; Mary Boyer; Alice Matheson; William Bone; Jeremiah Bone; Thomas Blackbird; Ellen Bone; Dwight Gambler; Joseph Ben; Smauel Benjamin; Charlie Cote; James Cote; Elizabeth Bone; Peter Ondie Burgess; Gilbert Walker; Frances Enoch; Isabel McKay; Norman Brandon; Jessie Brandon; Rosie Morrisau; Alex Tanner; Francis Tanner; Charlie Tanner; Jane Bone; Willis Boyer; Joseph Tanner; Gilbert Boyer; Mary Jane Tanner; Archy McDonald; Katie Brown; Bessie Brown; Tina Siaton; John Hunter; Nora Best; Lexy Smith; Nannie Jandrew; Eva Hunter; Anne Ben; Marisha Thunder; Ralph Kerr; Maggie Cook; Frank Sealton; Louis Chisholm; Lydia Nakaloo; Agnes Minnie; John Assinnewasis; Lizzie Sunguish; Hattie Sunguish; Jim Takakowewewe; Horace Takakowewewe; Nillie Yellowbird; Elizabeth Nakatoo; Alexander Brandon; Fred Brandon; Susan Blackbird; Jacob Blackbird; Harry Menlick Manshuse; Ellen McKay; George Hunter; Herbert Menlick Oliver; Flora Bird; Lucy Takakowewewe; Amos Hui Naste; Younge Singus; Susette Blackbird; Nellie Bunn; Daisy Bunn; Victoria Brandon; Janet Ashlakeesie; Mary Nubris; Bertha Hanshnu; Laura Bone; John Desparles; Okerta Desparles; Emma Assissipenace; Maggie Bearbull; Lucy Eosisamuswa; Robert Bluebird; Willie Seaton; Cahrlie Singoosh; Seclonia Mekis; Fanny Singoosh; Birtha McWeg?; Jen Eescanigah; Ethel Messegnot; Patrick Bone; Joseph Mekas; Magie Kalropunace; Augris Mekas; Sarah Wawapenace; Walter Longelaw; Eva ShaManilo Wigwam; Elsie Blackbird; Jen Ercock; Alesi Flett; Fred Longclaws; Marie Macheantie; Annie Clare; Flossie Longclaws; Andrew Pewapucolenu; David Bunn; Elizabeth Penapeccolimee; and Peter Rattlesnake.
Notes
Description by Cory Anderson (1999). A copy of his finding aid and the essay he wrote on the Birtle Indian Residential School are located in the Birtle Industrial School fonds file (Finding aid drawer in the McKee Reading Room). The Sioux people who attended the Birtle Indian Industrial School originated in Minnesota and came to Canada following the Minnesota Sioux War of 1862. The history of the Dakota people in the Canadian Northwest is described in "The Dakota of the Canadian Northwest: Lessons for Survival" by Peter Douglas Elias (1988).
Storage Location
1997 accessions
Storage Range
1997 accessions
Related Material
Archival records RG10 from the Dept. of Indian Affairs / [microform] Issued by the Public Archives of Canada, Reference E78. C2P81 provides a link to records held in Library and Archives Canada for which microfilm copies exist in the John E. Robbins Library. The administrative records of the Birtle Indian Residential School may be found in this collection.
Fair. The photos have some crackling on the surface. Some of them also have what appears to be pencil marks on them.
History / Biographical
The Brandon Square Dancing Club was started by E.J. "Curly" Tyler as part of his degree program at the University of Utah. Part of his obligation for his degree was to organize a recreation group, so he organized the Square Dancers. The club operated for two years under Tyler's direction, with the individuals he taught receiving certificates for proficiency. After he ceased to be its leader, the Brandon Square Dancing Club continued for a number of years. Much of the dancing took place at the Ag Extension Centre.
Custodial History
Photographs turned up somewhere in the old Original Building at the time of the renovations (mid 1990s) and were brought to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 44 black and white photographs of the Brandon Square Dancing Club. The majority of the photographs depict actual dancing. There is also one file with photocopies of the photographs. These photocopies identify individuals in the photographs.
