See RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), 7.1.4.1 (Brandon- Great Depression REsearch Project) and RG 6 (Brandon University fonds), 7.1.4.2 (Northern Great Plains History Conference) for History/Bio information.
Custodial History
See RG 6, 7.1.4.1 and RG 6, 7.1.4.2 for Custodial History information.
Scope and Content
Sub sub series has been divided into two sub sub sub series, including: (1) Brandon - Great Depression Research Project; and (2) Northern Great Plains History Conference.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
7.1 Faculty of Arts
William Wallace was born in Scotland around 1859. In 1881, when William was twenty-two, he emigrated to Canada with his father and brother. Once here they settled near what is today Forrest, Manitoba. The following spring they moved to the northwest margin of settlement in Manitoba, homesteading in the Shellmouth area. Wallace remained a resident of the region for the rest of his life. William Wallace was active in community affairs. He was appointed to the post of Secretary-Treasurer of the Shellmouth Municipality in 1887, and he held the position until 1904. In 1909, Wallace was injured in a railway accident, and he had to give up farming. He moved to Shellmouth and took up the position of postmaster, which he held for twenty-seven years. He died in 1945, and is buried at Shellmouth cemetery, Manitoba.
Custodial History
The letters contained in the fonds remained in the possession of Margaret Wallace, who was the original recipient of the correspondence. She emigrated to Canada in 1904. At some point the letters passed to William Wallace who kept them in his possession in Shellmouth. In 1941, William contacted Professor E. J. Westcott of Brandon College regarding the fonds. He offered it to the College for safekeeping. Westcott accepted the letters. Westcott passed the letters on to various officers and staff at Brandon College and then Brandon University. Since 1982, the collection has resided in the S. J. McKee Archives at Brandon University.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of hundreds of letters that William Wallace and his brother, Andrew, wrote to their sister, Maggie, from 1881 until 1904. The first letter, dated 22 March 1881, was written by both William and Andrew aboard the S.S. Prussia as they sailed to North America from Scotland. The last letter was written on 4 January 1904 by William. It was written to inform Maggie and her husband that William had reserved a homestead in their name. This letter marks the end of the fonds. Later that spring Maggie and John emigrated to Canada to be with her family.
William was keenly interested in everything going on around him; his letters and Andrew's reveal what life was like for inexperienced settlers on the Canadian agricultural frontier in the last years of the ninteenth century. Fonds touches on a variety of social, political and economic themes.
Notes
CAIN No. 202641. A partial accession of the Wallace collection was completed in 1992 by Eileen McFadden.
During the Great Depression, Fred McGuinness launched his career with the Brandon Sun as a paper career beginning in 1933. His route had him delivering papers in Brandon’s downtown core, to many of the city’s, now, historic or demolished buildings. Four years later he was employed in the city working for CPR telegraphs as a messenger and then as an operator. These early Brandon experiences weaved their way into McGuinness’ newspaper columns, his broadcasts, and his books. In turn, McGuinness’ readers shared with him their own memories about Brandon and its local history.
McGuinness was passionate about the social history of regional communities and the province as a whole. In the 1970s, McGuinness was instrumental in helping to establish the Rural Resource Centre, the predecessor to Brandon University’s SJ McKee Archives. He co-authored several monographs about Manitoba’s social history with Brandon University Professor Ken Coates and published a pictorial history about Brandon. He was also a community booster and was consulted to serve on, promote and write about local, provincial and rural development initiatives. In his obituary, the last piece he would publish in the Brandon Sun, McGuinness wrote that he had a “deep and continuing interest in anniversaries.”
In its editorial piece on the passing of Fred McGuinness, the Brandon Sun commented that McGuinness had a “genuine interest in the stories and memories that are part of every Canadian’s experience…He loved driving through small Westman towns and communities, stopping at the local coffee shop to strike up conversations with the locals.” He continued writing his Diary column for the Brandon Sun and mentoring aspiring writers in his memoir writing workshops until his death in 2011.
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
The subseries consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. As part of his research and writing process, McGuinness kept numerous files on various subjects and continued to add to them throughout his career. He accumulated his local history materials by personally collecting newspapers and clippings, books, and magazine articles; by readers’ forwarding materials for his interest; and from workshop participants submitting memoirs and personal narratives for his interest, review and feedback.
