Files consist of blueprints, building specifications, proposed plans for the new Education building, timelines, General Faculty Council meeting minutes, building notices, correspondence, samples, memos, and tenders.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 4: Office of the Vice-President
4.2 Office of the Vice-President (Administration & Finance)
Box 3
The position of Director of the School of Music was changed to Dean of the School of Music in 1987.
DIRECTORS/DEANS OF THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC:
LONRE WATSON (1967-1981)
Lorne Watson was born ca. 1919 in Leamington, Ontario and is the founder and developer of the School of Music at Brandon University. Watson was admitted to the Toronto Conservatory of Music after an audition played for Sir Ernest MacMillan in 1938. He graduated from that institution with his L.T.C.M in 1940, winning the Conservatory Gold Medal. Further studies the following year took place in New York at the Mannes School of Music, under Rosalyn Tureck and James Friskin. Watson's studies were interrupted when he joined the R.C.A.F., where he became a radar specialist and later a signals officer. He was discharged in 1945. After the war, Watson took a B.A. (Honours Music) degree at the University of Toronto. Upon graduation in 1948, Watson accepted the position of Director of the Department of Music at Brandon College. He later attended New York University (1951) where he held a graduate fellowship and obtained an M.A. (Musicology). In 1961, Watson was awarded a Canada Council Arts Scholarship, which took him to Indiana University where he began work on his Doctor of Music degree.
Watson was the Director, and then the Dean of the School of Music from 1948-1980; from 1984-1991 he was director of the conservatory. During his time at Brandon College/University, he not only revived and expanded the program, he also revived and conducted the Brandon College Glee Club. He was also the artistic director for The S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatte National Competition for the Performance of Canadian Music, which is held annually on the campus of Brandon University. In 1988, the Recital Hall in the completed Queen Elizabeth II Music Building was renamed the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Lorne Watson retired from Brandon University in August 1993.
In addition to his role at Brandon University, Watson helped the growth of music in the surrounding region by insisting that the first Bachelor of Music degree be offered in Music Education to improve the state of music in Manitoba schools; he was also a founding member of the Manitoba Music Educators Association and in 1978, he acted as program chair for the World Congress of the International Society for Music Education. Watson was a founder and conductor of the Brandon Choral Society and in 1964, he became one of the founders of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Music, serving as its Secretary, President and Chairman of the Council of Members Schools at various times. In addition to the above activities, he also gave piano recitals, played radio broadcasts and began an adjudicating career.
In 1996, he was the recipient of a Prix Manitoba Award in recognition for outstanding contributions to the arts. Watson received the award in the category of education and communication for his 50 years of leadership in the development of music education in Manitoba. At present (January 2006), Lorne Watson lives in Winnipeg.
GORDON MACPHERSON (1981-1987)
Gordon Macpherson was born in Moose Jaw, SK on November 14, 1924. He obtained his LRCT in 1949, his Artist Diploma (Toronto) in 1953, and his M.Mus. from Indiana University in 1974. His teachers were Cyril Hampshire 1942-43, at the Hamilton Conservatory (RHCM) and Margaret Miller Brown and Bela Boszormenyi-Nagy 1946-53 at the RCMT, where Macpherson also received chamber music coaching from Boris Roubakine and himself taught piano 1948-50. Macpherson took doctoral studies with Menahem Pressler (piano) and in pedagogy and conducting at the University of Indiana in 1975-77.
He moved to Halifax Orchestra in 1965-66, and was conductor for the CBC TV program "Reflections" in 1960-62. He also wrote and conducted music for many CBC radio dramas, including some in the "Stage" series. Macpherson was head (1964-66) of the piano department at the Halifax (later Maritime) Conservatory. During his Halifax period, he took advanced training as a conductor at the Monteux School of Conducting in Hancock, Maine, and with Hugo Rignold, and as a pianist with Kendall Taylor. He founded the Halifax Trio in 1955 and moved his trio partners to Brandon College (later Brandon University) in 1966 to become artists-in-residence. They were renamed the Brandon University Trio.
Macpherson joined the teaching faculty at Brandon University in 1967, serving as Dean of the School of Music from 1982-87 (his first year was as Acting Director). He continued in 1991 to teach piano and chamber music. In 1988 and 1990, he was visiting professor at the Universite Canadienne en France at Villegranche-sur-mer.
Macpherson retired from Brandon University on September 1, 1991. He and his wife later moved to Victoria, BC. Gordon Macpherson died on September 28, 2011.
LAWRENCE JONES (1988 - 1993/1994)
Lawrence Jones was born in Ninga, MB on March 26, 1936. He obtained his ARCT in 1954, his Associate Diploma, piano from WBM in 1954, his Licentiate Diploma, music (Manitoba) in 1957, his B.A. from the Unviersity of Manitoba in the same year, his M.Mus. from Yale in 1959, and DMA piano performance, pedagogy from the University of Iowa in 1985. In 1959, he moved with his family to Winnipeg where he began studies with Filmer Hubble. Following graduation from Yale, he taught briefly at the University of Manitoba, before joining the Faculty of Music at Brandon College in 1961. Meanwhile, he continued his studies at the University of Minnesota in 1960-62, with Bernard Weiser and at the Julliard school in 1967-68. In 1975, while pursuing doctoral studies, he attended the International String Worksoho at Exeter, England, and in 1976, the Dartington Summer School. In 1985, he studied with Kendall Taylor at the RCM (London) and in 1986, with Jeaneane Dowis (New York).
