File consists of the correspondence, minutes of the Foundation Liaison/Board committee, financial statements and other financial information, a list of the Board members and a copy of by-law number 2.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 2: Board of Governors
2.4 Correspondence and subject files
Box 1
Samuel James McKee was born near Wellesley, Ontario on July 17, 1849. By 1872, he had graduated from Toronto University. That same year he accepted a position at the Canadian Literary Institute in Woodstock, Ontario. Although he accepted this post with reservation, McKee soon found himself converted to the Baptist faith and was a true believer. In 1881, his doctor advised him to move West because of his poor health. He and his wife Laura moved to Rapid City, Manitoba and established a farm there. His brother-in-law, Rev. Davis was busy establishing the Rapid City Academy during this time, and when Davis had the chance to move to Moose Jaw, he prevailed upon McKee to take over the Academy. Under McKee's guidance the Academy flourished. By 1890, he decided that he could reach more people if he relocated the school Brandon, Manitoba, which was located on the C.P.R. line. The S.J. McKee Academy did quite well in Brandon, although it had trouble finding a permanent home. By 1899, the school was located in the Stewart Block on Ninth Street and Rosser Avenue. McKee's wife taught music, and there were always potential ministry students in his classes.
In 1899, the Baptists finally decided that they wanted a College in Manitoba that would help preapre students for potential ministry service. It was decided to locate the school in Brandon, as McKee, a staunch Baptist, already had a flourishing Academy there. The Baptists and McKee amalgamated and Brandon College was created. When the school opened in October 1899, McKee was on the Board of Directors as well as teaching Classics, Mental Science and French. He also acted as the unofficial Vice-principal of the school. McKee taught several different subjects during the next few years, and in 1910 accepted the newly created post of Registrar. He retained this position for the next decade. As well, McKee acted as the Bursar in 1911-1913, 1914-1915, and 1919-1920. He retired in 1920 and moved to Vancouver. McKee was given the title Professor Emeritus in Philosophy. He was made an honorary member of the Board of Directors in 1925.
McKee and his wife had five daughters and three sons. Three daughters that died soon after the move from Rapid City due to a typhoid epidemic. His son, George Eugene, graduated from Brandon College in 1902. A son, John Harris McKee, became the Bursar of Brandon College in 1915 after obtaining his B.A. in 1914. Another son, William Carey McKee, graduated from Brandon College in 1914, and received his M.A. in 1915. He was studying Law in Calgary when he enlisted with the Army. Carey McKee was killed in action on August 26, 1918. A fourth son, Robert Allan also attended Brandon College. He enlisted when Carey did, but he was declared medically unfit for service in Winnipeg in 1917. He eventually returned to Brandon, but was sick for a very long time. He died on Febrary 13, 1919, from a growth on his brain that had weakened him greatly. McKee's daughter Mildred also attended Brandon College. After her husband was killed in action in November of 1918, she returned home to her parents. Eventually she obtained a degree in Household Science. There is another daughter mentioned, Lydia. McKee also states in a tax return form that he has a permanently epileptic child in a home. It is not known if this child was Lydia or not. S.J. McKee died in September 1937 at the age of 88.
Custodial History
To commemorate the move of the McKee Acadamy to Brandon, Manitoba in 1890, Brandon University renamed the Brandon University Archives the S.J. McKee Archives in the fall of 1990. At that time, the McKee family was represented by S.J. McKee's grandson William, who donated the S.J. McKee papers to the Archives. Up until 1990, the records had been in his custody, having passed from S.J. at the time of his death to William's father.
Scope and Content
S.J. McKee's files are very unique. He has records detailing many aspects from Rapid City Academy and the desire for educating the West. He has a lengthy document entitled "The Beginning of our Educational Work in the West" in his records. It details the creation of Prairie College, its demise, and the building of the Rapid City Academy. There is a lot of correspondence, not just to and from S.J. McKee, but to and from his children as well. There are Land Titles papers, Mortgages, Last Will and Testaments, and various other legal documents dealing with the McKee family. There is a ninety page paper that his son, Carey, wrote in 1915 entitled "Immigrants and Their Assimilation." There are several files dealing with Carey McKee, and also with the death of Midred's husband, Robert Alexander Cunningham. The Minute Book of the Brandon College Literary Society from 1903-1905 is located in the McKee files. McKee also kept various newsclippings and certain issues of "The Western Baptist," "The Northwest Baptist" and "The Sunday School Times." As well, there are some used account and receipt books.
His records are extremely interesting in that McKee was really one of the founding fathers of Brandon College. The documentation that still exists with regard to Rapid City Academy is quite astounding, down to the legal agreement he and G.B. Davis made with Duncan L. McLaren regarding using some of his land to build the school on. His recollections on the beginnings of education in the west are clear and concise. As well, the sense of family and devotion to God are evident in almost all of the letters between family members.