Individuals in the photographs include: Edith Laycock; Bill Clement; Bea Lissaman; Reg Lissaman; Jean Hawley; Mrs. Murray Simmons; Murray Simmons; Dood Cristal; JoAnn Myers; Bob Myers; Jim Creighton; Muriel Cumming; Frank Cowan; Dean Finch; Birk Birkinshaw; Bill Baynton; Gil Wankling; Hugh Knowlton; Hilda Evanson; Archie Evanson; Gwen MacKay; Don (D.R.) MacKay; Burt Hurst; Ena Skafel; Einar Skafel; Marian Jones; Ray Jones; Joan Tyler; Curly Tyler; Bea Matheson; Murray Matheson; Bill Coleman; Gladys Wankling; Percy Finch; Lois Gibson; Ken Pratt; Jack Findlay; Phyl Harwood; Ozzie Pullow; Jean Pullow; Ann McDiarmid; Barb Brodie; Mal Brodie; Bud McDiarmid; Doris Boyd; Ethel Norrison; Dr. Arhurst; Mrs. Arhurst; Bob McPherson; Mary Gooden; Ron Godfrey; Elizabeth Godfrey; Gordon Cummings; George Gooden; Marg Purdy; Kay Findlay; Jack Coleman; Betty Coleman; Marion Unicume; Nels Unicume; Bob Hawley; Nan Coleman; Jack Purdy; Kay Birkinshaw; Lyal McGill; Norm Emerson; Shirley Emerson; Zana Hurst; Ethel Morrison; Leo Kennedy; Hazel Jones; Dr. R.C. Jones; Jim Blencowe; Betty Knowlton; Wesley Nelson; Marian Nelson; Pauline Tennant; Dave Dick; and Bob McMullan.
Notes
George Gooden provided the names on the photographs. Description by Christy Henry.
Repro Restriction
Copyright restrictions apply
Conservation
Photographs have been removed from original matting.
Storage Location
2007 accessions
Storage Range
2007 accessions
Arrangement
Photograph number 40 is missing using the original numbering system. The numbers on the photographs have been adjusted accordingly (ex. old #43 is now #42). The numbers on the photocopies have also been adjusted to reflect the new numbering system.
Fonds consists of correspondence, newsclippings, reminiscences, historical information about Grand Valley, name and address lists for students and teachers, invitations to Grand Valley School District reunions (1935 and 1968), the program for the dedication ceremonies and reunion picnic (1968), and the guest book for the 1968 reunion and cairn dedication. The latter includes 3 photographs.
See fonds-level description of the Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds.
Custodial History
See fonds-level description of the Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds.
Scope and Content
Series consists of inaugural speeches, quarterly reports, documents about the closure of CFB Rivers, documents about Magnacca's proposal to build a new road to CFB Shilo, and documents about military and governmental celebrations in Brandon during the 1960s.
Storage Location
Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds - Box 1
Storage Range
Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds - Box 1
Arrangement
Box 1
1.1 Clipping: “City Getting Black Eye in Rural Areas?” [1963]
1.2 Notes from the mayor’s office 1964-5
1.3 Mayoral speeches 1964-5
1.4 Documents re: closure of CFB Rivers 1966-9
1.5 Papers of the Special Committee of the Future of CFB Rivers 1966-1968
1.6 Minutes of meetings re: clusure of CFB Rivers 1966
1.7 Clippings re: closure of CFB Rivers 1966-75
1.8 Correspondence re: closure of CFB Rivers 1963-9
1.9 Mayor’s office notes re: CFB Rivers [1966]
1.10 Documents re: proposal to build road to CFB Shilo 1962-9
1.11 Correspondence re: aircraft displays 1969
1.12 Documents re: Freedom of the City Ceremony 1967
1.13 Documents re: Squadron 408 1962
See fonds-level description for Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds.
Custodial History
See fonds-level description for Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds.
Scope and Content
Series consists of antiquarian objects, such as postcards and theatre programs; an anonymous manuscript entitled "There's Something About British Israel;" clippings about Louis Riel; documents about Thomas Mayne Daly, notably Magnacca's manuscript entitled "Our First Mayor;" and documents of the Daly House Museum.
