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).
Foxing on matting and photograph, primarily along edges of photograph
Custodial History
Mona McKinnon (nee Corkish) gave photograph to Colleen McGuinness who, in turn, gave it to her father, Fred McGuinness in 2007.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Mrs. Scott's residence in Kemnay, Manitoba. Members of the family along with two horse-drawn buggies are clearly visible along the front of the house. A possbile church appears to the right of the house in the background.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Margaret Brown Scott, Mother in law to, Frank McGee Sr.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
History / Biographical
On 16 November 1906, Manitoba was hit by a severe winter storm that began that Thursday evening and extended through the weekend. The Brandon Daily Sun ("Storm Extends Over a Large Territory," 17 Nov. 1906, 1) reported that rail and telegraph services had been disrupted, country roads were impassable, and business in town was at a stand still. Following the weekend, the daily reported the blizzard was one of the greatest in recent memory. CPR trains had been caught in drifts by Carberry and an express car had caught fire and was destroyed ("Worst Storm in Many Years," Brandon Daily Sun, 19 Nov. 1906, 1).
John Dickson (b. 17 Mar 1854, Scotland; d.15 April 1926, Brandon) was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer dentists. Dickson immigrated to Canada in 1857, where he lived in Hamilton, Ontario, for a number of years. Dickson then came to Manitoba and operated a grocery in Chater before he studied dentistry, graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1886. Dickson settled in Brandon where he married Anna Louise Harrison on 28 December 1891. (Source: “Pioneer Dentist of Brandon in Dr. John Dickson,” Brandon Daily Sun 16 Apr 1926).
The couple had four children: Mrs. Irving Cross [Mary Louise, b.20 Dec 1892, Brandon; d. 22 Oct 1981, Saratoga, NY]; Dr. John Harrison Dickson [b. 26 Aug 1894, Brandon; d. 17 June 1956, Killarney]; Dr. Stanley Rodgers Dickson [b. 18 Feb 1896, Brandon; d. 25 July 1963, Brandon]; and Mrs. Emile Baldeschweiler [Isobel Marion Coates, b. 13 Nov 1900, Brandon; d.?] of New York. (Source: Manitoba Vital Statistics database)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows three children standing on a residential sidewalk after a winter storm. Two girls are wearing winter overcoats and a boy is wearing a winter jacket. The children are possibly those of dentist Dr. John Dickson, who resided at 342-8th Street.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: November 1906, 342.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
History / Biographical
John Dickson (b. 17 Mar 1854, Scotland; d.15 April 1926, Brandon) was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer dentists. Dickson immigrated to Canada in 1857, where he lived in Hamilton, Ontario, for a number of years. Dickson then came to Manitoba and operated a grocery in Chater before he studied dentistry, graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1886. Dickson settled in Brandon where he married Anna Louise Harrison on 28 December 1891. (Source: “Pioneer Dentist of Brandon in Dr. John Dickson,” Brandon Daily Sun 16 Apr 1926).
The couple had four children: Mrs. Irving Cross [Mary Louise, b.20 Dec 1892, Brandon; d. 22 Oct 1981, Saratoga, NY]; Dr. John Harrison Dickson [b. 26 Aug 1894, Brandon; d. 17 June 1956, Killarney]; Dr. Stanley Rodgers Dickson [b. 18 Feb 1896, Brandon; d. 25 July 1963, Brandon]; and Mrs. Emile Baldeschweiler [Isobel Marion Coates, b. 13 Nov 1900, Brandon; d.?] of New York. (Source: Manitoba Vital Statistics database)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows three children standing on a residential street in front of a large woodframed home surrounded by a white picket fence. Two girls are wearing winter overcoats and a boy is wearing a winter jacket. The trees are covered in hoarfrost and snow lines the streets. The children are possibly those of Brandon dentist Dr. John Dickson who resided at 342-8th Street.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: December 1906, 344.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
History / Biographical
On 16 November 1906, Manitoba was hit by a severe winter storm that began that Thursday evening and extended through the weekend. The Brandon Daily Sun ("Storm Extends Over a Large Territory," 17 Nov. 1906, 1) reported that rail and telegraph services had been disrupted, country roads were impassable, and business in town was at a stand still. Following the weekend, the daily reported the blizzard was one of the greatest in recent memory. CPR trains had been caught in drifts by Carberry and an express car had caught fire and was destroyed ("Worst Storm in Many Years," Brandon Daily Sun, 19 Nov. 1906, 1).
