Dr. Robert Dudley Howland was born June 1, 1909 in Bexley, Kent, England. He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Faversham, Kent. In 1926, he came to Canada where he attended Brandon College, graduating in Arts in 1935. He subsequently attended the London School of Economics where he obtained a doctorate in Economics.
During his years at Brandon College, Howland participated in debating and drama. He also acted as a student minister for the Baptist Church.
Howland spent his working eyars in various positions in the federal and provincial governments. Energy was an important focus of his work. His introduction to energy problems came in 1944, when he was appointed Secretary of the Carroll Commission on coal. From this experience he accepted appointments in Nova Scotia as Vice-President of their Research Foundation; Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and Economic Advisor to the Nova Scotia government.
In addtion to the Carroll Royal Commission on Coal, Howland was associated with the Royal Commission on Saskatchewan's Coal Mining Industry, was an ecnomist on Canada's Economic Prospects from 1955-1957, and a member of the Royal Commission on Energy.
In 1959, Howland was appointed Vice-President of the National Energy Board and Chairman from July 1, 1968, until his retirement in August 1973. Howland was granted an honorary LL.D. by Brandon University in May 1974.
Howland had a lifelong interest in the Fabian Society and Fabian Socialism, assembling a rich collection of original edition Fabian publications.
Custodial History
Dr. Howland presented his collection of Fabian publications to Brandon University sometime in the 1970s. The collection remained in the John E. Robbins Library until it was placed in the Archives in 1997.
Scope and Content
The Howland Collection includes a wide range of books, pamphlets, and assorted publications of the Fabian Society assembled by Dr. Howland.
The Fabian Society, a socialist society, was founded in 1883-1884, in London. The Fabian Society was created with the goal of fostering the creation of democratic socialism in Great Britain. Unlike revolutionary Marxists, the Fabians placed their hopes for change in evolutionary socialism not revolution.
The creation of the Fabian Society is generally attributed to Thomas Davidson, a Scottish philosopher. Its charter members included George Bernard Shaw, Sidney Webb, Annie Besant, Edward Pease, and Graham Wallas. Shaw and Webb, later joined by Webb's wife, Beatrice, were the outstanding leaders of the Society for many years. In 1889, the Society published its best-known tract, "Fabian Essays in Socialism," edited by Shaw. The Fabian Society played an integral role in the creation of the British Labour Party.
Notes
The items in the collection have been added to the Brandon University Library catalogue. Description by Mike White.
Storage Location
MG 2 Brandon College Students
2.16 Robert Dudley Howland
The Fabian Society, session 1886-1887 ; Fabian Society [information pamphlet] ; Fabian conference admission ticket ; Manifesto in connection with the proposed Birmingham Branch of the Fabian (Socialist) Society ; Fabian education group 1908-9 syllabus of lectures
24 cm textual records
ca. 95 photographs
memorabilia
History / Biographical
Margaret (Peggy) Doran was born on May 27, 1919 in Brandon, Manitoba to parents Sol and Margaret (Honan) Roberts. Doran grew up in Brandon and was very active in theatre during her high school and college years. Her first theatrical success came at age 20, when she directed Brandon Little Theatre's production of "Send Her Victorious," which received top honours in the Manitoba Drama Festival.
Following her graduation from Brandon College in 1941, she trained as a nurse at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital during the Second World War and worked at Vancouver General Hospital for almost a year.
On August 25, 1945, Peg married Dennis Roberts, whom she had met in high school. Dennis, a music graduate from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, became interested in psychology after serving overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force, so the couple moved to Toronto so that he could pursue a psychology degree at the University of Toronto. After Dennis graduated in 1950, the family moved to Sudbury, where Dennis and Peg became actively involved with the education and cultural life of the city. Peg was especially involved with the Sudbury Little Theatre Guild (SLTG), which was founded in 1948.
Between 1950 and 1956, Peg directed or acted in five plays. Her directorial works included: Blithe Spirit, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Glass Menagerie and Antigone. Peg was recognized for her directing of Antigone when she won the Edgar Stone Trophy for Directing in the Dominion Drama Festival in 1955. For the 1956-1957 season, Peg assumed the role of President of the SLTG. During this time, she successfully petitioned the Dominion Drama Festival to create a new region and thus in 1957, the Quebec-Ontario Theatre Association (QUONTA) was founded and Peg acted as its first regional chairperson. Peg's further accomplishments included co-founding and serving on the board of directors of the Sudbury Theatre Centre, as well as acting as drama consultant for the Sudbury Secondary School Board.
