Henri Georges Francq was born September 11, 1904 in Charleroi, Belgium. He was educated at Licencie L.S.C. in Antwerp (1924) before joining he father's import/export firm. He lived in France, Algeria and Spain before emigrating to Canada in the early 1960s. Francq obtained Canadian citizenship in 1975.
In 1963-1964, Francq taught French at Swan River Collegiate, before joining the faculty of Brandon University in 1964. For the next ten years Francq taught French, Linguistics and French Literature, and from 1970-1972 he was Acting Head of the Department of French. Francq also organized serveral French festivals in Brandon and lectures of visiting professors from France and the University of Alberta, and introduced the program of Voix et Images de France at Brandon Univeristy. After his retirement in 1974, he was accorded the status of Professor Emeritus (French).
During his career Francq was also the head of the Department of French at the Banff Summer School of Fine Arts (1968), and invited to give lectures and poetry recitals (in French) at: St. Boniface College; the University of Calgary; the University of Regina; the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon); Simon Fraser University; the University of Victoria; and the University of Western Ontario. In addition to these activities, Francq was also a prolific writer; he is the author of approximately fourteen fiction and non-fiction books in both English and French, as well as numerous articles. His wide interests included satire and history, as well as ficition.
Henri Francq, who was survived by his wife Yvonne, died in Brandon on May 5, 1991.
Custodial History
The records in accession 12-1999 were donated to the McKee Archives in May 1990.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of correspondence, original manuscripts and published versions of fiction, non-fiction works and research materials.
Repro Restriction
Copyright for this material remains with the Francq estate.
Storage Location
MG 3 Brandon University Teaching and Administration
1.8 Henri Franq
Related Material
RG 6, Series 7, Sub-series 7.1 (Dean of Arts) contains a file on Henri Franq.
21 pages of textual records; approximately 4500 slides
Physical Condition
Excellent
History / Biographical
John Welsted was born in Norwich, England on December 6, 1935. In 1958, he received his B.Sc. from the University of Bristol. He obtained his M.Sc. from McGill University in 1960, and his post-graduate certificate in Eduction from the University of Bristol in 1961. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Bristol in 1971.
In the early 1960s, Welsted taught at high schools in Midenhead, England and in Oromocto, New Brunswick. In 1964-1965, he was an Instructor in the Geography Department at the University of Bristol, and in the summers of 1965-1967, he completed fieldwork in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Welsted joined the faculty of Brandon College/University in 1965, as a member of the Geography Department. There he taught courses and served as Acting Head in 1968. John Welsted retired from Brandon University in 1997.
With his wife June, Welsted had two children: Alison and Ian. He later married Kathleen Georgison and became stepfather to Kjirsten, Paul, Peter and Hayley. John Welsted died in Victoria, BC on September 21, 2009.
Custodial History
The document was donated to the Archives on November 5, 2001 by Dr. John Welsted of the Geography Department. The slides were donated by Welsted in August 2006.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a paper, 21 pages in length, titled "Geography at Brandon University: 1962-2001."
It also contains human and physical geography slides of Manitoba and areas other than Manitoba. The slides were created by John Welsted as visual aids for use in his teaching and for use in publications by himself and the Geography Department. They constitute a unique record of the geography of southwestern Manitoba in the later half of the twentieth century.
Notes
All commercially produced slides were culled. An inventory by subject and by box is available.
See RG 6, series 4, sub-series 4.2 (Office of the Vice-President (Administration & Finance)) for biographical information on D.R. MacKay.
Custodial History
Records were accessioned by the McKee Archives in 2000. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of personal correspondence and financial records of D.R. MacKay.
Access Restriction
Personal correspondence is restricted. Consult the Archivist for access.
Related Material
Additional records relating to D.R. MacKay are located in RG 6, series 4, sub-series 4.2 (Office of the Vice-President (Administration & Finance)); and RG 6, series 10 (Office of Development).
