See collection level description for history/biography information on Frederick George McGuinness.
Frederick George McGuinness’ maternal grandparents were John POPE (b. 28 January 1852 – d. 24 January 1923) and Mary DARROCH (b. 24 May 1861 – d. 18 September 1942). Canadian Census records for 1906 show John was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1870. Mary was born in Wellington, Ontario.
John and Mary married in Brandon on 11 July 1888. The POPE family was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer families and all nine children were born in Brandon: Fred McGUINNESS’ mother Isabella Louisa POPE, John “Jack” Stuart/Stewart POPE, Annie Ruby POPE, Alice Jane POPE, George Campbell POPE, Henry Victor James POPE, Roy Clendon POPE, Hugh Edward POPE (b. 23 February 1901 – d. 9 November 1904), and Albert William POPE (b. 1 April 1903 – d. 17 November 1904).
According to the Brandon City Henderson Directories, maternal patriarch John POPE worked as a bartender in the Brunswick Hotel (in 1906), the King Edward Hotel (from 1907-1911), and the Royal George Hotel (by 1913-14). He later became an employee at the Empire Brewing Company (1921). The 1901 Canadian Census records both his brother George (b. 23 October 1843), working as a contractor, and his sister-in-law Ella DARROCH (b. 16 August 1872) as living with the POPE family. It appears George stayed with the family for a decade.
Isabella Louisa POPE (b. 09 July 1889 – 16 December 1966) worked as clerk and stenographer with the Dominion Express Company between 1907 and 1909. It was there that she likely met her future husband, William Frederick McGUINNESS, whom she married in Brandon on 2 November 1910. The 1911 Canadian Census shows William, Louisa and their one-month old daughter Mary Charlotte living with Louisa’s parents on 629 9th Street in Brandon. William was working as cashier with Dominion Express Company at the time. [See William Frederick McGuinness below for more information about Louisa and William.]
By 1916, the POPE family was living at 708 10th Street, while Louisa and William McGUINNESS were living at their home at 337 17th Street. All of the Pope brothers listed the Tenth Street address as their home and their military accomplishments are mentioned in Fred McGuinness’ popular short story “The Button Bag” that was read on CBC’s Morningside radio program and later published in his book Letters from Section 17 (1999).
John “Jack” Stuart/Stewart POPE (b. 18 March 1891 – 5 March 1971) managed the Empire Hotel’s News Stand in 1909. From 1913 to 1914, he was a clerk with the Grand View Hotel. Jack married Helen Frances FINNEGAN on 1 May 1914. On 7 November 1916, Jack enlisted with the Canadian Field Artillery’s 76th Depot Battery in Winnipeg (regimental # 12501611). His attestation papers list his occupation as a packer, likely with the Empire Brewing Company, a company to which he would return after the war. The 1921 Canadian Census lists Jack as single and living at his parent’s Tenth Street home. By 1931, Jack was working as a foreman with the Empire Beverage Company. Jack’s listings in Henderson’s Brandon City Directories are sporadic throughout the 1930s and 1940s but it appears he was an employee with the Empire Beverage Company until 1941. Jack was listed as an engineer working at the Brandon Sanatorium from 1947 to 1949. Jack died on 5 March 1971 and was interred in the Veterans’ Section of the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 27, Block C, Plot 124); his grave marker affiliates him with the 181st Battalion.
Anna “Annie” Ruby POPE (3 August 1892 – 26 December 1971) was listed as a dressmaker in Henderson’s Brandon City Directory for 1919. Shortly thereafter, she would become a long-term employee with Yaegers Furs (from 1921 onwards) working as an operator and fur finisher. After her father’s death in 1923, Annie moved with her mother and brothers to 228 15th Street. She lived at that address until her death on 26 December 1971. She passed away in Yorkton, Saskatchewan (where her surviving sister Mrs. Alice Jane Murray lived), and was interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 6, Block B, Plot 11). The furrier Yaegers Furs Ltd. closed its shop early in her honour.