Biographical information for Franklin W. Sweet can be found under RG 1 Brandon College fonds, BC 2 Office of the President.
Custodial History
It is suspected that Sweet's papers were left at Brandon College at the time of his death. They were transfered to the Archives with the Brandon College records in 1980, at the time of the creation of the Archives.
Scope and Content
The personal records of Dr. Sweet include sermon notes, newspaper clippings, and church bulletins. The collection, although small, is remarkable. Researchers wanting to study religion during the early Twentieth century will have no trouble finding out what the Baptist doctrine of the day was. The beliefs that Dr. Sweet held are evident in his sermons, as well as in the clippings that he kept. There are approximately fifty sermons that Dr. Sweet wrote, including the dates and places that he delivered them. These records are an excellent source of information regarding religion, faith, devotion and mankind in the 1920’s.
According to Fred McGuinness, Brandon's first automobile was purchased by Dr. Matheson. He sold the car to grocer William Muir.
Custodial History
Digital reproduction attached to correspondence addressed to Bax and Spouse from Fred McGuinness [2005]
Scope and Content
Photograph shows an elderly man holding a baby in an early motor car.
Notes
In correspondence addressed to Bax and Spouse from Fred McGuinness [2005], McGuinness identifies the man seated in the automobile as William Muir and the infant as Kelvin C. Baxter of Winnipeg [b.25 Mar 1908], grandson of Robert M. Coombs of Brandon.
The First Baptist Church at the corner of 11th Street and Lorne Avenue was built in 1904 from the designs of W.A. Elliott. This was the Baptist congregation's second church; the first, a wood frame structure erected in 1885, stood on the southwest corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue. A third church was built at 3881 Park Avenue, with the official dedication on October 16, 1994. At present (June 2007), the First Baptist Church in the photograph remains, but is unoccupied.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of the Alf Fowler collection for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Photo shows the First Baptist Church.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Assiniboine Historical Society's Brandon: An Architectural Walking Tour pamphlet (1982).
Storage Range
RG 5 Western Manitoba Manuscript collection - photograph storage drawer
First Church United began as the First Methodist Church. It was renamed in c. 1925 and was located on the corner of 8th Street and Lorne Avenue, just south of the YMCA. From 1913-1919, A.E. Smith was the Methodist minister. The church was demolished c. 1975.
Scope and Content
Photograph is looking northeast and shows First Church United.
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Built 1882. Sold to Hughes & Co. July 1, 1905. Became part of Strathcona Block, built on front out to 10th Street in 1905.
[From 1871 to 1890 the Manitoba school system was based on the Quebec model of religiously-aligned primary education. As such, Brandon’s first Central School was actually the first school built as part of the Brandon Protestant School Board. In contrast, St. Joseph’s Academy provided education to the children of Brandon’s Catholic community and was overseen by its own Catholic school board. Many non-secular school boards would be eliminated in Manitoba in 1890. (Mitchell, T. 1986. In the Image of Ontario: Public Schools in Brandon 1881-1890. Manitoba History, Number 12, Autumn 1986)]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
[First Baptist Church moved out of this building in the early 1990s. The building subsequently housed Solid Grounds (coffee shop), and Lady of the Lake (gift shop). C.H. 12/06/09]
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Brandon's first church; Showing renovations of 1895; A new building started construction in 1898, its cornerstone laid in 1899 by Mrs. Clifford Sifton.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
First Methodist Church, 1881-1899
Notes
Located on 7th St. between Lorne & Louise Ave's.
People in photo, L to R: Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Leegh, Mrs. Van Tassel, Mrs. Ashley, B. Trotter, Mrs. Trotter, Rev. Leonard Gaetz, Mrs. Bodden, Rev. Darrel, J. Sproul, E. Bennest, D. Reesor, Mr. Bodden, T. Butcher; From collection of Central United Church.
Due to the increasing volume of long-distance auto traffic in the 1920's, the city designated the block between Hill & Queen's Avenues and 9th & 10th streets as a "Tourist Camp" with a few basic facilities. LAS.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
First Tourist Camp
Notes
Courtesy of the Brandon Sun
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in the same envelope, numbered N4 and N4a. We have separated them.]
Due to the increasing volume of long-distance auto traffic in the 1920's, the city designated the block between Hill & Queen's Avenues and 9th & 10th streets as a "Tourist Camp" with a few basic facilities. LAS.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
First Tourist Camp
Notes
Courtesy of the Brandon Sun
[Mr. Stuckey put two negatives in the same envelope, numbered N4 and N4a. We have separated them.]
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