Local history materials consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, biographical documents and memoirs, obituaries, and manuscript drafts on Brandon (Manitoba) topics including:
the City of Brandon’s origins, anniversaries (75th, centennial), reunions (Victoria 1969, Toronto 1977)
historic buildings and streets (Brandon’s Central Heating System, Brandon’s Fire Department, Brandon Gun ClubBrandon water power plant)
businesses (Assiniboine River ice harvest; Brandon woolen mills, skating arenas; Snellie brothers (Russell, MB); Meighen, Haddad, & Co., Prince Edward Hotel)
citizens and early pioneer/families (Armitage family, Beaubier family, Thomas Black, J.A. Brock, Henry Carroll, Q.C., Chalmer-Harden families, Clement family, Flora Cowan, Eliza Durston, William A. Elliott, Dr. Fleming, Hall family, Eleanor Kidd, Jack Lane, William Langdon, Lindenberg family, A.E. McKenzie, Margaret Muir, William Muir, W.S. Orchard, Mrs. Osmond (Griswold), General Thomas Lafayette Rosser, Harry Spafford, Allena Strath, George Treherne, Wallace family)
institutions (ACC, Brandon Research Station)
military units (181st Battalion)
museums (Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum)
local newspapers
politicians (R.O. Lissaman, Sir Clifford Sifton)
railways (1916 Brandon trainwreck)
religious organizations (Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus, Beresford Church)
McGuinness also maintain files on the local history of surrounding communities, including: Birtle, Beresford, Camp Hughes, Hartney, Kemnay, Russell, and Souris.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from “We’re Going to Miss You, Fred,” Brandon Sun, March 24, 2011, A8
Items dating to the 1880s are photocopies and transcripts of original materials
In the file level inventories, 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
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
John Everitt collection
Clarence Hopkin collection
Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
William Wallace papers
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible work and correspondence pertaining to his research materials may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection Monograph series (McG 5) and subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Talks and workshops (McG 6.3). McGuinness also “filed” many clippings between the pages of his books in his personal library (see McG 8 Library series)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
File consists of correspondnece, news releases, histories for various departments, individuals and services at the College/University, and a mailing list.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondence and subject files
Box 5
File consists of course evaluations, performance reviews, a copy of Burmeister's curriculum vitae, and a course outline for An Introduction to the History of Germany, 1648 to the Present.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series VIII: Faculties and Schools
7.1.1 Dean of Arts
Box 2
File consists of copies of Burmeister's curriculum vitae, retirement documents, application and promotion documents, sabbatical documents, a self evaluation form, a newsclipping regarding Burmeister's community service award, and records regarding various committee appointments.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series VIII: Faculties and Schools
7.1.1 Dean of Arts
Box 2
In the early 1960's, A.E. McKenzie set out to right a book chronicling the first 38 years of Brandon College's history. To achieve this goal, he contacted a number of former faculty member and students of Brandon College, and asked them to contribute their recollections of the College. The testimonials were published along with a message from Brandon University's President at the time, Dr. John E. Robbins. Brandon College Inc. also contained comments from McKenzie regarding the Re-establishment of the College.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub sub series contains correspondence discussing textual and photographic content of the book, clarification of facts, and the format and printing of the book. There is also one newspaper clipping and some proofs. A large part of the sub-series is comprised of the contributions and mailing list for the project. Two copies of the completed book are also been included.
The remainder of the documents in the sub-series deal with reactions to the project. Testimonials from well-known individuals such as Mrs. Olive Diefenbaker, a former student at the College, the Minister of Education, and the Premier of Manitoba are contained in the sub-series. As well, fonds includes numerous letters from other individuals, thanking and congratulating McKenzie on the project are included. There is also a file relating to the reaction – not unanimously favorable - of the Brandon College Board of Directors to the project.
The majority of the photographs used in the History of Brandon College Inc. are also included.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds
MG 5 A.E. McKenzie fonds
1.1 Brandon College Inc.
File consists of evalutaions, correspondence, political leave documents, application and appointment documents, sabbatical documents, payroll information, promotion documents, and documents regarding Clark's involvment with IMPACTE/CORE.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series VIII: Faculties and Schools
7.1.1 Dean of Arts
Box 2
The Bertha School District, located south of Brandon in the Rural Municipality of Oakland, was established in 1896. It was integrated into the School Distict of Nesbitt in 1961. Subsequently, it became part of the Souris Valley School Division.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of annual registers (1910-1961), minute books (1896-1962), account books (1896-1911, 1924-1956), an award of a Board of Arbitration (1961), a petition for consolidation with the School District of Nesbitt (1961), a financial report (1961), a map of the Souris Valley School Division showing rural school districts, and one debenture certificate (1896).
In 1995 the History Department at Brandon University hosted the Northern Great Plains History Conference held annually at a university in the northern plains region of Canada or the United States. The Department of History, Brandon University hosted the conference again in September 2008.