Alice Jane POPE (MURRAY) (b. 8 May 1894 – d. 11 May 1983) was a binder, folder, and stenographer with Cox Printing Copy from 1914 to 1919. She married Alexander Leo Murray on 8 October 1919 and moved with her husband, a butcher and grocery merchant, to Kenora, Ontario. Alice died in 1983 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
George Campbell POPE (b. 13 December 1896 – d. 3 September 1918) was listed as an employee of the Empire Brewing Company from 1913 to 1914 in the Brandon City Henderson Directories. His attestation papers identify him as a chemist’s assistant. George had been with 99th Manitoba Rangers for six years prior to enlisting with the 181st Battalion on 12 February 1916 (regimental # 855132). Once overseas, George was transferred to the 44th Battalion. He was killed in action six weeks before the war’s end on 3 September 1918. His Commonwealth War Grave is in the Chapel Corner Cemetery (Pas de Calais, France).
Henry ”Harry” Victor James POPE (b. 15 February 1897 – d. 18 September 1952) was another Pope brother to work with the Empire Brewing/Beverage Company. Harry became a long-term employee of the brewer, working with the company from 1917 to 1951. During that time, the Brandon City Henderson’s Directories list Harry as a bottler (1925-31) and Vice President (1933, 1941-45). He briefly left the company in 1945 to work as a foreman with the Bell Bottling Company, and again in 1952. Harry never married. He lived with his sister in their family home until his death in 1952. He is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 6, Block B, Plot 63).
Roy Clendon POPE (b. 4 April 1899 – d. 03 March 1966) enlisted with the City of Brandon’s 181st Battalion on 3 April 1916 (regimental # 865466). He listed his occupation as bridge builder on his attestation papers. Once overseas, Roy was transferred to the 44th Battalion. He would survive the war and was awarded a Military Medal on 3 July 1919. After the war he became an employee with the Canadian Northern Railway (CNR) (1921-23). Roy became a carpenter by trade (1925-1945). He served as the secretary to the Kinsmen Club from 1931-33 and worked briefly with the RCAF as a laborer in 1943. By 1949 he had a wife, Anne, and moved from his family home to live at 623 23rd Street. He worked as a clerk and caretaker of the Land Titles Office from 1951-54. Roy is buried in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 6, Block B, Plot 65).
Fred McGuinness’ paternal grandparents were Frederick Anthony McGUINNESS (b. August 1857-1862 – d. 5 March 1933) and Anna Charlotte GALLAGHER (b. 19 September 1861/1863/1864 – d. 10 March 1948). Born to Irish parents, Canadian Census records list England (1891, 1901) and Newfoundland (1911) as birthplaces for F.A. McGuinness. He immigrated to Canada in 1864 or 1865 and married Charlotte GALLAGHER in 1882. His wife, Charlotte, was born in Ontario. The couple had four children: William Frederick McGUINNESS, Ernest Albert McGUINNESS, Annie May McGUINNESS, and Frederick Gallagher McGUINNESS. The family moved to Manitoba in 1900 and while in Brandon, Frederick Anthony worked as a CPR conductor from 1906 to 1924/25. He would die in Brandon two weeks before his eldest son, William, succumbed to illness. He is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 46).
William Frederick McGUINNESS (b. 22 August 1884 – d. 18 March 1933) was born in Ottawa and graduated with honors from the Willis School of Accountancy in that city. He moved with his family to Manitoba and worked as a cashier with the CPR Express Office from 1900 to 1905. From 1906 to 1911, he worked as a clerk with the Dominion Express Company. In 1910, William married Isabella Louisa POPE and they would have six children: Mary Charlotte, Dorreene Louise, Kathleen Ruth, Frederick George, Orma Grace, and Carol. From 1914-1919, W.F. McGuinness was the secretary-treasurer of the Hanbury Hardware Company; by 1921, he was the general manager. In 1925, W.F. McGuinness was manager of the Manitoba Hardware Company Limited and by 1927 he was the Company’s secretary-treasurer. He was also a member of a number of service clubs and fraternal organizations. From 1919-1923, he served as a director of the Manitoba Winter Fair and Fat Stock Show, representing the Manitoba Poultry Association. He was also a Mason and was involved with Brandon’s Council of the Board of Trade, Brandon Curling Club (1927 treasurer), and the Lawn Bowling Club. W.F. McGuinness passed away at the age of 49 after suffering from an infection for eight months, a complication resulting from influenza. He is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 48).