Donald N. Wheeler taught Economics at Brandon University between 1970-1980. He received his B.A. from Reed College in 1935 and two years later graduated with a B.A. First Class in the Final Honour School of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford. From 1937-1938, he pursued studies as a Candidate for Doctorat en Droit in the Faculty of Law at the University of Paris. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. (1975) from Oxford University.
Upon his return to the United States in 1933, Wheeler became an Insturctor of Government at Yale University. From 1939 through 1941, he was a research economist for the U.S. Treasury department and the Senate Banking and Currency Committee. With the outbreak of World War Two, Wheeler was assigned to the State Department, where he worked as a section chief in the Research and Analysis Branch of the OSS until 1946. Following the war, Wheeler became a casualty of McCarthyism and spent the majority of the next twenty years farming in Washington State.
Wheeler returned to academic life in 1965, as a professor of Economics at Franconia College; he resigned from the position in 1968 and returned to Oxford University as a Candidate for a Doctorate in Philosophy.
While at Brandon University, Wheeler was a member of the Senate, and served on committees of BUFA, the Faculty of Arts and the Board of Governors. He taught courses in economic development, ecnoomic history, the history of economic thought and agricultural economics. Wheeler was named Professor Emeritus of Brandon University in 1986.
Donald Wheeler died in Seattle on November 8, 2002.
Custodial History
Following the death of Professor Wheeler, his daughter put together a collection of his writings. A copy was given to Errol Black, who then donated it to the Archives on March 31, 2006.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of "The Collected Writings of Donald Niven Wheeler" edited by Honeybee Wheeler Burns, transcribed by Susan E. Wheeler and published by Linda M. Elias. Fonds also includes a draft of Imperialism and Revolution in Afganistan prepared by Wheeler and dated April 1, 1986.
Notes
Some of the biographical information on Donald Wheeler was taken from an article in "The Quill" (December 11, 1986).
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
MG 3 Brandon University Teaching and Administration
1.13 Donald Wheeler
Related Material
Wheeler’s papers are in the Archives of the University of Washington and his library will be donated to the George A. Meyers Collection at Frostburg University in Maryland.
There is a great deal of correspondence between Wheeler and Errol Black in the Errol Black fonds (MG 3 1.1).
The Business and Professional Women's Club of Brandon was created in November 1932. The club grew out of a meeting of business and professional women who were interested in forming an association. Guest speakers at the meeting were Miss Hilda Hesson, the Vice President of the Federation of Canadian Business and Professional Women's Clubs, and Miss F. Ingram, the President of the Winnipeg Business and Professional Women's Club. The objective of the Brandon club, according to its constitution, was the "promotion of educational, service, and social facilities for the business and professional women." The club consisted of active and associate members and belonged to the greater Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club. The first President of the club was Miss Margaret Gemmell, with approximately 80 women attended the club's first meeting. The club established sub-committees on a variety of subjects including current events, sports, bridge instruction, public speaking, dress making, photography, stitch craft, manual training, and physical culture. The club also put on exhibitions, participated in drama festivals, held rummage sales and an annual Christmas party. During the Second World War, it established a War Effort Department. This department organized activities such as sewing and knitting in support of the war effort. The War Effort Department also raised money for charities such as the Red Cross. During its meetings, the club often heard local and national speakers or watched films. Women of many different vocations joined the club including florists, teachers, salesclerks, nurses, and housewives. Over the years, additional departments were added to the club including those named poetry, pottery, woodcraft, and drama.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 2002. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains three small scrapbooks, which cover the years 1932-1939, 1939-1949, and 1950-1959, respectively. The scrapbooks contain newpaper clippings from the Brandon Sun, the Winnipeg Free Press, and the Flin Flon Daily Miner. The scrapbooks also contain exhibition and meeting programs from the Brandon Club. Fonds also contains meeting minutes for the years 1932-1972.
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).
