Photograph shows the Bradley Bros. threshing crew of Wheatland, MB posing in a field. Faint writing in pencil on the back of the photo reads: Bill Le Paga(?), Tom B, Dave R., Andy R.
The textual records and artefacts are in good condition. Many of the photographs are bent and the paper based photo albums have some tearing.
History / Biographical
Nadia Irene Lewis (nee Chernec) was born in Shoal Lake, MB on December 31, 1926. Shortly after her birth, Nadia was place in the care of a nurse in Brandon, BM while her parents were attempting to set up a home in the United States. Her mother was a teacher and her father was in training to become a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), but because they were unmarried and had a child out of wedlock, they both lost their jobs and felt they needed to start a new life in a different place. As they were driving up the Brandon Hill, they were tragically involved in a three car collision, which killed them both.
The nurse caring for the newborn baby girl and a social worker from the Children's Aid Society assigned to the case decided to palce Nadia in an orphange in Brandon. During her stay at the orphanage, the caretakers named her "Katy" after a popular song of the day and discovered that she really enjoyed music. Nicholas and Maria Chernec adopted "Katy" from the orphanage when she was 3 1/2 years old, and in her brief autobiography, Nadia wrote that she suspected that Nicholas Chernec was her biological uncle (her father's brother). In June 1929, baby "Katy" was christened "Nadia Irene Chernec."
According to Nadia's autobiography, Nicholas Chernec urged his wife Maria to adopt the baby for three years as she remained in the orphanage. Maria had suffered a fall from a ladder during their marriage and as a result, was unalbe to have children. Maria "was often quite ill" and id not want to raise another person's child, but eventually she agreed.
Both Nicholas and Maria were of Ukrainian descent, and therefore Nadia was raised with a knowledge of Ukrainian traditions and within the ukrainian community of Brandon, something that she embraced. Nadia grew up in Brandon's North End and graduated from the Normal School in 1945. She immediately began a teaching career that would last for 32 years, though she also worked in an office for three of those years. She married Alexander Mitchell Lewis on July 23, 1971 in Vancouver, BC. Alexander was a contractor and boat builder.
After Maria Chernec's death in September 1984, nadia began correspondence with Oseredok, the Ukranian Cultural and Educational Centre in Winnipeg, MB. She ultimately donated many traditional Ukrainian items to the Centre, including a painting much beloved by her father (who died in 1955) and garments handmade by her mother, thus preserving some of her family's cultural heritage.
As noted previously, Nadia loved music as a child and eventually learned to play the violin. She performed with several orchestras throughout her life, including the New Westminster Symphony and the Kitsilano Orchestra. in November 1998, she was diagnoed with trigeminal neuralgia, a neurological disorder that affects the nerves in the head. This disorder, which can cause unexpected and debilitating pain in the affected area, led to Nadia giving up driving, and ultimately, her violin playing. Through presecription drug experimentation under the supervision of her physican and neurologist, Nadia was eventually able to control the effects of the disease. Nadia Irene Lewis died on September 14, 2013 in Richemond, BC at the age of 86.
Custodial History
The collection was transferred to Ms. Lewis' lawyer after her death in 2013. The records were then given to Drew Mitchell, a distant cousing who had been named in her will. Mitchell donated the records to the McKee Archives in 2017.
Scope and Content
The collection was created by Nadia Chernec Lewis throughout the course of her adult life and chronicles her activities from her birth in Manitoba, and moves to British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, New Zealand and finally back to British Columbia where she died.
Collection consists of an autobiography, her parents' biographies (written by Nadia), vital records related to her family, correspondence with classmates from the Normal School and Oseredok and many photographs of Nadia, her friends and family. Some of the photograph depict Brandon and Brandon's North End. Also included in the collection is a set of wooden rosary beads and a doll dressed in traditional Ukrainian garments, handmade by Maria Chernec.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the records. Description by Megan Demarest (December 2018).
Language Note
English and Ukrainian
Finding Aid
A file list for the collection is available, as well as a photo inventory.
Storage Location
2018 accessions
Arrangement
Photographs 3-2017.5 through 3-2017.88 were in a card box labeled "Lewis Pictures (1956-'58, 1960's, 1970's)," which has been discarded.
