Fred McGuinness was a sessional lecturer in the English Department at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba where he co-taught an introductory undergraduate course in journalism with English Professor John Blaikie. Although McGuinness had 30 years experience as a journalist, editor, publisher, and freelance writer, as well as an extensive public speaking career, the partnering was necessary because he did not have a graduate degree, a qualification necessary for teaching in a university setting. In addition to his professional experience, McGuinness was also an avid reader on topics about the process of writing and the publishing of popular writing.
McGuinness likely began teaching his journalism course at Brandon University in 1983 and continued until 1990, possibly 1996. McGuinness often referenced his class when writing his Neighborly News column. A portion of McGuinness’ course involved analyzing and debating current events from newspaper headlines. McGuinness emphasized the importance of clean copy, spelling, and grammar with his editing assignments.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and sessional instructor. 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 contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a sessional instructor and writer. Consisting of teaching materials McGuinness used in the undergraduate course he taught with Professor John Blaikie the subseries includes: lecture notes, quizzes, exercises, exams, and newspaper and magazine articles.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the BU journalism course subseries (McG 6.2), and his Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3)
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible materials pertaining to his teaching career may be found in other subseries of the Fred McGuinness collection. Several articles McGuinness wrote for Neighborly News referenced his BU journalism students (see McG 2.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
File consists of the Brandon University Progressive Conservative Youth Association constitution, an application for a BUSU grant, and financial information.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 14: Brandon University Students Union
14.4 BUSU clubs
Box 1
The Practical speller : suitable for high and public schools : a series of graded lessons containing the words in general use, with abbreviations, etc., words of similar pronunciation and different spelling ; a collection of the most difficult words in the language ; and a number of literary selections, which may be used for dictation lessons, and committed to memory by the pupils
"Authorized by the Council of Public Instruction, Quebec ; authorized by the Council of Public Instruction, Manitoba ; authorized by the Council of Public Instruction, British Columbia"
[v.2] has part VI (p. 125-157) : Etymology ; authorized for use in the Schools of North-West Territories
Word expositor and spelling guide : school manual exhibiting the spelling, pronunciation, meaning, and derivation of all the important and peculiar words in the English language : with copious exercises for examination and dictation
First Greek book : comprising an outline of the forms and inflections of the language : a complete analytical syntax, and an introductory Greek reader with notes and vocabularies