Fleming School, located at 2320 Louise Avenue, Brandon, MB, was a part of the Brandon School Division from its creation in 1914 until its closure in 2005. The school was named to commemorate the life of pioneer Dr. Alexander Fleming. Fleming, who was a Scottish born immigrant, came to Brandon in 1881, where he worked as Brandon's first medical doctor and pharmacist. He also held the role of chairman for the Brandon School Board. Fleming died in Brandon on November 26, 1897.
Rapid population growth in the City of Brandon in the early part of the 20th century resulted in a need for additional school buildings; Fleming School was among the schools established during this period. Designed by W.H. Shillinglaw, the structure was constructed out of concrete, wood and brick, and included a basement. When the school first opened, it was composed of six classrooms; after two renovations in 1953 and 1962, the school expanded with more classrooms and a gymnasium. At the time of its closure, Fleming School could accommodate seven classes, covering grades kindergarten to grade six.
Around 2004, the Brandon School Division decided to close Fleming Elementary School. Prior to the closure a celebration was held on January 14, 2005, to honour the school's 90th Anniversary. Following the school's official closing, students were reallocated to Earl Oxford Elementary School (540 18th Street). Some of the former staff found work in other schools within the Division, while Craig Manson, the last principal of Fleming School, became principle of Green Acres Elementary School.
The building formerly used as Fleming Elementary School became a high school for the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in late 2006. The Band bought the building in late 2010.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by Fleming School staff and administration, many for the 90th anniversary and closing of the school. Craig Manson, the last principal of Fleming School, gave the records to David Wilson, who donated them to the S.J. McKee Archives in 2015.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records that document the history of Fleming School. Many of the records were created and gathered specifically by Craig Manson and others for the school's 90th anniversary; on November 19, 2006 an ad written by Grant Hamilton was placed in the Brandon Sun with Jean Pickard asking for potential archives from Fleming School to be donated by contacting Keith Heide at the Brandon School Division. The archives were to be used in a display on education in Brandon to be located in the Town Centre in June 2007. Other records were collected and created by the school's staff and administration to document the activities and student of their school.
Textual records include newspaper clippings, staff and administration lists (1914-2005), programs, calendars, correspondence, anecdotes, as well as records related to the events surrounding the 90th anniversary and the closure of the school. The 90th anniversary celebration materials include Craig Manson's speech and agenda, the lyrics to the school song, and a list of people in attendance. The newspaper clippings, with capture the experiences of Fleming students, are evidence of the staff's interest in the lives of their current and former students.
Also included in the textual records is in depth genealogical research for the Fleming family. The research includes birth and death dates, photographs of grave sites and residences of Fleming family members, as well as some correspondence around the school's 90th anniversary. The photographs in the album include both originals and photocopies.
Photographs in the collection, like the newspaper clippings, document the activities and events of Fleming School, its students and staff. They include candid's from the classroom, various ceremonies (including the 90th anniversary), and the celebration of holidays (especially Halloween). There are also a number of class and staff portraits.
The collection also includes audio visual materials. The VHS recording entitled "Fleming School 90th Birthday Tea," runs approximately 75 minutes and was videoed by Ian Carkener. The DVD, which runs 42 minutes, was created by the staff and students for the 90th anniversary celebration. It has three components: "Through the Decades" shows students re-enacting school scenes from earlier decades; "Students at Work and Play," shows the 2004-2005 students in their classroom environment during holiday celebrations, school ceremonies and working on assignments; and "Reflections," which includes a slide show of photographs of Fleming School throughout the years set to music.
Finally, the collection includes four artifacts: one 90th anniversary celebration balloon with an image of the school building and the its years of operation printed on it; a school magnet with the school phone number and an image of the brick school building; and two pins. The first pin is circular with a black background and gold details including the school's name, three silhouettes and three maple leaves. The second pin appears to have a hornet or bee emblem with the number 72.