Storage Location
Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds - Box 2
Storage Range
Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds - Box 2
Arrangement
Box 2
2.1 2 Brandon Mail newspapers 1884
2.2 Postcards and invitations 1888-1911
2.3 Theatre programs from London, England 1896
2.4 1 Citizen’s Examiner newspaper 1926
2.5 Clippings re: Coronation Day 1937
2.6 Clippings re: Louis Riel 1967-72
2.7 Scrapbook about Manitoba history [197-]
2.8 Biographical information about T. Mayne Daly 1962-79
2.9 Biographical information about T. Mayne Daly [1978]
2.10 Biographical information about T. Mayne Daly 1978
2.11 Manuscript: “Our First Mayor,” by S. A. Magnacca 1978
2.12 “Our First Mayor” and a pamphlet about Daly 1979
2.13 “Our First Mayor” and a clipping re: H. Mayne Daly 1978
2.14 Correspondence re: publishing of “Our First Mayor” 1978
2.15 Documents of the Daly House Museum 1977-9
2.16 Documents of the Daly House Museum 1978-81
2.17 Correspondence of Grace Magnacca and the Daly House Museum 1981
2.18 Documents of the Manitoba Historical Society 1978-9
2.19 Manuscript: “Something About British Israel,” anonymous [191-]
2.20 Documents re: St. Matthew’s Cathedral 1952-63
See fonds-level description of the Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds.
Custodial History
See fonds-level description of the Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds.
Scope and Content
Series consists of clippings about military activities, especially those of soldiers; audiocassettes of speeches and radio broadcasts; documents about celebrations at Shilo; and newsletters of the Brandon Flying Club.
Storage Location
Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds - Box 2
Storage Range
Stephen Adolph Magnacca fonds - Box 2
Arrangement
Box 2
3.1 Audiocassettes of British broadcasts and local mayoral speeches [196-]
3.2 Photocopies of The Quill [1916 and 1919] and a speech to university students about the military [196-]
3.3 Clippings re: S. A. Magnacca and soldiers 1961-75
3.4 Clippings re: military activities 1935-75
3.5 Clippings re: military activities 1956-75
3.6 Documents re: governmental celebrations 1964-9
3.7 Programs of military functions 1967-78
3.8 Brandon Flying Club newsletters 1974
3.9 Posters and documents of Shilo celebrations 1967-752.1
The Crown Protestant School District was founded in 1883, in the municipality of Whitewater, Manitoba. It became the Crown School District following school reform in Manitoba in 1890. The School District provided schooling for children in the Elgin, Fairfax, Heaslip and Minto communities. In 1930, the district was replaced with the creation of separate school districts for Elgin, Fairfax, and Lily.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains minute books (1883-1930), financial records (1884-1917), attendance registers (1892 -1906), tax records for the District (1918-1930), and documents concerning the disestablishment of the Crown School Division.
The Humesville Women's Missionary Society began in 1885, in Humesville, Manitoba. Originally named the Humesville Women's Foreign Missionary Society, it was formed in connection with the Brandon Presbyterial Society as an auxiliary group. The reference to "Foreign" was later dropped from the organization's name. The HWMS was a non-profit group that raised money and gathered goods for the needy in the local area, Canada and around the world. The Forrest Women's Missionary Society was involved in much of the same work as the Humesville group. The membership of the two organizations was drawn from women residents in the Forrest/Humesville area.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of financial records, newspaper clippings, and attendance lists for the Humesville and Forrest Women's Missionary Societies. Minutes for the Humesville Society cover the years 1885-1907; 1920-1940. The minutes of the Forrest Society cover the years 1928-1943. The attendance lists cover the years 1892 to 1904, 1906, 1907 and 1939 (Humesville) and 1928 to 1934, 1938 to 1941 (Forrest). Fonds also contains minutes of the Young Peoples' Society of Humesville 1910-1914, Forrest United Church Women's Association 1930-1946, and a pamphlet detailing the history of the Humesville/Forrest United Church.