Peg was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and, shortly after, in 1998, she moved back to Toronto. She died there on April 2, 2003. Peg and Dennis had three children: Judith Marion (b. June 23, 1946), Steven John (b. September 8, 1950), and Patricia May (b. April 5, 1955).
Custodial History
After Peg's death in April 2003, materials in the collection were gathered and donated to the S.J. Mckee Archives by her children Judith, Steven and Patricia Roberts on July 19, 2003.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of textual records, photographs and other material that belonged to Margaret Doran Roberts. The textual materials include various personal letters, yearbooks, newspaper articles, journals, graduation diplomas, playbills and other miscellaneous records. The collection also includes approximately 95 photographs, mostly personal photographs of weddings and family, but also professionally taken group photos of the play casts. Other materials in the collection include various artefacts kept by Peg throughout her life.
Notes
Description and inventory by Ayn Lewandoski (2003).
Storage Location
MG 2 Brandon College students
2.22 Margaret Doran Roberts
Related Material
Additional archival material pertaining to Peg and Dennis Roberts is located in the archives at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.
Arrangement
Inventory of the collection:
Pack of matches from Mona's Dress Shop
Cigar that belonged to Sol Doran
Water colour picture, in frame, of St. Paul's Cathedral by Ev Lindsay Hunt from Brandon (1930s)
Earl Haig Graduation bracelet and Grade IX notebook belonging to Peg Doran
Nursing diploma and various other memorabilia from Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal
Unidentified pictures of war squadron, World War II
RCAF Christmas card from Sergeant William S. Day
Possible home economic project of Peg Doran filled with cake recipes
Photograph: Gordon Savage and Edith Laycock, plus Royal Winnipeg Rifles locket given by Gordon Savage to Peg Doran (with pictures of Gordon and Peg inside)
Francis Bernard Roberts' (Dennis' father) materials: correspondence with Mayo Clinic, photographs and negatives of Indian Chief etc.
Shares belonging to F.B. Roberts
Unidentified photos of children from Brandon (2)
"Willa Cather and the West," essay by Dennis Roberts
Various letters and memborabilia in letter case including:
- personal letters
- Brandon College Annual Arts Banquet programme 1941
- Brandon College Annual Commencement programme 1941
- Brandon College Alumni Dinner program 1941
- Season ticket Manitoba Drama League Provincial Finals Festival 1939
- Manitoba Medical College 4th Annual Ball dance card 1902
- Postcard to Peggy - University of Manitoba Arts Building 1939
- Various report cards from Brandon Collegiate
- Brandon Little Theatre 1936 production "Hay Fever" programme
- Shares from the Brandon Golf and Country Club 1968
- Margaret Doran's United Church of Canada Member's certificate 1933
Blue scribbler from Expression class, filled with various poems, stories, plays etc. belonging to Peg Doran
Miscellaneous newspaper clippings ranging from 1940-1979 (when dated)
Brandon Sun 75th Anniversary edition Saturday January 19, 1957
Sol Doran's daily journal - 1963 (the year of his death)
Picture of Bessie Scott, housekeeper to Sol and Margaret Doran
Wedding photographs, Peg Doran and Dennis Roberts - one in glass frame
"Through the Gateway to Yesteryear" written by Eric Wells and Gordon Tucker and Friends, with inside inscription from Una Johnston
Sheet music (11) of F.B. Roberts, father-in-law of Peg Doran
Sheet music (8) of May Roberts, mother-in-law of Peg Doran
Sheet music (4) of Peg (Doran) Roberts
Unidentified school project, possibly a rough copy of a play, maybe Peg Doran's handwriting
Photo of cast of play "Out to Sea" 1940
Tube containing various graduation diplomas of Dennis Francis Roberts
Peg Doran's graduation diploma, Brandon College 1941; letter and certificate recognizing the change from Brandon College to Brandon University; recognition certificate of attendance to 50th Reunion (1991) as well as photographs from the event attended by Peg and one of her Brandon friends, Jean Downing
Identification bracelet, probably belonging to May Roberts from hospital in London when Dennis Roberts was born
Small glass from Smith Drug Store
Two teaspoons, with initials G.E.B.- George Edward Bennest - uncle of Doh (Doran) Bennest Hammond, lawyer in Winnipeg (Doh's mother, Nell Doran, married Fred Bennest)
Sterling silver child's cup (Peggy) and baby spoon, both belonging to Peg Doran
Various photographs
Dennis Roberts RCAF memorabilia including a hat, epaulettes, brass buttons etc.