John Dickson (b. 17 Mar 1854, Scotland; d.15 April 1926, Brandon) was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer dentists. Dickson immigrated to Canada in 1857, where he lived in Hamilton, Ontario, for a number of years. Dickson then came to Manitoba and operated a grocery in Chater before he studied dentistry, graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1886. Dickson settled in Brandon where he married Anna Louise Harrison on 28 December 1891. (Source: “Pioneer Dentist of Brandon in Dr. John Dickson,” Brandon Daily Sun 16 Apr 1926).
The couple had four children: Mrs. Irving Cross [Mary Louise, b.20 Dec 1892, Brandon; d. 22 Oct 1981, Saratoga, NY]; Dr. John Harrison Dickson [b. 26 Aug 1894, Brandon; d. 17 June 1956, Killarney]; Dr. Stanley Rodgers Dickson [b. 18 Feb 1896, Brandon; d. 25 July 1963, Brandon]; and Mrs. Emile Baldeschweiler [Isobel Marion Coates, b. 13 Nov 1900, Brandon; d.?] of New York. (Source: Manitoba Vital Statistics database)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows three children playing on a residential street in the winter. Two girls are wearing winter overcoats and a boy is wearing a winter jacket. The trees are covered in hoarfrost and snow lines the streets. The children are possibly those of Brandon dentist Dr. John Dickson who resided at 342-8th Street.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: 1906, 343.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
History / Biographical
John Dickson (b. 17 Mar 1854, Scotland; d.15 April 1926, Brandon) was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer dentists. Dickson immigrated to Canada in 1857, where he lived in Hamilton, Ontario, for a number of years. Dickson then came to Manitoba and operated a grocery in Chater before he studied dentistry, graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1886. Dickson settled in Brandon where he married Anna Louise Harrison on 28 December 1891.
The couple had four children: Mrs. Irving Cross [Mary Louise, b.20 Dec 1892, Brandon; d. 22 Oct 1981, Saratoga, NY]; Dr. John Harrison Dickson [b. 26 Aug 1894, Brandon; d. 17 June 1956, Killarney]; Dr. Stanley Rodgers Dickson [b. 18 Feb 1896, Brandon; d. 25 July 1963, Brandon]; and Mrs. Emile Baldeschweiler [Isobel Marion Coates, b. 13 Nov 1900, Brandon; d.?] of New York.
Sources: “Pioneer Dentist of Brandon in Dr. John Dickson,” Brandon Daily Sun 16 Apr 1926 and Manitoba Vital Statistics database.
Scope and Content
Photograph is a family in a garden plot in a residential area. Four children, two women, and a man are standing amongst sweet peas. Out buildings of other properties can be seen. Possibly standing from left to right are members of the Dickson family: Mary, Isobel, John Harrison, Annie Louise (wife), Stanley Rodgers, Mrs. Harrison (mother-in-law), and John (husband).
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: 289. Page appears to be from a photo album.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
History / Biographical
John Dickson (b. 17 Mar 1854, Scotland; d.15 April 1926, Brandon) was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer dentists. Dickson immigrated to Canada in 1857, where he lived in Hamilton, Ontario, for a number of years. Dickson then came to Manitoba and operated a grocery in Chater before he studied dentistry, graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1886. Dickson settled in Brandon where he married Anna Louise Harrison on 28 December 1891. (Source: “Pioneer Dentist of Brandon in Dr. John Dickson,” Brandon Daily Sun 16 Apr 1926)
The couple had four children: Mrs. Irving Cross [Mary Louise, b.20 Dec 1892, Brandon; d. 22 Oct 1981, Saratoga, NY]; Dr. John Harrison Dickson [b. 26 Aug 1894, Brandon; d. 17 June 1956, Killarney]; Dr. Stanley Rodgers Dickson [b. 18 Feb 1896, Brandon; d. 25 July 1963, Brandon]; and Mrs. Emile Baldeschweiler [Isobel Marion Coates, b. 13 Nov 1900, Brandon; d.?] of New York. (Source: Manitoba Vital Statistics database)
Scope and Content
Photograph is of a girl and a boy standing amongst sweet peas in a backyard garden. A clothes line is visible in the foreground. The children, Mary and Stanley, are possibly those of Brandon dentist John Dickson.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: 291. Page appears to be from a photo album.