The Trilliam Business and Professional Women's Club originated as The New Branch, Young Women's Business and Professional Club of Brandon in the spring of 1948. The club applied for membership in the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs in June 1948. Like other chapters of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the Brandon chapter was committed to inproving the staus of women in business and professional life, developing the qualities of its members, furthering contacts between members of affiliated clubs, focusing public attention on the post-war work of women, and providing a non-partisan, non-sectarian basis for cooperation. During it existence the club undertook a variety of activities to promote these goals.
Custodial History
Fonds was donated to the Daly House Museum in March 2005, by Freda A. Thompson of Minnedosa, Manitoba. Thompson had acquired the records from her sister Ada (Wareham) Mitchell who had served as recording secretary for the club. In June 2005, the Daly House Museum donated the records to the S.J. McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of scrapbooks dealing with the activities of the club from the date of its creation in 1948 through to 1969. A wide variety of items including correspondence, printed materials, photographs, newspaper clippings, and programs appear in the scrapbooks.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry.
Storage Location
2006 accessions
Storage Range
2006 accessions
Related Material
Brandon Business and Professional Women's Club (10-2002); Minnedosa Business and Professional Women's Club (11-2002); Neepawa Business and Professional Women's Club (12-2002); Trilliam Business and Professional Women's Club (2-2006).
The Brandon Sno-Goers Snowmobile Club was created in approximately 1970 and was disbanded in approximately 2002. During its lifetime, the Sno-Goers were an organization dedicated to the promotion of recreational snowmobiling. They were also a community service group, which raised funds for local charities, held many winter events and worked with E.M.O. services in the southwestern area of Manitoba. They were members of the provincial organization Sno-Man Inc (Snowmobilers of Manitoba Inc.).
Custodial History
Records were donated to the McKee Archives on September 9, 2005 by Lloyd Shortridge, former president and Sno-Goers member from 1986-2002. The records were in Shortridge's residence prior to their donation.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of minutes (annual meetings, general meetings, director's meetings, club meetings etc.), newsletters, financial records, member lists, correspondence, records related to various club activities, events, and charity fundraising. It also includes the Manitoba snowmobile operator's training manual, exam and answer key, information on snow trails and trail grooming and records for the 1989 Sno-Man convention and sled show hosted by the Brandon Sno-Goers. Fonds contains a number of artifacts, including: 3 pins, 2 badges and the Sno-Goers' flag.
Fundraising included: Heart & Stroke Foundation (Heart Fund Ride), Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (Poker Derby), Canadian Liver Foundation, Ability Fund March of Dimes, City of Brandon, Canadian Cancer Society, Dreams for Kids.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry. All records related to Snopasses (except a few annual reports) were culled, as were recipets and duplicates, Sno-Man newsletters and Sno-Man meeting minutes.
Storage Location
2007 accessions
Storage Range
2007 accessions
Arrangement
There are some financial records mixed in with the minutes in 1983-1985. There are some minutes for 1980 in the correspondence file.
The International Toastmistress Club was officially organized in October of 1938, in California by Ernestine White. White thought that communication was the key to success in government, business, and community service. The purpose of the club was to help women gain communication and leadership skills. The North Central Region of the International Toastmistress Club began with the formation of the Winnipeg Toastmistress Club in 1946-47. This club was the first Toastmistress Club in Manitoba and the second club in Canada. The idea of forming a Toastmistress Club in Winnipeg came partly from some members of the Toastmaster Club in the city who had heard of the women's club formed in California. Other North Central Toastmistress Clubs soon followed, including more clubs in Winnipeg, and others throughout southern and central Manitoba, such as the Yellow Quill (Portage), Fort La Bosse (Virden), Colleen (Killarney), Cornucopia (Neepawa), Dauphin, Prairie Horizons (Brandon), Valley Echoes (Swan River), Urban Acres (Brandon), and Kinrossie (Souris) Toastmistress Clubs. The North Central Region was renamed the Land O'Lakes Region in 1966. In 1985, the International Toastmistress Club became the International Training in Communication organization.