Notes
History/bio information was taken from the records, as well as the Manitoba Historical Society's website (Alexander Fleming, Fleming School - accessed on September 30, 2016), the Brandon School Division website (Fleming School - accessed on September 30, 2016) and Grant Hamilton's article "Gathering school archives while they can" (Brandon Sun, November 19, 2006). Description by Megan Treloar (September 2016) and Christy Henry.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees came into existence in September 1963, during a convention in Winnipeg when The National Union of Public Employees and the National Union of Public Service Employees merged. In 1964, the Manitoba Division of CUPE (now CUPE Manitoba) held its founding convention in The Pas. At that time, there were 12 affiliated local unions and a total membership of 1,300. The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada's largest union. Public service employees formed CUPE to protect their rights, to negotiate wages and working conditions, and to achieve dignity in the workplace.
Custodial History
Fonds was in the possesssion of the Brandon CUPE Office until its donation to the S.J. McKee Archives in 1995.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains general administrative files of the CUPE including agreements, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and convention records. In addition, fonds includes records for many CUPE locals in southwestern and north-central Manitoba. These includes files for each local containing agreements, lists of officials, correspondence and financial records. An extensive body of records dating from 1956 exists for CUPE local #69. This local began its existence as the Brandon Civic Employees Federal Union formed in April 1919.
Photograph shows a float advertisement for the Manitoba Agricultural College. The photograph was taken at Treesbank, MB. The banners on the float read: "Prosperity like a Tree" "If the Roots Suffer, the Leaves Wither and the Trunk Dies."
The Westman Recycling Council was started by a small group of avid recyclers with financial and volunteer help from the Kiwanis Club of Brandon, among others. Volunteers organized the first outdoor recycling depots in June and October 1989. The first event with recorded minutes was the first annual meeting, November 15, 1989.
The organization was incorporated in February 1990, and became a registered charity in 1995. The Mission Statement was: "to support and promote the reduction, re-use, and recycling of material resources for the benefit of Westman's environment and future generations."
The major partner in the work of the organization was the City of Brandon. In 2003, Westman Recycling, in partnership with the City, built a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Brandon Landfill; Westman Recycling owned the building on the City-owned land. It was a $4 million structure - financed by federal and provincial grants (about one-quarter of the total) and a mortgage (about three-quarters). Details are in the Board and other Committee minutes and agreements.
In late 2005, Westman Recycling faced a severe cash crunch - as a result of poor markets for recyclables, changes in support funding from the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation (MPSC), and a drop in public recycling levels. In February 2006, the City decided to sign a contract with another organization to operate the MRF; after that there appeared to be no role for Westman Recycling.
A general meeting on September 22, 2008 voted to dissolve the organization. At that meeting, the suggestion was made (agreed to by consensus) that the files of the organization be donated to Brandon University to be made available for researchers. A Board of Directors meeting on the same date voted to donate all remaining funds to a perpetual "Westman Recycling" fund with the Brandon Area Community Foundation.
A final wind-up meeting was held on March 26, 2009
Custodial History
The organization was overseen by volunteers / volunteer Board of Directors. The files were first held by volunteers / Board members in their homes. In May 1991, the organization hired David McConkey as Coordinator / General Manager, who was directed by the Board to manage the files on a daily basis from that date forward.
The files were kept in the organization's rented office space in the 1300 block of Pacific Avenue from May 1991 to September 1992, and then in the rented space in the Massey building at 6th Street and Pacific Avenue. The files were kept at the new facility at the landfill from April 2003 to February 2006. They were then stored in the basement of the Marquis Project, 912 Rosser Avenue, until August 2011 when they were donated to the S.J. McKee Archives, Brandon University.
Some files (e.g. minutes from 1995-96) were found to be missing entirely. Other files were disposed of by recycling and/or shredding as they were judged to be confidential (e.g. personnel), of an ordinary business nature only (e.g. invoices), or not useful for future research (e.g. extra copies, routine correspondence, building and equipment plans and other arrangements).
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records that document the origin, activities, demise, and legacy of the Westman Recycling Council. Records include minutes, financial summaries, scrapbooks, newsletters, brochures, media clippings, photographs and miscellaneous documents related to the construction in collaboration with the City of Brandon of Brandon's principal recycling facility.