Photographs have been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a boy standing on a residential sidewalk after a winter storm. The boy is wearing a toque, jacket, and short pants. Hoarfrost covers the trees. Ornate stone fence posts line a residential property.
Notes
Two other photographs (20-2009.79 and 20-2009.80) are glued to the page. Page appears to be from a photo album.
Photograph shows residential area of Lorne Avenue from 14th Street facing east.
Notes
Part of "Christie's Brandon Series of Six Colored Picture Postcards of Brandon, Manitoba, The Crown Series, Published by Christie's Bookstore, Brandon, Man." [note: missing sixth postcard]. Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Residential, Brandon, Man. Looking East.
Photograph shows a street view of Lorne Avenue and 4th Street facing west. Brandon College can be seen at the end of Lorne Avenue.
Notes
Part of "Christie's Brandon Series of Six Colored Picture Postcards of Brandon, Manitoba, The Crown Series, Published by Christie's Bookstore, Brandon, Man." [note: missing sixth postcard]. Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Residential Brandon, Man. Looking West. Photograph likely taken from St. Augustine's Church.
Joseph Donaldson's Ltd. Food Market appears in the Henderson's Brandon City Directory from 1906 to 1929. Donaldson's main meat/butcher shop was located at 813 Rosser Avenue. A second branch was opened by 1914 at 228 Rosser Avenue but relocated to 654 Tenth Street by 1917. The branch relocated by 1921 to 662 Tenth Street where it remained until ca.1929. This address was referred to as the "Busy Corner" in the Henderson's Directory. In 1931, butcher Ted Hill appears to have taken over the Donaldson's establishments.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows George Pope sitting in a backyard. Standing next to him is Isabella Louise McGuinness (Pope). A young girl, perhaps Ruth McGuinness, is standing over a stroller. A wood pile and garden plants can be seen in the backyard. An advertisement for Joseph Donaldson's Ltd Food Markets can be seen on a business beside the residence.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: This is mum her uncle George Pope who came to Brandon in 1880 (I think) in the back yard of 708-10th Street. It looked like Ruth in the lower right corner. I was interested in the Donaldson advertising.
Photograph shows a western view of the residential area along Lorne Avenue from St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church. Roof-tops of Central School, First Baptist, Brandon College, Manitoba Power Plant, and Old City Hall are visible.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Lorne Avenue, looking West from St. Augustine's R.C. Church, Brandon, Man. Writing on the back of the postcard reads: The Valentine & Sons Publishing Ltd., Montreal and London, Printed in Great Britain. A cancelled George VI purple Canada 3 cent stamp has been postmarked: Brandon SP 11 52.
Postcard is bent, inked stained, and has emulsion artifacts
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a wood-framed bungalow with ornamental woodwork on the porch and roof. The home has a wooden picket fence. A woman and child are seated on one side of the ballustrade and a woman in an overcoat and hat is seated on either side of the ballustrade. Neighbouring homes are also visible.
Photograph shows two women, a man, and dog, standing in a residential backyard during the winter. The women are wearing large hats and fur stoles. The woman standing in the middle is likely Isabella Louisa McGuinness (nee Pope), mother to Brandon Sun editor Fred McGuinness.
Photograph shows a man, woman, and small child standing on a front porch. The man and woman are wearing heavy fur coats.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: "Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Darroch and their son Stuart, visiting the Brandon Winter Fair from Carievale, Saskatchewan.
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