Custodial History
This fonds was deposited at the McKee Archives on June 2, 1995 by Marlene Brichon of Brandon, Manitoba.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes a scrapbook made by the Urban Acres Toastmistress Club of Brandon, which spans the years 1963-1977. The scrapbook includes pictures, newspaper clippings, and programs. The fonds also includes the minutes of the Urban Acres Club from 1973-1986 and the club's reports from 1964-1986. A large number of newsletters such as the C4 News, Land O'Lakes Schooner, Ten-Talk, The Communicator, Pieces of Eight, and The Gavel, running from 1967-1990, as well as the official newsletter of the International Toastmistress Club "Toastmistress" from 1963-1972 are included. Fonds contains a history of the Winnipeg Toastmistress Club, as well as a history of the North Central Region, which later became the Land O'Lakes Region. There are also brief histories of the Yellow Quill, Urban Acres, Greenmantle, and Nellie McClung Toastmistress Clubs. Included in the fonds are bylaws and standing rules of the Land O'Lakes clubs, as well as the charters of the Yellow Quill, Colleen, Cornucopia, Fort La Bosse, Dauphin, and Prairie Horizons Clubs. A large part of the record consists of the minutes from international and regional meetings for the years 1969 to 1988. The fonds includes a public relations survey from the Land O'Lakes Region 1977-78, evaluations of various council meetings, Land O'Lakes' agendas and budgets from 1980-1985, and lists of Land O'Lakes executives. Finally, the fonds contains reports from various Land O'Lakes clubs from 1968-1992, as well as Land O'Lakes rosters from 1979-1985.
In 1988, Sheila Doig was the Rural Liaison Coordinator for the Manitoba Action Committee on the Status of Women. That winter, she travelled to Crystal City, Manitoba, to meet with a group of women that included Verna Menzies. At the meeting, the women were concerned about the efforts of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to amend the Constitution so that Quebec would sign on. They believed that the amending document, The Meech Lake Accord, would jeopardize women’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Thus began a chain of events that resulted in the formation of The Westman Coalition for Equality Rights under The 1987 Meech Lake Accord. The group became known simply as The Westman Coalition. During the years 1988-1990, these women—almost all grassroots rural women with no special training in things constitutional—met with and lobbied politicians, other feminists, and the public in order to change Meech Lake or defeat it.
There were many high points to this campaign. Sheila conducted an extensive tour of rural and northern Manitoba, recruiting women to express their concerns in writing to Ottawa. The Coalition presented briefs to the Manitoba hearings and to the Charest Commmission. They were only permitted to appear at the latter after they picketed the hearings in Winnipeg and demanded that women be heard. They were courted by the national media for comments, and became adept at handling interviews and public appearances.
After much turmoil, in June 1990, Meech Lake was defeated in the Manitoba legislature by Elijah Harper on behalf of Aboriginal peoples, who had largely been left out of the constitutional debate. The Coalition was there to support him and to show the face of women, who also felt that they had not been heard.
This should have been the end of Canada’s constitutional debate, but Prime Minister Mulroney was determined to succeed where others had failed, and so a new process (the Charlottetown Accord, as it became known) was soon under way to bring Quebec into the fold by amending the Constitution. This time there was endless consultation with the public, and the women scrambled to respond to the many commissions and hearings. There were the Spicer Commission, the Manitoba hearings, the Dobbie/Beaudoin committee and so on. Finally, there were five (and later, six) constitutional conferences to be held around the country. Ordinary Canadians would be invited to apply to attend, and they would be chosen randomly.
The women were invited to 5 of the 6 conferences. Just a coincidence of random selection? Or a consequence of their high profile in the debate? They thought the latter. In any event, Terri Deller, Kady Denton, Paula Mallea and Sheila Doig all attended at various venues and advanced the position of women on equality rights and on the other issues on the table.
A high point of this second campaign was the visit to Brandon of Marcelle Dolment from Quebec City. As one of the few vocal feminists in Quebec who opposed the new Charlottetown proposal, she was a precious ally. She came to meet with the women, forge solidarity, and show that French and English, Quebec and The Rest of Canada, were capable of meeting and coming to agreement.
Sheila conducted another rural tour in 1992, and also attended the Annual General Meeting of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, where she felt she was given short shrift.