While in Brandon, Ernest Albert McGUINNESS (b. 10 July 1886 – d. 30 August 1943) worked as a CPR ticket agent from at least 1906 to 1916. He was also a well-known baritone in the community. Ernest married Evelina G. DOLMAGE in Souris on 7 August 1912. They would have three daughters: Anna Charlotte, Maire, and Mrs. Edward May. Ernest moved to Winnipeg with his family in 1916 and lived there until his death in 1943. He is interred in the McGUINNESS family plot in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 48).
Annie May McGUINNESS (b. 23 December 1888 – d. 23 March 1948) was born in Carleton, Ontario. She worked as a laundress at the Brandon Asylum in 1907. She became a stenographer and worked with a number of firms, including George White Sons and Company in 1913, A.G. Buckingham in 1917, Coldwell Coleman and Kerr from 1919-43, and Kerr, McQuarrie & Meighen in 1945. Annie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a charter member of the Heather Club. She died in Brandon at the age of 59, and was interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 22).
Frederick Gallagher McGUINNESS (b. 1891 – d. 23 May 1968) was born in Ottawa, Ontario. While in Brandon, he was a student (1911) and secretary of Boys’ Work for the YMCA in 1913. He moved to Winnipeg where he graduated from the Manitoba Medical College in 1917. On 3 December 1917, Lieutenant F.G. McGuinness enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Winnipeg. He served in France with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was a Medical Officer attached with the Ninth Royal Irish Fusiliers. Lt. McGuiness survived the war and returned to Winnipeg where he married Myrtle Eva WHITE in Winnipeg on 12 September 1922. They would have a son Jim “Jimmy” and a daughter Elizabeth (SHANNON). Dr. McGuinness practiced in Obstetrics and Gynecology and taught at the University of Manitoba’s Medical School from 1923 onwards. He was instrumental in helping his nephew, Frederick George McGUINNESS return to school after he was injured in the Second World War. Dr. McGuinness died in Winnipeg at the Deer Lodge Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Frederick George McGUINNESS had five sisters, three older and two younger. The eldest sister, Mary Charlotte McGuinness (b. 1 May 1911 – d. 02 December 1973), was born in Portage la Prairie. While in Brandon, she worked as a music teacher from 1937 to 1943 and was an organist with Knox United Church from 1941 to 1943. She married Reverend Henry John Herbert OLDFIELD (b. 4 June 1914, Saanich – d. September 2007, Victoria). They had two sons, John and William Frederick “Fred” (b. 1945 – d. 21 August 1986). Mary passed away in Coquitlam, BC.
Dorreene “Doney” Louise McGUINNESS (b. 31 December 1912 – d. 16 February 1976) was born in Virden, Manitoba. She married Dr. Robert INGLIS (b. 17 April 1913 – d. November 1982) and had four children. Dorreene passed away in Estevan, Saskatchewan and is buried in Souris Valley Memorial Gardens.
Kathleen Ruth McGUINNESS (b. 12 September 1915 – d. 15 September 1963) was born in Brandon, Manitoba. She worked as an operator with Government Phones from 1937 to 1941 and as a clerk with CPR Telegraphs from 1943 to 1951. In 1951, she was President of the Trillium Business and Professional Women’s Club. She died in Brandon at the age of 48, and was interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 50).
Orma Grace McGuinness (b. 13 January 1925 – d. 3 January 2013) was born in Brandon. She had trained as a nurse by 1947. She married George Edmond LONGPHEE (b. 9 September 1924, Souris, PEI – d. 7 May 2002, Sidney, BC) in Brandon on 1 June 1948. They had five children. Orma passed away in Sidney, BC.
Carol McGUINNESS married Herbert YOUNG on 16 January 1954 and had two children. She is the last surviving McGuinness sister of Frederick George McGuinness.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of records created and collected by members of the McGuinness family, as well as records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his years in the Canadian navy, college, and as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. The papers and letters include materials from paternal and maternal sides of the McGuinness family.
Records in the subseries consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, financial papers, legal documents, and military records .