Custodial History
Accession 34-1997 was donated to the McKee Archives ca. 1997 by members of the Department of History at Brandon University (Gerhard Ens, James Naylor, Hans Burmeister and Andrew Pernal). Accession 15-2009 was donated to the McKee Archives in May 2009 by James Naylor, Chair of the Conference Committee.
Scope and Content
Accession 34-1997 includes curriculum vitae and abstracts relating to each paper presented at the conference, copies of the program and related administrative records for the conference.
Accession 15-2009 consists of records generated during the course of preparing for and hosting the 2008 Northern Great Plains History Conference. Includes records dealing with: registration, finances (including grants), exhibitors, call for papers, program and session organization, audio visual, governing council for the conference, accomodations, participants (including curriculum vitaes, applications, proposals, abstracts), and the grad prize. Accession also contains: various tickets, programs, correspondence, papers by grad essay entrants, signs, instructions, mailing list, handouts, and reference materials (past conferences etc.)
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 7: Faculties and Schools
7.1 Faculty of Arts
7.1.4 Department of History
These records were produced between 1987 and 1988, the researching and writing period for The Wheat City: A Pictorial History of Brandon monograph. Published in 1988 by Western Producer Books (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), The Wheat City is a 117-page soft cover book, containing black and white images.
Western Producer Books pitched the book’s concept to Fred McGuinness in the fall of 1987. This book was part of the publisher’s “city series” which focused on smaller cities such as Medicine Hat and Prince Albert. It was estimated that the book would contain a 6,000-word introduction followed by approximately 80 archival photographs of Brandon spanning from early settlement to the late 1950s/early 1960s.
Brandon University history major Pam Svistovski worked as McGuinness’ research assistant and McGuinness obtained images for the book from his own personal collection, the Brandon Sun, Lawrence Stuckey, the Archives of Manitoba, and the Western Pictorial Index.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness during the writing phase of the monograph The Wheat City. 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 and photographs created and collected during the production of the monograph The Wheat City. It includes correspondence, newspapers articles, drafts and black and white photographs from the Archives of Manitoba, Western Canada Pictorial Index, and Illustrated Souvenir of Brandon.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was obtained from The Wheat City’s acknowledgements and a letter to Mr. Fred McGuinness from Western Producer Books, dated September 24, 1987 (McG 5.6, File 11)
Where known, archival reference numbers for photographs obtained from the Archives of Manitoba and the Western Canada Pictorial Index and considered/used in The Wheat City have been provided in the item level description
Accruals
Closed
Repro Restriction
Images published in the monograph and stored in files copyright protected by their respective organizations
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Clarence Hopkin collection
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible research materials pertaining to this monograph may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2) Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), Manitoba: The Province & The People (McG 5.4), and Manitoba Enterprise (McG 5.5)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to picture sources
James Miller Young was born on February 4, 1901 at Eden, MB. Jim married Verna Mary Osborne (1907-1997) on October 27, 1930. Together they had three children: Gerald, Patricia and Marjorie. Jim served as a school trustee for the Eden Consolidated School District and Beautiful Plains School Division for more than 30 years, including 15 years at Board Chairman. Jim retired in 1967, and the couple's retirement years were spent in Neepawa, where they were very active in their community. Jim's service was commemorated by JM Young School in 1970. James Young died in May 1986. He is buried at Neepawa Cemetery.
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 James Young about education in rural Manitoba. Interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, Verna Young's obituatary and the Manitoba Historical Society website entry on James Miller Young. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Interview has been retaped by Shirley Hunt. There is droning feedback at the start of the interview
History / Biographical
Stanely Young (nee Smith) was born in 1890 in Sidney, Australia. Her family moved to the United States when she was 3 years old, and then to England in 1894, where they remained until coming to Canada for her health in 1906. He family, which included her parents and sister Gertrude settled in Kenton, MB, where they ran a boarding house and then took over the store. Stanely married Clive Young (1881?-1951) and together they had one son, Philip. Cleve ran a blacksmith shop in Kenton until his death. Stanely enjoyed musical activities and visiting family in Wininpeg. Stanely Young died in 1982. She is buried at Greenwood Cemetery.
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 Stanely Young about her early life in Kenton, MB. Interviewers are Edith Johns and Hilda Curry.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Kenton local histories "Cradle to combine, vol. 2" and "Cradle to combine, vol. 3," as well as a report about the death of Cleve Young. Description by Christy Henry.
Audio Tracks
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Materials were in the possession of Harvey Young until their donation to the McKee Archives in 2008.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of one file containing a copy of the history of the Geology Department and a drawing of its layout when it was located in the H-Huts. Both were created by Harvey Young.