Photographs 3-2017.89 through 3-2017.104 were in a candy box labeled "Pictures and Background Material in relation to Nicholas and Maria Chernec of Brandon, Manitoba . . . the Ukrainian Community in the 1930's-1940's mostly . . .," which has been discarded. An envelope in the box labeled "Ukrainian Shirt, History of . . ." contained a handwritten description of the shirt and its history along with photographs 3-2017.89 through 3-2017.94. The note is in Folder #6, Oseredok-Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre. Photographs 3-2017.95 through 3-2017.104 are Polaroids taken to document items that Ms. Lewis donated to Oseredok in 2000.
Photographs 3-2017.105 through 3-2017.152 were remeoved from a green self-adhesive photo album, which has been discarded.
Photographs 3-2017.153 thorough 3-2017.198 were removed from a self-adhesive photo album with a waterside lanscrape image on the front, which has been discarded.
Lewis Mathie was born November 8, 1889 in Carberry, MB. His family moved to Brandon in 1890. After completing schooling at Central and Park schools, he apprenticed as a printer with his uncle, Walpole Murdoch, publisher of the Hartney Star. After brief stints with a printing plant and The Brandon Times, Mathie joined the staff of The Brandon Sun as a printer. In 1916, Mathie enlisted in the 181st (Brandon) Battalion and served overseas as a signaler with the 52nd (Port Arthur) Regiment. He returned to Brandon after his discharge in 1919, and re-joined the staff of The Brandon Sun. Beginning in 1939, Mathie was foreman of the composing room. Although he retired in 1956, he continued to work part-time for the paper from 1956-1972. Mathie married Rosetta Mills (1903-1995) in 1926, and together they had two sons: Thomas and Frank. He was a founding member of Local 700 of the ITU. Lewis Mathie died on March 13, 1985 in Brandon, MB.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Lewis Mathie about his experiences as a printer at The Brandon Sun, 1911-1956, although the first half of the interview covers Mathie's childhood years and apprenticeship in Hartney. Interviewer is Elwood Gorrie.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and Mathie's obituary. Transcript by Jessica Spark (2017). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Alexander Birkett Mitchell was born on June 29, 1904 in Douglas, MB. Other than a few years spent in Spirit River, AB (1929-1933), he farmed in the Douglas district until retiring in 1959. Birkett married Edith Moss "Mossie" Noble (1910-1973) on September 30, 1938, and together they had one daughter, Gail. The couple moved to Brandon following Birkett's retirement from farming. Birkett moved to Lloydminster, AB in 1986, and it was there that he died on June 22, 1988. He is buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with A.B. Mitchell about his family history and early agriculture. The interviewer is Frank Anderson.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and obituaries for Birkett and Mossie Mitchell. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Tom Mitchell (Thomas Sidney) was born April 23, 1949 in Brandon, MB. He attended Brandon University, graduating with a B.A. in 1970. While an undergraduate Tom played for the Brandon University Bobcat hockey team. Tom obtained an M.A. (history) from the University of Manitoba in 1973, and from 1972-1973, he completed the Education Certification program at the Faculty of Education, Brandon University. During the 1970s, he taught high school in Brandon and at Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI) and Neelin Composite High School. Following one year at Fleming School (grade five), in 1981, Tom became a Study Skills Specialist in Student Services at Brandon University. He served as Dean of Student Services from 1983-1989 and in 1991, he was appointed Registrar. Tom served in this position until 1996. From 1996 - 2011, Tom was University Archivist and taught courses in Canadian history under the auspices of the History Department at BU. Throughout his tenure at Brandon University Tom was engaged in research and publication of historical work dealing with the history of education, labour and the state. In retirement, Tom wrote and produced a series of historical documentaries with funding provided by MTS Stories From Home and continued to be pursue various academic writing projects small and large. He was named University Archivist Emeritus in 2012, and received a lifetime achievement award from Brandon University Senate in 2019. Tom married Bonnie Burns in 1973, and together they had two children, Jennifer and Drew.
Custodial History
As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Tom Mitchell about education in Brandon in the 1880s. Interviewer is Gordon Sefton.
Notes
History/bio information provided by Tom Mitchell. Description by Christy Henry.
Related Material
Tom Mitchell's films (IRBU)
Audio Tracks
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