For custodial history see the collection level description of the Lawrence Stuckey collection.
Scope and Content
West side of Sixth Street, north of Rosser Avenue; looking north
Notes
Businesses displayed (S to N) include: Winter & O'Neill - general store; James A. Smart - hardware; Grand Central Hotel - built 1882, razed 1890; American House - hotel; Brandon House (far end) - hotel
Fred McGuinness published 17 articles in Reader’s Digest magazine. His most intensive period of writing for the digest was between 1972 and 1982. McGuinness published his first story, “RAPESEED: Golden Bounty for the Prairie Farmer,” in August of 1972. The story “Mrs. K’s Eggs” (1992) appears to be his final publication with the magazine. McGuinness noted in one of his Neighborly News columns (#701, May 24, 1993) that his account about John Lane and his bluebird boxes, titled “The Man Who Brought the Bluebirds Back” (1973), generated the most readers’ correspondence.
Most of McGuinness’ topics focused on agriculture in the Canadian prairies and included: rapeseed, beef/cattle farming, credit unions, ranching, wheat, soil erosion, trout farming, honey, and birds (killdeers, bluebirds, and turkeys). Several articles – “Northwest of 17,” “Boy with Wheel,” “He’s Got a Good Fist,” and “Mrs. K’s Eggs” – were autobiographical in nature.
McGuinness contributed six articles to the Reader’s Digest book division for their publication, Reader’s Digest Scenic Wonders of Canada: An Illustrated Guide to Our Natural Splendors (1976). His assignment for the book focused on the prairie region and McGuinness contributed segments on Clear Lake/Riding Mountain National Park, Cypress Hills, The Big Muddy, Lake of the Woods, Qu’Appelle Valley, and Valley of the Dinosaurs/badlands of Red Deer Valley.
McGuinness conducted research on a number of topics for Reader’s Digest that did not get published with the magazine and he, therefore, published these stories elsewhere. Subjects included: wild rice, Father Larre, Frederick Phillip Grove, coal on the prairies (“Chores/Chore Boy”), community symbols, researching/writing local history, and a story titled “Hole in the Ground.” McGuinness ultimately published his “Frederick Phillip Grove” (1984) and “Coal Days on the Prairies” (1986) articles with Western People magazine. He would write about wild rice, Father Larre, and community symbols in his syndicated Neighborly News column. McGuinness used his local history research materials for his Brandon Sun Diary columns and possibly for the Friesen publication Local History Style Guide (1984) as well as in his memoir writing workshops. He continued to rework “Hole in the Ground,” a story about the swimming pool at Christmas Tree Farm, until 2009.
Fred McGuinness often used his Reader’s Digest articles as writing samples in his memoir writing workshops. He also continually added materials to his research files after an article was published, and in the case of his Reader’s Digest materials, he built upon his “writing local history” and “community symbols” files.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. 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 consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer in Manitoba. It includes research materials (e.g., newspaper clippings, copies of articles and book chapters, brochures, pamphlets), notes, drafts, copies of published Reader’s Digest articles, and correspondence.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3 file 12, file 17, file 18); letter dated April 29, 1874 to Glen Sutherland from Fred McGuinness (McG 3.1, file 6); and personal e-mail communication from Rick Ediger, Editor, Reader’s Digest, March 25, 2015
In the file level inventories, square brackets at the end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
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 research materials pertaining to this subseries may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), and Talks and workshops (McG 6.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon was born 20 April 1919 in Leeds Village, Quebec. McCutcheon attended Macdonald College at McGill University, graduating with a Bachelor of Agriculture in 1942. He completed a Bachelor of Science in 1943 at Concordia, a Bachelor of Arts in 1944, and a Bachelor of Education at Acadia in 1946. McCutcheon gained a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1948 and completed his Doctoral studes at Cornell University in 1951. McCutcheon spent 1951-52 at the London Institute of Education engaged in postdoctoral studies.
McCutcheon was appointed the Dean of the Faculty of Education at Brandon College in 1955. He was the first Dean of Education at Brandon University. McCutcheon served as Dean until 1967.
With Ms. Joan Garnett, Co-ordinator of the Office of BU Alumni Relations, McCutcheon helped to to establish many awards. With the collaboration of "Tommy" Douglas, Mrs. J.G. Diefenbaker, and Mr. D.L. Campbell, he assisted in the creation of the JRC Evans Student Loan Fund as a memorial tribute to Dr J.R.C. Evans, President of Brandon College 1928-1959.
From 1967 to 1974, McCutcheon taught at the Ottawa Teachers' College, later integrated into the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa.
McCutcheon authored over fifty academic articles. He was awarded a honorary Doctor of Education by Brandon University in 1989 and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Concordia University in 1996.
Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon died 31 March 2008. He was predeceased by his wife Phyllis Bishop in 2003.
Custodial History
These records were in Dr. McCutcheon's possession until his death. They were donated to the S.J. McKee Archives by his estate executors and delivered to the archives by Mr. Gerald Brown on their behalf.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains correspondence, pamphlets, publications, photographs, dilpomas and certificates of standing, newspaper clippings, a report prepared by Dr. McCutcheon for the Canadian Governor General's Office concerning the Canadian honours system, a copy of Dr. McCutcheon's doctoral thesis - Cornell University, 1951- and miscellaneous materials related to Dr. McCutcheon's long and distinguished career in Canadian post secondary education and public service.
This book contains the minutes of Memorial Gymnasium Committee meetings during the years 1923 to 1932. There is also a subscription card within the book.
Storage Location
RG 1 Brandon College fonds
Series 8: Brandon College Students Association
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