Harris McFayden, who also acted as the company's managing director, established the McFayden Seed Co. Ltd. in 1910. G. P. Crossing, D. J. Daniel and D. A. Hagen completed the company executive as secretary-treasurer, manager of the Garden Seed
Department, and Plant superintendent respectively.
Operating out of Winnipeg on a Canada wide basis, McFayden Seed Co. Ltd. was originally called Harris McFayden Seed Co. Ltd. and specialized in farm seeds. By the time of McFayden's death in April of 1941, the company had created the largest Mail
Order House of Garden Vegetable and Flower Seeds in Canada.
McFayden Seed Co. Ltd. was purchased by A. E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. on August 15, 1941 from a Trust Company for $75,000. At the time of the acquisition, it was decided by the parties involved that the two companies would continue operating as separate entities. This arrangement enabled the McKenzie Seed Co. to minimize the disruption created by the purchase; it also allowed for the perpetuation of the McFayden name and tradition.
Located in a rented property, the 5th floor of the John Deer Building in Winnipeg, the company was relocated to Maryland Street in Winnipeg during the 1950's. Finally, in 1965, McFayden Seeds was moved into the existing McKenzie Building in Brandon as a subsidiary company, continuing as a specialty Mail Order division of McKenzie Seeds to the present day.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains correspondence, documents, financial records and miscellaneous records relating to McKenzie Seeds first acquisition. The documents consist of costs of passing title, general by-laws, Companies Act returns, annual summaries, executor of Harris McFayden's estate, and a release between A.E. McKenzie Co. and National Trust. The miscellaneous records include board minutes/excerpts, memos and a share register.
The sub-series has been divided into four sub sub series, including: (1) Correspondence; (2) Documents; (3) Financial; and (4) Miscellaneous.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 3 Acquisitions
Related Material
Financial statements for McFayden Seeds as a subsidiary of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. are located in Series 1 (Board of Directors), sub-series 5 (Financial) of the fonds.
Historical information regarding McFayden Seeds is located in Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 2 (J. Lasby Lowes), Historical Topics files 7 and 8 (Tape 22) and file 30 of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds.
Sales literature, seed packets and McFayden catalogues are located in Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 4 (Marketing) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds.
Catalogues for McFayden can also be found in Series 5 (Photographs) in oversized drawer #4 of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds.
Series 6 (Miscellaneous), sub-series 1 (Centennial Exhibition) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds also contains catalogues and sales literature for McFayden Seeds.
This sub-series consists of publications that did not fit into any of the preceding series or sub-series.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series includes one copy each of Manitoba Business Top 100 (June 1985), Trade and Commerce Supplement, Brandon (c. 1963) and Manitoba Business (November 1985).
It also includes a Christmas Song book, the book "By Gossip and Myth" by Prof. George MacDowell and a document entitled "Background Information re A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd."
The following newspaper clippings have been located in the map case drawer #4 located in the archives reading room:
1. $175,000 Gift Set for College from City Man
2. McKenzie Will Leaves House to Arts Centre
3. The Old Alma Mater is Down on Her Knees
4. How to Help the Alma Mater
5. Good Things are "growing" on at McKenzie Seeds (ad)
6. Fire fails to halt work at McKenzie Seeds
7. McKenzie Seeds: new facilities are first in North America
8. A full-page advertisment for McKenzie Seeds from "The Brandon Sun" (September 24, 1971)
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 6 Miscellaneous
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
.This sub-series contains the following:
Box 1:
1. Canadian Agricultural Miscellaneous 1967-1972
2. Canadian Agricultural Miscellaneous 1973-1975
3. Canadian Agricultural Miscellaneous 1970-1975
4. Bill C-175 An act respecting grain
5. Bill C-196 Canada Grain Act 1970
Box 2:
6a. Canadian Agricultural Miscellaneous 1971
6b. Canadian Agricultural Miscellaneous 1971
7a. Bill C-41 The Western Grain Stabilization Act 1975
7b. Bill C-41 The Western Grain Stabilization Act 1975
8. General Agricultural Policy
9. Manitoba Agriculture 1936