Dennis Roberts' Men's Handicap Singles tennis trophy 1932
L.W.G.A. trophy 1933-34, believed to be awarded to Margaret [Mrs. Sol] Doran, an avid golfer
Several pages of photographs of family holidays
- 1958 - to Cornwall, Ontario to look for Doran relatives before St. Lawrence Seaway flooded low-lying graveyards
- 1959 - when family rented a cottage in Clear Lake
Two framed photos of Peg Roberts: as a baby and as a toddler
Wedding announcement of Peg Doran and Dennis Roberts
Dauphin Musical Society photograph 1924
Playbills: Othello (1943); Wonderful Town; and The King & I
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Annual Blue & Gold Football Game program 1959
Play scripts: "Symphony in Illusion;" "Buddy Speaks a Piece;" "At the Photographer's;" and "At the Matinee"
YMCA Winnipeg song sheet
The New Era: 1937 & 1938
The Sickle: 1939, 1940 & 1941
The Quill: Vol. XXIX No. 4 (Oct. 26/38); Vol. XXIX No. 5 (Nov. 4/38); Vol. XXIX No. 6 (Nov. 9/38); Vol. XXXI Nox. 8 (Dec. 12/40)
Report and resolutions of the Special Committee appointed to consider Socialist representation in parliament ; Committee on amendments to the constitution ; Fabian Society business meeting, March 8th, 1907 ; [Motion presented to] Fabian members' meeting January 8th [1909]
George E. Thorman was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on September 17, 1913. His public school education began in Rivers, Manitoba and was completed, along with his high school and part of his university education in Brandon, Manitoba. After completing his Bachelor of Arts General at Brandon College, Thorman attended the College of Education in Toronto for one year before beginning his teaching career at Essex Hisgh School, Essex, Ontario in 1935. After four years in Essex, Thorman transferred to the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute (STCI) in St. Thomas, Ontario.
In 1941, Thorman joined the Canadian Army at Brandon as a gunner inthe 59th Field Battery and after five years, having served in England, Italy and Western Europe, heretired with the rank of Captain. Following the Second World War, in 1945, Thorman taught in a high school for Fifth Division in Gronigen, Netherlands before moving on to teach first year university English at Kahki College in England in 1946. That same year he returned to Canada and rejoined the staff at STCI. Two years after his return George Thorman married the former Margarett Gliddon of St. THomas and in 1953 returned to Europe where he taught in Scotland for one year on a teacher's exchange.
During the 1960's, Thorman's career reached its peak. In 1964, he became the Vice-Principal of STCI and in 1967, he attained the same position at Parkside Collegiate Institute before becomeing its Principal in 1969. Three years later in 1972, Thorman retired as Principal of PCI and from his teaching career. Throughout his career Thorman's primary interests were in English and History, however he also taught Mathematics, Georgraph and Science. In addition to his classess following WWII, Thorman was an active instructor of the Cadet Corps, as well as a coach for various volleyball, basketball and track and field teams during his years at STCI.
Aside from being an educator, George Thorman had many other interests. He and his wife Margaret were active in the formation of the Elgin Theatre Guild in 1948 and thogether and separately they performed and directed several productions in the early years of that organization. Thorman was also largely responsible for the development of a local history course in the Elgin Secondary Schools in the early 1960's. In 1966, with his fellow history teacher Ralph Parker, he published a booklet to serve as an outline for teachers on the history of Elgin County.
That same year, 1966, Thorman, as the prime instigator in the re-formation of the Elgin Historical Society, became its first president and in 1971, he was elected Honorary President of the Society for life. This was followed by a furhter two-year term as elected president. The re-organization marked the beginning of THorman's continous active involvement with the EHS, including several lectures he presented to its members and many years as a Trustee. In 1985, he received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award for over 15 years of continuous service to the Society before retiring from the EHS in 1995.
In addition to the EHS, Thorman served on the St. Thomas Public Library Board from 1979 until 1991, and was a Chairman of the Board's Personnel Committee. He was also a member of the Ontario Historical Society. From 1975 to 1978, Thorman served as an elected member of the Elgin County Board of Education and in 1979, he received from the City of St. Thomas the St. Thomas Civic Award for outstanding citizens. George Thorman was also a life member (1936) of Central Lodge No. 402, A.F. and A.M. (Masonry) of Essex, Ontario and had been an active member of the St. Thomas Duplicate Bridge Club since 1985.