The women were discouraged on many fronts during this campaign. They were out of pocket many thousands of dollars, and the promised funding from the Secretary of State for the Status of Women was finally denied. As well, despite herculean efforts to put their position to politicians and the media, the women felt again as though they were not being heard.
By this time, the Coalition had developed a position on all of the salient issues under the Charlottetown process: property rights, distinct society, an interpretative clause, equal representation of women in the Senate, the economic agenda and the Canada Clause. In the summer of 1992, Canadians were finally shown the text of the Charlottetown Accord and were told that they would be voting on it in a referendum, even though the text was not in its final form.
The women waged a final campaign asking people to vote “No” to the Charlottetown proposals. Politicians, business leaders, many academics and constitutional experts were saying that “No” would mean immediate Quebec separation and the breakdown of the country. The same had been said of Meech Lake. The women of the Coalition did not believe that the country was so frail, and they were proved right. On October 26, 1992, the country voted “No”.
Secretary of State finally came through with funding to cover the Coalition’s many expenses, thanks largely to the efforts of M.P. Lee Clark.
Sheila Doig was awarded the prestigious Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Person’s Case for her work on behalf of rural women. Paula was given the Manitoba Human Rights Award for her work on the constitution.
All of the women who were involved in the Meech and Charlottetown campaigns felt that their lives had been changed by the experience. Like ordinary Canadians everywhere, they did not believe that they could have any real influence over constitutional affairs, much less national politics. They knew nothing about constitutions or the law of the Charter, but they educated themselves on the issues, and became articulate and incisive advocates. They were fearless in front of Prime Ministers and news anchors. They entered corridors of power that they had never thought possible. They were, then and now, a force to be reckoned with.
The Westman Coalition became Women for Equality (WE) after the Charlottetown campaign. They met for many years every week to discuss the issues of the day. Then, as various members dispersed, the group waned. A new crisis threatening the equality rights of women, however, would surely revive what was once a powerful grassroots lobby.
Custodial History
Paula Mallea was using the records in accession 9-2004 to write a book on the Westman Coalition on Equality Rights ("The Fight for Women's Rights: Meech, Charlottetown and Manitoba women" published 2005). Once she was finished with the records, her husband, former president of Brandon University John Mallea, delivered three boxes of records to the Archives in 2004. A small number of photographs were donated later.
The records in accession 4-2011 were originally in the possession of Shiela (Doig) Kingham. They were given to Terri Deller who donated them to the McKee Archives in 2011.
Scope and Content
Accession 9-2004 (96 cm textual records, 9 video tapes - 1987-1993) contains the records of the Westman Coalition on Equality Rights in the Canadian Constitution including newspaper clippings 1988-1991, dealing with the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord and the failed ratification of both; meeting notes and agendas of the Coalition 1987-1993; miscellaneous documents dealing with Canadian constitutional reform circa 1988-1993; documents related to the Manitoba Task Force on Meech Lake; correspondence 1987-1993; budget matters; rural tour by Coalition members; constitutional proposals development and submitted by the Coalition; miscellaneous files relating to Meech Lake and Charlottetown; a file dealing with Manitoba first-wave feminist Nellie McClung; and published commentary on the Charlottetown Accord.
Accession 9-2004 also contains 2 video tapes of an interview conducted with Elsie McLaughlin, niece of Nellie McClung, as well as 7 additional video tapes consisting of panels with Coalition members, information sessions, Meech Lake workshops, the Westman Coalition meeting with Jean Chretien and Sheila Doig receiving the Governor General's Award.
Accession 4-2011 (6.5 cm textual records - 1989-1999) consists of the records of the Westman Coalition on Equality Rights in the Canadian Constitution including notes on the origin and activities of the Coalition; a grant application - 1992 - by the Coalition; Coalition proposals and lobbying stragegies concerning the Meech Lake Accord; a brief to the Special Committee on the Companion Resolution to Meech April 1990; a brief to the Manitona All-Party Task Force on the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord, April 1990; a brief to the Dobbie Commission, November 1991; correspondence, clippings and e-mails concerning Coalition activities; book drafts - history of the Coalition - Paula Mallea, February 1996 and spring 1996; a brief to the Manitoba Legislative Task Force on Canadian Unity [nd]; copies of letters "Rural Tour" 1992; and several published sources on constitutional matters.