Notes
Biographical information about the Pope-McGuinness families was obtained from the following: Manitoba Vital Statistics Database for birth, marriages, deaths; 1901, 1906, 1911 Canadian Censuses for immigration dates, addresses, occupations; Henderson’s Brandon City Directory (1906-1955) for addresses and occupations; obituaries published in the Brandon Daily Sun, Brandon Sun, and Winnipeg Free Press.
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
McGuinness wrote about his family and published snippets in his newspaper columns (see McG 2 Newspaper career series), articles (see McG 3.2 Miscellaneous freelance) and monographs (see McG 5 series). His book, Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays is autobiographical in nature
Trillium Business and Professional Women’s Club records
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period.
Documents
McG 1_1 McGuinness family papers and letters inventory.pdf
These records were produced between 1989 and 1990, the researching and writing period for The Chronicle of Canada monograph. Published in 1990 by Chronicle Publications (Montreal and Paris), the Chronicle of Canada is an approximately eight-pound, 980-page hard cover book, containing illustrations, photographs, and maps.
The premise of the Chronicle of Canada was to tell the social history of Canada in a journalistic style from the dawn of the dinosaurs to present day (July 1, 1990). Historical events were presented as short journalistic articles following a timeline.
Fred McGuinness was asked to be a contributor to the Chronicle of Canada in the summer of 1989. The writing assignment lasted six-months. Fred received, via courier every Monday, a writing package containing a computer diskette and a list of assigned stories to be completed within the week. The stories were researched, written, and saved onto the diskette, which was couriered back to Montreal on the Friday. The length of each article ranged from 100 to 500 words. The rate of pay for each article was $1.00 per line.
The editors of the Chronicle of Canada estimated their publication would contain 3,000 articles. McGuinness was assigned the majority of the prairie articles, which the editors estimated to be around 500 to 600 stories. It is possible to determine which articles McGuinness contributed to the project from the weekly period assignments and invoices.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness during the writing phase of the monograph Chronicle of Canada. The materials were donated to the SJ McKee Archives by the Estate of Fred McGuinness circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries consists of textual records, created and collected during the production of the monograph Chronicle of Canada. It includes correspondence, journal articles, book chapters, Government industry publications, newspapers articles, promotional materials, and McGuinness’ articles for Chronicle of Canada printed in the Chronicle template.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News column #578 (McG 2.3, File 14); letter to Mr. Fred McGinnis [sic] from Chronicle Publications, dated September 25, 1989 (McG 5.7, File 1)
In the file level inventory, square brackets at end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
The Canada Winter Games were held in Brandon, Manitoba, from February 12-24, 1979. According to the official Canada Games website, approximately 2,000 athletes and officials and more than 4,000 volunteers participated in the event. Brandon artist and calligrapher Alex Matheson served as games president. Infrastructure improvements resulted in the construction of the Canada Games Sportsplex complex which contained a 400-seat hockey area, raquetball courts a six-lane 50-metre swimming pool, and a speed skating oval. Mount Agassiz was the site for alpine ski events and new cross country ski trails were developed in the Brandon Hills.
Custodial History
Photograph sent to Fred McGuinness from the Winnipeg Free Press Photo Department
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the opening ceremonies of the Canada Games held in Brandon, Manitoba, 1979. Various teams can be seen standing in the hockey arena of the Keystone Centre. Pennants representing the athletic events hang from the rafters.
Notes
Photograph was collected during the research phase of the monograph "Manitoba: The Province & The People" (1987) written by Fred McGuinness and Ken Coates.
The idea for a Kin history was initially conceived in 1984-85 between the authors and a pair of Brandon Kinsmen, Tom Breneman (National President) and Michael Cox (National Director). These records were produced between 1986 and 1987, the researching and writing period for the book Only in Canada: Kinsmen and Kinettes. Published in 1987 by Friesen Printers (Altona), “Only in Canada” is a 271-page soft cover book, containing 40 images.
BU faculty members Dr. Kenneth “Ken” Stephen Coates, Assistant Professor of History, and Mr. Fred McGuinness, Lecturer in Journalism, authored the book. Assisting the writers was a research team of BU history students: Don Cooper, Diane Fowler, Rob McGarva, Scott Parker, Kurt Refvik, Karen Skinner, and Pam Svistovski supervised by Joy Dorian and Bruce Stafeld. During the writing of the book, Dr. Coates accepted a position at the University of Victoria.