As an authority on historical research relating to The Hudson's Bay Company, Thorman gave lectures and printed articles on the topic in "The Beaver" publication of The Hudson's Bay Company. In regards to the HBC he also did excavation work at Fort Albany with Walter Kenyon during several summers in the 1960's and 1970's.
As well, George Thorman was a founding member and served on the executive committee of the Elgin Military Museum since its inception in 1982 until the late 1990's. He contributed greatly to the library and files of this museum, particularly in the field of the War of 1812 and the Fenian Raid. The reference library of this small museum rates high in this country, largely through the efforts of George Thorman. Thorman's book collection was one of the finest and most extensive in Western Ontario. His personal library contained a wealth of information with particular emphasis on material relating to Elgin County, the City of St. Thomas and The Hudson's Bay company. His G.A. Henty collectio was nearly complete.
As an author Thorman contributed ten entries in The Dictionary of Canadian Biography on Aboriginal and Metis peoples, co-authored "St. Thomas 100 Years a City," the centennial history of the city of St. Thomas. In 1989, he edited "Frank Hunt, Essays on Elgin County" as well as wrote and privately printed "A Brief History of Secondary Education in St. Thomas" as his contribution to the STCI Reunion, at which he was one fo the honorees. In th early 1990's, Thorman co-edited "Garret Oakes, Tales of a Pioneer," authored and privaley printed "Letters and Petitions and other Papers Concerning the MIlitia Companies of Middlesex for 1839" and "The Chisholm Family in Elgin County: Myth and Reality."
For serveral years, ca. 1975 to the mid 1990's, Thorman hosted a TV talk show on local television interviewing persons connected to the history of St. Thomas and Elgin County. Many older residents, who have since passed away, were interviewed and the resulting tapes are an invaluable source of historical information.
Thorman and his wife lived in the historic section of St. Thomas and in the summer months spent their time in Port Stanley. In addition, for several years in the early 1990's, Thorman traveled annually to England - each time visiting a different area of the country. As well, Thorman was also interested in the lives and activities of his former students and was available and eager to assist any student or former student who asked for his guidance. George E. Thorman passed away on January 11, 1997.
Custodial History
The Order of the Sheaf and Thorman's Bachelor of Arts degree were transfered to the McKee Archives by Rudi Denham, Chief Librarian, St. Thomas Public Library in August 2007. George Thorman had placed his papers with the St. Thomas Public Library at some point prior to his death; the Library had decided to deaccession the records and offered them to interested institutions.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of textbooks covering the subject areas of: Agriculture, Art, Business education, Economics, Composition, Grammar, Rhetoric, Literature, Plays, Poetry, Prose, Readers, Spelling, Phonics, Stories, Geography, Health, History, French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, General mathematics, Music, PHilosophy, Logic, Psychology, Religion, Research, Methods, Manuals, Astronomy, Botany Chemistry, Physics, General science, Zoology, Cooking and Gardening. It also includes two notebooks.
The works found in the collection were published primarily between 1880-1940, although they range from 1801-1967, with an emphasis on history, all areas of mathematics, research and topics related to english or language arts. There are a number of works published in the nineteenth century dealing with most of the collection's subject areas. The majority of the collection focuses on public and high school textbooks, particularly in relation to the province of Ontraio, with some attention to university education.
Also included is George Thorman's Order of the Sheaf, Clark Hall Guild certificate awarded to him in recognition of his outstanding contribution toward the betterment of Brandon University and Thorman's Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandon College (McMaster University).
Notes
An inventory of the collection has been created. Also, the items have been added to the Brandon University Library catalogue. Description and inventory by Christy Henry (1999).
These items were received from Ms. Cooper’s father C.G. "Kelly" Stone , Class of 1921 and her mother Tena Turnbull, Class of 1921 and her aunts Jane Turnbull, Class of 1916 who later taught at the College and Bessie Turnbull , Class of 1918.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of 5 photographs; an article Campus News 1967 on "In memorium Dr. Jane"; and a photocopy of a letter from the Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir (John Buchan) regarding Jane Turnbull’s book "Essential Traits of French Canadian Literature". A note and xerox copy of a photograph of Ernestine Whiteside March 1914 to Jennie Turnbull.
The photographs include:
1. one b/w photo 8 cm x 6 cm Initiation Brandon College 1916
2. one b/w photo 8 cm x 13.5 cm class of 1921
3. one b/w photo 5 cm x 8 cm Class of ’21
4. one b/w photo 17 cm x 26 cm the College Band 1915-1916
5. one sepia photo 15 cm x 23 cm Class of 1919
Notes
Descpription available on CAIN under Charles G. Stone fonds.