Notes
Administrative history courtesy David McConkey. See additional notes on the organization in the curatorial file. Description by Tom Mitchell.
Kathleen Emily Kenner was born in Pierson, Manitoba on December 6, 1903. Her father, W.S. Kenner, was a General Merchant there. Kathleen had one brother, Ewing. She took her early education in Pierson, then moved to Brandon to take her Grade XI course in 1919. The following year, Kathleen moved to the Clark Hall Annex on Louise and 11th, in order to attend Brandon College (B.C.) as a student in the Music Department. In the fall of 1921, she entered the Arts Department of Brandon College. During her time at the college, Kathleen was very involved with student life. She was elected Lady Stick for the school year 1924-1925, the highest position in student government that a woman could attain. In the spring of 1925, she graduated with her B.A., then begain studies in the Faculty of Education at the University of Toronto.
Kathleen taught school in Melfort, Saskatchewan from approximately 1930-1949, and for several years after that was an instructor at the Saskatchewan Government Correspondence School. Sometime during this period, Kathleen left to serve in the Air Force during the Second World War.
Kathleen Kenner married William A. Kennedy in 1950, and through marriage she gained one son, John Kennedy, and two daughters, Mrs. Claire H. A. Still and Mrs. Janet Sheridan. Around the same time, Kathleen and William moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba where Kathleen was very active in the church and the community. Kathleen Kenner Kennedy died suddenly on November 28, 1967 at the age of 61.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee archives in 1997. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
The Kathleen Kenner Fonds are organized in three series:
Series 1 – scrapbook (6.5 cm.)
Series 2 - file of correspondence (8 mm.)
Series 3 - newspaper clippings (1 mm.)
The scrapbook contains pictures of Kathleen’s life and times at Brandon College and the University in Toronto. There are pictures of students and friends, Brandon College, the University of Toronto, Victoria College, Toronto City Hall, Grandpa Ewing’s Farm in Ontario, grad pictures, a train station, and much more. The pictures show dress, women’s activities, the ladies’ Basketball team, and what Brandon itself looked like in the 1920’s. She also included personal notes, cards, invitations to dinners, dances, and luncheons, poems, dance cards, hockey tickets, and various other university mementos.
There are numerous newspaper clippings. One file contains poetry, mainly from her friend Mary McLaughin MacDonald, letters from her father and mother, a list of College yells, and a copy of "Hail Our College". Kenner has various excerpts from The Quill, letters from former students, and a grapho-analyst report (1933) that she received. An interesting possession in this collection are two speeches that Kenner delivered and kept originals of. The first is her reply to being nominated for Lady Stick in 1924. The second is a speech that she made when she invested her duties of Lady Stick to the new Lady Stick, Rose Vasey in 1925.
Notes
A portion of the description was written by Kathleen Scammell (2000).
Fonds consists of one book: Saul L. Cohen, "Being a Scientist Can Be Fun: The Memoirs of Saul L. Cohen" (1995) 363 pages. Dr. Cohen was a resident of Brandon and a student at Brandon College in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He recalls these days as part of a broader recollection of his principle life experiences.
This sub-series is artificially created and contains records 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
The records in this sub-series concern A.E. McKenzie's personal life. It contains a number of documents created by his father, F. B. McKenzie, including land deeds, financial records, and a grant of probate. The sub-series also includes documents concerning the Ontario Mutual Life Assurance Co., the dissolution of partnership between A.E. McKenzie and George. E. McKenzie, the release of F.B. McKenzie's estate to his son and a copy of A.E. McKenzie's mother's last will and testament.
Also included within the sub-series is a file or correspondence between McKenzie and R.B. Dessert, a former employee of McKenzie Seeds who established his own seed company in California after leaving Brandon. The correspondence is almost entirely personal in nature.