During the research phase, the authors consulted Kin Magazine, committee minutes, newspapers, and members of the Kin service clubs across the country. The entire history of the Kin service organization is covered from its inception in 1920 to the time of publication; following the evolution of the association over time and documenting the contributions the organization made to quality of life in their respective local communities and to the country as a whole.
Custodial History
Accession 18-2002 records were in the possession of Fred McGuinness until the publication of Only in Canada. In the course of writing the history, records of the Kinsmen Club in Canada were amassed at the McKee Archives. The research materials developed by Coates and McGuinness were simply added to the Kinsmen records ca. 1987. The Kinsmen records have since been de-accessioned by the SJ McKee Archives and transferred to Kin Headquarters in Ontario.
Scope and Content
The subseries materials consist of letters of correspondence from the authors to numerous Kinsmen across Canada requesting information about the organization’s founder Hal Rogers for chapter one and the epilogue, as well as early drafts, outlines, and brites for all six chapters of the book. The book was commissioned by the Association of the Kinsmen Clubs of Canada and published in 1987. Of additional interest is a memo from Fred McGuinness to the Kinsmen National President Dr. Tom Breneman about the book’s launch, promotion, and distribution (see file 1).
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from the preface of the book Only in Canada: Kinsmen & Kinettes
Accruals
Closed
Language Note
Fred McGuinness often uses journalistic jargon to label his files. A “brite” refers to a short, amusing story. McGuinness often organized his ideas and research materials by potential brite topic. The term brite is often annotated on the letters of correspondence in these subseries files
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Archival materials held at Kin Canada headquarters. For an
inventory of materials de-accessioned by the McKee Archives see the donor file. Contact the Archivist for access
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to book chapter following the de-accession of the Kinsmen records
Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Harry Spafford feeding Canada geese.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Harry Spafford feeding Canada geese near Vancouver 1976.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of individuals posing with a Purity Flour, Western Canada Flour Mills Company truck. Two men pose by the drive-side door and another two pose by the tail gate. Standing in the truck's payload are 13 individuals. It is possible that Edith Lepard (nee Harden) third from left and her mother, Catherine "Kate" Harden (nee Chalmers), third from right are standing in the payload.
Notes
The back of the photograph is stamped: Crawford's Drug Store, Brandon
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of individuals posing with a Purity Flour, Western Canada Flour Mills Company truck. Two men pose by the drive-side door and another two pose by the tail gate. Standing in the truck's payload are 13 individuals. It is possible that Edith Lepard (nee Harden) third from left and her mother, Catherine "Kate" Harden (nee Chalmers), third from right are standing in the payload.
Notes
The back of the photograph is stamped: Crawford's Drug Store, Brandon
Photograph shows the City of Brandon parade float pulled by two clydesdale horses. The parade is in honour of the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The float is decorated with wheat sheaves, the city's coat of arms, and the words "education" and "health" adorn a pergola or arbour in the centre of the float. Seven people are on the float and appear to be in costume. An Aboriginal man is dressed in full regalia, one man appears to be in academic robes, another dressed as a farmer. One woman appears to be dressed like a nurse while another may be wearing a pioneer costume.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Brandon City's foat in 1927, Celebrating 60 years of Confederation, The lady in white is Miss Ann Carnahan who was on the city staff for a number of years and now resides in Victoria. She is my husbands [sic.] sister.
Photograph shows the Mental Hospital parade float pulled by two clydesdale horses. The parade is in honour of the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The side of the float is decorated with Canada's coat of arms and the words "Sixty Years." In the centre of the float is a three-tiered birthday cake with a Union Jack affixed to its top. Four women are draped in toga-like gowns and each are holding provincial (small) coat of arms for New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Two men can be seen wearing top hats and coats.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mental Hospital foat in 1927.
Photograph shows the Timothy Eaton Company's parade float pulled by two clydesdale horses. The parade is in honour of the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The side of the float reads: Canada's Power in the Affairs of the World. A large globe is strapped to the back of the float and the provincial coat of arms for Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and the Dominion of Canada line the side. The Canadian Red Ensign is mounted at the front of the float.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: T. Eaton Co. float, 1927, 60th Anniversary of, Confederation.
