William Birtles was born in Alexander, Manitoba in 1930. He received his early education at Alexander School. In 1948, he completed grade 12 at St. John's College School in Winnipeg. He undertook formal training in art, beginning in 1949, at the Winnipeg School of Art. In 1952, he graduated from the Manitoba Provincial Normal School. After teaching school in Winnipeg for three years, Birtles completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Sculpture in 1958. He obtained a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in 1970. Throughout his adult years, Birtles taught in various Manitoba communities, was active as an artist, showing his work and winning awards. He was also active in the Manitoba Society of Artists and associated provincial organizations. Birtles is retired and is a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Custodial History
All of the items in the fonds were in the possession of William Birtles until their donation to the McKee Archives in 2003.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of Ms. Sarah Birtles, Rt. Rev W.W.H. Thomas D.D, the Thomas Smith farmhouse located northwest of Alexander, and a postcard containing a photograph of Westminster Abbey. Fonds also contains two biographical sketches written by William Birtles: one of Ms. Sarah Birtles - three pages - and one of Rt. Rev. W.W. H. Thomas D.D - six pages. Also includes the program of the Composite Lodge No. 64 G.R.M., A.F. & A.M. sixty-fifth Anniversary (Alexander, MB 1961).
Clark J. Smith Studio was located at 135 10th Street. It opened c. 1913 and was sold to Lawrence Stuckey in 1958.
Clark Jaques Smith was born in November 1879 in Consecon, Ontario to John Allen Smith, a photographer, and his wife Eliza. Clark Smith came west in 1908. With his wife Margaret had two or three daughters (Jean Day, Thelma Courice and Marie? Smith?). Smith was a former member of the Kiwanis Club, a past president of the Western Canada Photographers Association and was a life long member of that association. He died in Brandon, Manitoba on January 9, 1968.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the interior of the reception area of Clark J. Smith photography studio.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the 1911 Canadian census, Smith's cemetary record and his obituary (Brandon Sun January 11, 1968).
Repro Restriction
The McKee Archives is the copyright holder for the Stuckey materials.
Bylaws to keep cattle off streets were being debated by city council about this time.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
J. Birtles Meat Market "Family Butcher", 608 Rosser Avenue
Notes
Mr. Birtles on right, including Mr. Hammell, Hiram Chesley, and Lew Wicket; Photo includes Red Cross Drug Store with proprietor Mr. McCullagh in front; From Brandon Sun files.
Lillian Velma Mummery was born on November 7, 1901 at Toronto Junction, ON. Her family moved to Brandon shortly after she was born. Attending schools in Brandon, Lillian graduated as a teacher in 1922, and after several years teaching in western Manitoba, she started with the Brandon School Division in 1926. Before her retirement in 1966, Lillian taught at most of the elementary and junior high schools in the city. After her retirement she continued to tutor in Latin and English for many years. Lillian spent time oversears as a member of the Navy Wrens and for a year in England on a teaching exchange. An active member with First Church United, later Central United Church, she also spent considerable time working with St. John Ambulance and travelling. Lillian never married. Lillian Mummery died on August 5, 1994 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
Isabelle Burton Heeney (nee Allan) was born on May 11, 1902 on section 7-11-18 in the RM of Elton, north of Brandon, MB. Initially a public school teacher who taught in Kemnay, Oak Lake, Starbuck and in Brandon at David Livingstone School, Isabelle stayed home after her marriage to Fred Heeney on October 21, 1931. The couple had two children: Dennis and Margaret. Following Fred's retirement, the couple moved to Brandon. Isabelle was active in both community and curch organizations, taking a special interest in the 4-H Club and the Daly House Museum. Isabelle Heeney died on June 2, 1996 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal Cemetery.
William Gordon Frazer was born on February 14, 1913 in Winnipeg, MB and raised at Beulah, MB. He received degress from the University of Manitoba (BSc 1934, BEd 1935), then taught at Maple Leaf Collegiate from 1935-1939. In 1939, he married Dorothy Jean Gregory (1912-1990) and together they had two children: Donna and Harold. The family moved to Brandon in 1942, where Gordon taught at Brandon Collegiate Institute (BCI), serving as Vice-Principal (1959-1960) and Principal (1960-1966). He retired from teaching in 1973 from Harrison High School. Gordon was a Mason, a past president and life member of the Brandon Teachers' Association, and a director of the Westman Retired Educators. He was also an adjutant of the 82nd Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets for twelve years, as well as an active member of Knox United Church, serving as secretary to the Committee of Stewards and as a member of the group responsible for the construction of the new building. For fifteen years Gordon and his wife spent part of their winters in Hawaii. Gordon Frazer died on March 19, 1998 in Brandon, MB. 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 Lillian Mummery, Isabelle Heeney and Gordon Fraser about the history of Brandon Collegiate Institute, 1908-1974. The interviewer is Effie McPhail.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and obituaries for the interviewees. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy made 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Lake Clementi was Brandon's popular summer resort until the opening of Clear Lake. There were summer cottages all along the south shore, as well as a grocery and confectionery store and a dancehall.
Custodial History
For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
Lake Clementi
Notes
[This negative was produced using an image previous published by Bloom Bros., Winnipeg, Canada. P.E. 23/07/09.]
Additional historical information provided by the Fred McGuinness collection (20-2009).