Notes
History/Bio information provided by Paula Mallea. See Paula Mallea, The Fight for Women's Rights: Meech, Charlottetown and Manitoba Women (Kagawong, Ont.: Paula Mallea, 2005).
The Order of United Commercial Travelers of America (UCT) is a fraternal benefits society. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio on January 16, 1888 by eight traveling salesmen (commercial travelers) for the purpose of providing accident insurance for traveling salesmen, protecting the rights of its members and aiding those dependent upon them.
UCT came to Canada in 1898 with the creation of Winnipeg Council No. 154. The organization gradually spread westward with Councils established in Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary and Brandon. Brandon Council No. 448 was granted a charter on December 12, 1908.
Brandon Council No. 448 incorporated in 1984. Soon after they purchased and renovated the UCT Hall (now East Port Hall) at 530 Richmond Avenue East. The goals of Brandon Council No. 448 are "to improve our community, meet new friends, improve fellowship, to discover the best in ourselves and others, and to derive satisfaction from helping others." UCT Brandon Council No. 448 supports a number of organiztions and programs in Brandon; to raise money, the Council holds a weekly bingo (first held on May 9, 1963) and a canteen at bingos. As well, they participate in an anuual ticket raffle within Manitoba.
The governing body of UCT in the United States and Canada is the Supreme Council, which is located in Columbus, Ohio. States or groups of states and provinces are divided into Grand Jurisdictions; Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta make up a Grand Jurisdiction, of which Brandon Council forms a part. The Grand charter was granted on June 10, 1911. Prior to 1911, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta formed part of the Grand Jurisdiction of Minnesota and North Dakota.
Custodial History
The UCT Brandon Council #448 decided to donate their records to the McKee Archives after selling their meeting hall (UCT Hall - now East Port Hall). Records were stored in East Port Hall on Richmond Avenue East until their donation in January 2008.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of: Brandon UCT Council scrapbooks (1974-1999, 1997-2006); Brandon Council minutes (1990-1996); unidentified attendance registers (probably Brandon); Minutes of the Grand Council of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta (1911-17, 1919); Proceedings of the Grand Council of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta (1914-15, 1917-19,1922-35, 1937-62, 1964, 1966-75, 1977, 1981-83, 1988-89); Minutes and Correspondence of the Grand Council of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta (1958-59); Annual Reports to the Grand Council Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta from various councils (1948, 1949, 1950, 1952); Grand Council of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta documents including Cash Book (1911-1948) and Ledger (1911-1948); Proceedings of the Supreme Council (1964-68); Proceedings of the Grand Council of Illinois (1956-57); Proceedings of the Grand Council of Minnesota and North Dakota (1931, 1949); Swift Current Council, minutes (1939-45, 1959-71), membership and financial records (1937-63); Lethbridge, attendance register (1914-1930, 1933-55); Regina, membership [nd]; Miscellaneous documents: Constitution and Bylaws UCT of America, 1962; The UCT Story 1888-1988, compiled by William C. Shortt; and 9 b/w photographs, various sizes.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the UCT webstie available at: http://www.uct.org/History.html (February 2008), from "The UCT Story: Do you Know It?" by James B. Chrisp, and published in the May 18, 1986 edition of the Sunday Sunday, and the Brandon Council #448 pamphlet. Description by Christy Henry and Tom Mitchell.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, which was established in 1929, is a professional honorary Society of women educators. The Society promotes professional and personal growth of its members and excellence in education. Membership is by invitation only and considered a prestigious honor with a variety of benefits and privileges.
Custodial History
The document was in the possession of Merle Orth, Chair of the Archives Committee for the chapter prior to its donation to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the organizational charter of the Brandon chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International webpage: http://www.dkg.org/site/c.meJMIOOwErH/b.5815955/k.E082/About_DKG.htm [October 5, 2012]. Description by Tom Mitchell.
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).