Thank you letters regarding Brandon College and scholarships, as well as minutes from meetings of the Education Advisory Board can also be found within the sub-series.
approximately 21 m of textual records;
3 file folders of photographs
Physical Condition
good
History / Biographical
Walter Leland Rutherford (Lee) Clark was born December 16, 1936 in Davidson, Saskatchewan. He obtained his B.Ed and B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1959 and 1960/1961 respectively. In 1963, he received his M.A. from the University of Oregon and in 1976, his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta. He joined Brandon College in 1964 as a member of the History Department. Clark was a Lecturer and Dean of the Men's Residence from 1964-1967. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor in 1967. Clark served as the Acting Registrar of Brandon University in 1967-1968. In 1976, Clark was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor.
Clark entered federal politics and was elected as a Progressive-Conservative Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris in a by-election held May 24, 1983 and was re-elected in the General Election held on September 14, 1984. (From his election in 1983 to June, 1989 Clark was on political leave from Brandon University). Clark was re-elected in the 1988 election and left politics on October 1993 following the General Election of that year, in which he was not a candidate. During his time in politics, Clark served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture (1987-1989) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment (1989-1993).
Clark returned to Brandon University in 1994, as Executive Assistant to the President. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1998. Following his retirement, Clark and his wife moved to Lake Metigoshe.
Walter Leland Rutherford (Lee) Clark died on August 10, 2008.
Custodial History
Clark deposited his political papers to the S.J McKee Archives in the early 1990s. They were officially donated in 2007.In a second accession in 2009 parliamentary scrapbooks and teaching and research papers that had been retained by Dr. Clark were added to the fonds.
Scope and Content
Records include correspondence, information, records, press releases, newspaper clippings, booklets, brochures, maps and grants as well as other records associated with government between 1983 and 1993. A large part of the records consists of correspondence, especially between Clark, his constituents, and other members of the government. This correspondence covers all aspects of Canadian society and government departments, including but not limited to: Agriculture; Communications; Environment; External Affairs; Finance; Indian and Northern Affairs; National Defense; Prime Minister; Justice; Transport; Veteran's Affairs; Youth; Status of Women; Housing; Immigration; Industry, Science & Technology; Health & Welfare; Forestry; Fitness, Youth & Amateur Sport; Employment; Federal Provincial Relations; Consumer & Corporate Affairs; Secretary of State; and various other departments, as well as topics dealing with the municipalities that Clark served. Of these, the departments of Agriculture and the Environment are the most widely represented in these records, due to Clark's positions as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture from 1987-1989 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment from 1989-1993.
The records highlight the political climate of Canada, and especially Western Canada, from 1983 to 1993. Many of the records relate to the affairs of constituents in the Brandon-Souris riding and cover a wide variety of topics. The collection spans the entire political career of W. Leland Clark, from the letters congratulating him on his byelection victory in 1983 to his final days in office in 1993 and parliamentary Scrapbooks covering his career as a member of parliament..
Records also include research and teaching files from Dr. Clark's career as a history professor at Brandon University prior to his election to parliament in 1982.
Notes
History/Bio information for W. Leland Clark was taken from Faculty of Arts personnel records and the Parliament of Canada website at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?Language=E&query=728&s=M (February 2007). Additional biographical information available in the biographical file for Lee Clark in the Archives Reading Room.
Approximately 10 m of records were culled. These generally consisted of books and records that were previously published and could be located in government libraries or various department records. Preliminary sorting, physical processing, description, and file level inventory of the fonds was done by Karyn Taylor from 2005-2007.
Access Restriction
As per Canadian parliamentary practice, Clark's constituency correspondence may not be accessed for 30 years from the accession date without the permission of the Archivist. Records will be unrestricted January 1, 2037.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
MG 3 Brandon University Teaching and Administration
1.14 W. Leland Clark
Arrangement
The fonds are arranged alphabetically by subject, alphabetically by surname, numerically by day or year, or with no discernable arrangement pattern. In some cases, files have been divided because of overcrowding. A note has been placed at the file level description where this division has taken place. Some file folders were replaced, but the original titles were retained. Untitled files were given titles based on general content.
