Leonard Andrew Muirhead (1918–2008) was the only child of Andrew and Isabella Muirhead. He grew up on the farm homestead in the Summerville District near Carberry, Manitoba. He graduated from Carberry Collegiate when he was sixteen. He helped out on the farm for two yeas after graduation then attended United College, Winnipeg, and then Brandon College. Muirhead then worked in the Financial Department at Canada Packers in Saint Boniface until 1942. In 1942 he returned home and helped his father with the farm operation. Leonard married Verle Sinclair, a local schoolteacher, on October 12, 1951. They had three daughters: Iris, Gwen, and Arla. In 1965, health reasons made him give up active farming and he began an income tax preparation business as well as selling investments for Trust Companies.
Leonard Muirhead attended Brandon College for the 1937-1938 school year. This was the last year that Brandon College was associated with McMaster University as it then became affiliated with the University of Manitoba.
Custodial History
The papers remained with Leonard Muirhead’s papers until his daughter, Iris Muirhead, donated the papers to the S.J. McKee Archives in 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists primarily of 1938 examination papers from Brandon College, when it was affiliated with McMaster University. It also contains an exam schedule and a course outline. It contains examination papers from spring 1938 for the courses of 2nd and 3rd Years Physics 2y, 3w, Bible 2k, Psychology 2a, Mathematics 2x, Mathematics 1e, a syllabus for second term English 1g2a, and an examination timetable for spring 1938 for Brandon College.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from conversation with Leonard Muirhead's daughter, Iris Muirhead in October 2012 and from obituary http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-136216/(accessed October 24, 2012). Description by Jennifer Sylvester (October 2012).
The Leonard Muirhead collection is available at the Carberry Plains Archives. Leonard Muirhead also donated records related to Montrose School and Carberry 4-H Combines to the Carberry Plains Archives.
Dr. MacNeill was the central figure in the scandal involving Brandon College in the early 1920’s. The Fundamentalist Baptists accused Brandon College, and Dr. MacNeill especially, of teaching Modernist views. He was absolved of any charges at the 1924 Baptist Convention in Chicago.
For history/bio information for H.L. MacNeill, see RG 1 Brandon College fonds, BC 6: Office of the college dean.
Scope and Content
File consists of correponsdence to Howard Whidden, President of Brandon College, and various regarding Dr. MacNeill and his teachings (October 1921 - January 1922). It also contains a copy of "An Abstract of the Report of the Brandon College Commission" prepared by Rev. H.H. Bingham regarding Dr. MacNeill and his teachings.
Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
Tears around the edges, some staining over the entire piece (none of the photos are damaged)
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the members of Brandon College Class of 1943. Writing on the back reads "To Bill, from The Knowleton's, Happy Birthday 1976."
Notes
Cliff Kitson graduated Class of 1946, Ray Bailey graduated Class of 1945, Anna Hughes graduated Class of 1944, George Gooden graduated Class of 1942. S. Morris, M. Hughes, M. Bockie, A. Flemming, M. Fahrig did not graduate. W. Orr, G. Grant, W. Goodwin, A. Armstrong all served in World War II and did not graduate. A. Armstrong was killed on active service.
Photograph of the Brandon College Capettes basketball team (1966-1967). Front Row (L to R): Jan Neddrie, Val Broadfoot, Judy Kellie, Capt. Barbara Ann Scott, Rhonda Harper. Back Row (L to R): Manager Margaret Reid, Fay Emish, Vicki Moore, Janice Doak, Coach Doug Steeves. Missing: Sandra Schneider, Linda Oakley.
Image has some small cracks across the portrait on the bottom left
Custodial History
Image was donated by Dr. Keith Evans, son of JRC Evans and nephew of Annie Evans Wright.
Scope and Content
Composite portrait of the Brandon College Class of 1926.
Top row (L to R): Anita Grace Sallans; Ida Myrtle Eliason; Muriel Edith Jollow; Harriet Ada Spackman; Rose Jeane Vasey; Hon. Pres. JRC Evans; Margaret Kilgour; Myrtle Christina Evans; Edna Pearl Calverley; Eileen Muriel Ritchie; Annie Evans Wright
Bottom row (L to R): Samuel Ernest McDowell; Thomas Eric Stevens; William August Wenk; George Ralph Berquist; Joseph Lester Gayton; Joseph Clarence Hembling; Robert Hugh Wellwood; Arthur Macdonald Freeman; Harold Francis Batho; George Darragh; Theodore Charles Segsworth; Arthur Percival Macpherson
The Brandon University Photograph collection is an artifically created collection. It includes photographs from both Brandon College and Brandon University.
Custodial History
The custodial history is varied. Some photographs were created by officers of the College and the University, or were produced at the request of the institution. Many, as well, have been donated by former faculty members and students. We have tried to record the custodial history for photographs that have been donated by faculty members and students at the item level.
Scope and Content
Fonds has been divided into eleven series, including: (1) Convocation, Scholarships and Awards; (2) Campus Buildings; (3) Library Activities and Archives; (4) Faculties and Schools; (5) Student Activities; (6) Administrative and Support Units; (7) Sports; (8) Portraits; (9) Oversize; (10) Special Events; and (11) Documents, Diplomas and Certificates.
This series contains three sub-series: Layouts & Furnishings, Receipt of Gifts, etc. and Archives. The first sub-series, Layouts and Furnishings, consists of photos of the Brandon College and University libraries from the 1940’s to the present time. These photos highlight interesting areas of the library and include past and present library staff members. The second sub-series contains photos taken in the library during presentations of gifts, and other important events, such as the naming of the Robbins Library. The third sub-series contains photos taken in the McKee Archives, at its former location in the Jeff Umphrey Building, and since 1997, in its new location on the mezzanine floor of the John E. Robbins Library.
Series consists of photographs depicting sports and recreational activities. Sports include: hockey, field hockey, basketball, volleyball, football, swimming, curling, gymnastics, tennis, soccer and track and field. There are photos of both men's and women's teams, actiona shots from various sporting events, as well as images from both the Brandon College and Brandon University eras.
Related Material
A number of athletics photos are stored in BUPC 9 oversize.
Series is divided into 13 sub-series, including: (1) Aerials; (2) Brandon College Building & Clark Hall; (3) Citizens' Science Centre & Knowles Douglas Building; (4) Richardson Centre & A.E. McKenzie Building; (5) Healthy Living Centre & Henry Champ Gymnasium; (6) Dining Hall & Residences; (7) Education Building; (8) Original Music Building & the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building; (9) J.R. Brodie Science Centre; (10) Dr. James and Mrs. Lucille Brown Health Studies Complex; (11) Jeff Umphrey Building & Glen P. Sutherland Art Gallery; (12) Physical Plant; (13) H-Huts.
Book stacks and study carrels. Library and Arts Building, Library Mezzanine floor looking north from south stairway as laid out when building was opened. Anne Lane (Student Library Assistant)
This series contains five sub-series: I: Up to 1945, II: 1945-60, III: 1961-70, IV: 1971-80, V: 1981-2000. All sub-series consist of random shots of students at Brandon College and University, participating in various activities such as graduation banquets, dances, winter carnivals, and Shinerama, or just relaxing together. This series also contains a large photo album donated to the McKee Archives by Lenore (Gusdal) Dinsdale.
Education curriculum collection room opening westward off Library Reading Room, Library and Arts Building. L. to R. Ralph Berry, Margaret Ariss and students