Jones has perfomed widely in the Atlantic provinces and in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in concert and on the CBC as soloist, ensemble pianist, and accompanist. With Francis Schaplin he premiered the piano version of S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatte's violin concerto in 1951 at Brandon College. He has been offical accompanist at the Manitoba finals of the CIBC National Music Festival, and began in 1962 to adjudicate throughout Canada at music festivals. Beginning in 1970, he has assisted in curriculum preparation for the WBM, chairing the sight-reading and ear-training committees. He was secretary of CAUSM (1973-75), chairman of the Brandon University music library committee (1969-77), and a member of the board of the Internationl Music Camp, Manitoba (1981-87). In 1987, he was appointed Dean of the School of Music at Brandon, a position he continued to occupy until 1994. Jones retired on July 1, 1997.
At present (Janaury 2006), Lawrence Jones resides in Brandon and teaches sessionally for the School of Music.
T. PATRICK CARRABRE (1994-1995/1996 and 1998)
For additional biographical information on Patrick Carrabre, see RG 6, sub-series 4.1 (Office of the Vice-President (Academic & Research)).
Carrabre's early compositional studies were with Dr. Robert Turner at the University of Manitoba and with Jules Leger Prize winning composer Peter Paul Koprowski at the University of Western Ontario. He later went on to work closely with Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Perle in the study of his system of Twelve-Tone Tonality.
Patrick Carrabre returned to his faculty position within the School of Music after his departure from the office of the Vice-President (Academic & Research). In addition to his teaching, he carries on an active program of composition.
R. GODDARD - acting (1995 - 1997)
Ron Goddard, currently on administrative leave (2005-2006), was dean of the Faculty of Education from 2000-2005 and provost of the College of Arts & Science from 2003-2005 at Okanagan University College in Kelowna, British Columbia. For that same period, Goddard was the founder and clarinetist of the OUC Woodwind Quintet, an artist-in-residence ensemble of professional musicians who perform frequently on the campuses of OUC and throughout the Okanagan Valley. Prior to his appointment as dean at OUC, he was an associate professor of music at Brandon University, chairing the Joint Department of Music Education and teaching clarinet and music education courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He served as acting dean of BU's School of Music from 1995 to 1997.
After recieving the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Oklahoma, Goddard performed professionally as solo clarinetist of the Fourth US Army Band in San Antonio, Texas and the US Army Band of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. He won First Prizes with Distinction in Clarinet and Chamber Music at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music (Belgium). Goddard earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Arizona State University in 1987.
Teaching appointments have included public school music in Oklahoma and serving on the music faculties of Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.
G. CARRUTHERS (1998 - July 31, 2008)
Glen Carruthers' early training took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he studied with Winifred Hardiman (piano), Filmer Hubble (harmony) and Gwendda Owen Davies (counterpoint). In 1972, he entered Brandon University and graduated with a BMus in 1977. After a year of private study in Halifax, he entered the MA program in Canadian Studies at Carleton University, graduating with distinction in 1981. His thesis, "The Career and Compositions of S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatte," was the first comprehensive study of the composer's life and works. After teaching theory and ear training in the extra-curricular music programs of the Ottawa Board of Education, Carruthers completed his PhD in musicology at the Unviersity of Victoria, graduating in 1986. His dissertation is entitled "Bach and the Piano: Editions, Arrangements and Transcriptions from Czerny to Rachmaninov."
Prior to coming to Brandon University, where he has served as Dean of the School of Music since 1998, Carruthers taught at Lakehead University (1988-1998), where he was chair of the Department of Music for seven years. He has served on the national boards of the Canadian Music Centre and Canadian University Music Society, of which he was President 2001-2003, and continues to serve on the Prairie Regional Council of the Canadian Music Centre and several other boards. A pianist, as well as a musicologist, teacher and administrator, he studied with Lorne Watson, William Tritt, Elaine Keillor, Bruce Vogt and Ronald Turini.
Glen Carruthers died at his home in Ontario on December 24, 2020.
MICHAEL KIM (August 1, 2008 - July 31, 2013)
No biographical information yet.
Custodial History
The majority of these materials were held in the School of Music until their transfer to the Archives in the fall of 2003. Box 23 was donated by Lorne Watson in May 2004.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the materials in this sub-series were generated during the course of Lorne Watson’s years as Director and instructor of the School of Music. Records include corresondence, committee materials, financial information, audio tapes, posters, musical scores, concert programs, publications, records related to the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition , lectures, proposals, minutes (including Faculty Council), teaching and course materials, photographs, newsletters, festival materials, and records related to the Winnipeg Symphony. One file (1979) contains Gordon Macpherson's correspondence.
Notes
A partial inventory exists as a Word document. Information in the History/Bio field for Lorne Watson was taken from his biography file in the McKee Archives. Information for Gordon Macpherson was taken from the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/emc/m17-119.01-e.php?uid=4650&uidc=ID (January 2006). It was written by Kenneth Nichols. Information for Lawrence Jones was also taken from the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada at http://www.collectionscanada.ca/emc/m17-119.01-e.php?uid=6068&uidc=ID (January 2006). It was written by Mabel H. Laine. Biographical information on Goddard, Carrabre and Carruthers was provided by the School of Music (March 2006).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
7.4 School of Music
Related Material
An article summarizing Lorne Watson's career appeared in the Saturday, August 12, 2006 edition of The Brandon Sun. A copy of the article has been placed in Lorne Watson's bio file in the McKee Archives reading room.
File consists of correspondence with and photocopies sent by the Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster University. The materials relate to Brandon College, Rev. W.C. Smalley, Howard Whidden and J.R.C. Evans (1930s).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 8: Library Services
8.2 S.J. McKee Archives
Box 1
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).
