The Brandon College Senate was created in 1900 under “An Act to Incorporate Brandon College.” At the time, however, the Senate was not given a clear policy mandate. The Act stated: The Professors in said College, together with three members of the Board of Directors nominated by the said Board for that purpose, shall constitute the Senate, to whom shall be entrusted the reception, academical superintendence and discipline of the students and of all other persons within the said College.
Despite general authority over the discipline of students, measures to enforce discipline and the power to appoint or remove professors rested with the Baptist Convention. As a result, the Senate remained largely ineffective until 1910 when the Board re-defined their function as follows: The Senate be composed of the Council of the College together with three members appointed by the Board of Directors. That this body shall be responsible for all matters that concern the determination of the curriculum, the recommendations to the Board regarding appointments of instructors in subjects otherwise specifically assigned to individual members of the several faculties.
These new powers provided the Senate with a rational boundary of authority including some control over the curriculum, but its main function was still recommendations to the Board on matters concerning faculty. There are no known documents regarding the Brandon College Council, which existed from 1910 to 1915. Affiliation with McMaster was a contentious issue with faculty. Courses had to correspond with those in McMaster, effectively eliminating the Brandon College Senate from its authority over academic matters.
In 1915 the Senate was re-organized following the “Act to Amend An Act to Incorporate Brandon College.” With this reorganization the Senate assumed a more direct role in the selection of faculty and tutors. As well, the Senate became a stronger advisory body of the faculty.
The Brandon College Senate remained relatively unchanged until 1939 when, under by-law 1, the Board defined the Senate functions as:
Power to regulate instructions and to determine the methods and limits of instructors.
To prepare a calendar of the College for publication.
To recommend to the Board the establishment or abolition of, or any changes in departments, chairs, lecture-ships, bursaries, scholarships and prizes, and generally have charge of all matters of an academic character, but shall not have any power to incur any expenditures or liabilities on behalf of the Corporation until specifically authorized by resolution of the Directors, nor shall their powers be construed as authority to engage teachers for the Corporation.
Along with these functions the Senate was also the body that possessed the binding authority to deal with all academic grievances.
The Senate under the new Charter and by-law 1, consisted of the President, Chairman of the Board, seven members from the faculty (including President and Registrar), and six members from the Alumni. The Registrar was to act as Secretary.
The Senate was changed once more in 1959. This change led to a more significant role in the administration of Brandon College.
Scope and Content
These records consist mainly of minutes from various faculty council and executive meetings from 1900 to 1942 including Arts, Science and Theology faculties. Included as well are Minutes of the Ministerial Committee of the Baptist Union of Western Canada As well, there are University of Manitoba Senate Minutes dating from 1950 to 1958.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 5: Brandon College Senate
This committee was in charge of deciding which students would be allowed to join extra-mural clubs and committees based on satisfactory schoolwork. The committee consisted of the President, faculty and students.
Scope and Content
This file contains minutes from the meetings of the Functions Committee.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
These are minutes from meetings of the Publications Committee from 1965 to 1968. The Publications Committee was in charge of the operation of The Quill, The Sickle, and the Student Handbook.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
These are the minutes from the meetings of the Arts Banquet committees from 1938 until 1964. They include detailed descriptions of what each banquet would entail.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
The Ministerial Committe was created with the purpose of discovering prospective students for the Baptist ministry. To become recognized as a student in Theology, a student had to be examined by the Ministerial Committee. The committee looked at the student’s intellectual, moral and spiritual fitness for the work of the ministry. He was then graded on his chances at entering the ministry. The committee could tell him that he was not suitable for ministerial work, or they could put him on the “encouraged” list. After repeated meetings with the Committee, a student could be voted as “accepted” as a prospective Baptist ministerial student.
Scope and Content
These records consist of a book from the Ministerial Committee. It contains the records of prospective theological students, including comments on their spirituality, morality and intellect. It records which students were rejected, encouraged and accepted into the program. Some notable students interviewed in this collection are: J.R.C. Evans, John Hart, Charles Stone, H. Friend, J. Church, and Tommy Douglas.
Dr. Robert Harvey graduated from Brandon College in 1913 (McMaster Arts). He received a diploma in theology from Brandon College in 1915. Initially a minister in the Presbyterian Church, Dr. Harvey spent the greater part of his life as a minister in the service of the United Church of Canada.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of manuscripts written by Dr. Robert Harvey, various newspaper clippings, primarily from the Brandon Sun, featuring articles written by Harvey. Fonds also contains war-time publications from the Soviet Union, United States of America, and Canada. Topics include: the armistice, biographical accounts of war-time figures, the history of the church in Canada, human rights, communism and fascism.
