In addition to his personal library, Fred McGuinness maintained extensive files on numerous topics/subjects containing newspapers clippings, magazine and journal articles, letters of correspondence, photographs, pamphlets, etc. He accumulated his local history materials by personally collecting newspaper, books, and magazine articles; by readers’ forwarding materials for his interest; and from workshop participants submitting memoirs and personal narratives for his interest, review and feedback. McGuinness continued to add to his “topic” files throughout his lifetime.
Usually McGuinness kept his research materials and communications together for his respective writing assignments, however, he would often use the same research materials to write on similar topics that appeared in a number of different publications. McGuinness likely used his local history research materials for his Brandon Sun Sunbeams and Diary columns, his monographs, and possibly for his Local History Style Guide (1984), as well as in his memoir writing workshops. For his column writing, particularly for Neighborly News, McGuinness created file folders on particular topics. These held newspaper clippings collected from the prairie weeklies and once a folder was full, he wrote about the subject.
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 series consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. The series has been divided into two subseries, including: (1) Local history research and (2) Newspaper clippings.
Local history materials consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, biographical documents and memoirs, obituaries, and manuscript drafts on Brandon (Manitoba) topics including: origins, anniversaries, centennial, reunions, early pioneers/families, historic buildings and streets, businesses, museums, local newspapers, prominent citizens, military units, and politicians. McGuinness also maintain files on the local history of surrounding communities, including: Birtle, Beresford, Camp Hughes, Hartney, Kemnay, Russell, and Souris.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News column (#934, November 10, 1997). Items dating to the 1880s are photocopies and transcripts of original materials
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
Language Note
NNC = Neighborly News Column
Finding Aid
File level inventories for each subseries are available. See
individual subseries’ descriptions
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
John Everitt collection
Clarence Hopkin collection
Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
William Wallace papers
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible work and correspondence pertaining to his research materials may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection Monograph series (McG 5) and subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Talks and workshops (McG 6.3). McGuinness also “filed” many clippings between the pages of his books in his personal library (see McG 8 Library series)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Series has been re-arranged according to publication period
McG 4 McGuinness research
McG 4.1 Local history research materials
McG 4.2 Newspaper clippings
During the Great Depression, Fred McGuinness launched his career with the Brandon Sun as a paper career beginning in 1933. His route had him delivering papers in Brandon’s downtown core, to many of the city’s, now, historic or demolished buildings. Four years later he was employed in the city working for CPR telegraphs as a messenger and then as an operator. These early Brandon experiences weaved their way into McGuinness’ newspaper columns, his broadcasts, and his books. In turn, McGuinness’ readers shared with him their own memories about Brandon and its local history.
McGuinness was passionate about the social history of regional communities and the province as a whole. In the 1970s, McGuinness was instrumental in helping to establish the Rural Resource Centre, the predecessor to Brandon University’s SJ McKee Archives. He co-authored several monographs about Manitoba’s social history with Brandon University Professor Ken Coates and published a pictorial history about Brandon. He was also a community booster and was consulted to serve on, promote and write about local, provincial and rural development initiatives. In his obituary, the last piece he would publish in the Brandon Sun, McGuinness wrote that he had a “deep and continuing interest in anniversaries.”
In its editorial piece on the passing of Fred McGuinness, the Brandon Sun commented that McGuinness had a “genuine interest in the stories and memories that are part of every Canadian’s experience…He loved driving through small Westman towns and communities, stopping at the local coffee shop to strike up conversations with the locals.” He continued writing his Diary column for the Brandon Sun and mentoring aspiring writers in his memoir writing workshops until his death in 2011.
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. As part of his research and writing process, McGuinness kept numerous files on various subjects and continued to add to them throughout his career. He accumulated his local history materials by personally collecting newspapers and clippings, books, and magazine articles; by readers’ forwarding materials for his interest; and from workshop participants submitting memoirs and personal narratives for his interest, review and feedback.
Local history materials consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, biographical documents and memoirs, obituaries, and manuscript drafts on Brandon (Manitoba) topics including:
the City of Brandon’s origins, anniversaries (75th, centennial), reunions (Victoria 1969, Toronto 1977)
historic buildings and streets (Brandon’s Central Heating System, Brandon’s Fire Department, Brandon Gun ClubBrandon water power plant)
businesses (Assiniboine River ice harvest; Brandon woolen mills, skating arenas; Snellie brothers (Russell, MB); Meighen, Haddad, & Co., Prince Edward Hotel)
citizens and early pioneer/families (Armitage family, Beaubier family, Thomas Black, J.A. Brock, Henry Carroll, Q.C., Chalmer-Harden families, Clement family, Flora Cowan, Eliza Durston, William A. Elliott, Dr. Fleming, Hall family, Eleanor Kidd, Jack Lane, William Langdon, Lindenberg family, A.E. McKenzie, Margaret Muir, William Muir, W.S. Orchard, Mrs. Osmond (Griswold), General Thomas Lafayette Rosser, Harry Spafford, Allena Strath, George Treherne, Wallace family)
institutions (ACC, Brandon Research Station)
military units (181st Battalion)
museums (Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum)
local newspapers
politicians (R.O. Lissaman, Sir Clifford Sifton)
railways (1916 Brandon trainwreck)
religious organizations (Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus, Beresford Church)
McGuinness also maintain files on the local history of surrounding communities, including: Birtle, Beresford, Camp Hughes, Hartney, Kemnay, Russell, and Souris.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from “We’re Going to Miss You, Fred,” Brandon Sun, March 24, 2011, A8
Items dating to the 1880s are photocopies and transcripts of original materials
In the file level inventories, square brackets at 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
John Everitt collection
Clarence Hopkin collection
Provincial Exhibition Association of Manitoba fonds
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
William Wallace papers
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible work and correspondence pertaining to his research materials may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection Monograph series (McG 5) and subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Talks and workshops (McG 6.3). McGuinness also “filed” many clippings between the pages of his books in his personal library (see McG 8 Library series)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Gilbert Plains Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Organizational papers: 1936 - 1955 Agreement between Gilbert Plains CEAL and MPEL, 15 October 1936 By-law no. 16, 30 October 1939 By-law no. 16 (signed later), 1 November 1939 By-law to authorize cancellation of capital, 28 October 1940 Agreement for sale between MPEL and Gilbert Plains CEAL Memo re to authorize cancellation of capital, 24 March 1941 General By-laws and By-laws 18, 19, and 20, 4 July 1941 Memo of repeal By-law no. 19, no date Letter re Agreement for sale, 14 March 1944 Letter Agreement, 19 June 1944 Draft resolutions for special meetings (By-law no. 21), 13 November 1947 By-law no. 22, 14 November 1949 Letter re By-law no. 22, 7 March 1950 Agreement between Gilbert CEA and MPE, 1 August 1951 Agreement between Gilbert Plains CEA and MPE, 1 August 1953 Agreement between Gilbert Plains CEA and MPE, 1 August 1955 Directors' Resolution, 18 October 1961 Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 21 August 1926 - volume 5, 3 October 1968 Minutes of Shareholders Annual meetings, 1947 - 1963 (3 reports) Financial records and statistics Statement of surplus, 1938 - 1955 (7 reports) Final statements, 1931 - 1947 (12 reports) Auditors' reports, 1941 - 1957 (10 reports) Analysis of Operating Results, 1953 - 1962 (3 reports) Surplus Repayment, 1933 - 1936 (1 report) Financial Statements, 1952 Correspondence, 1946 - 1957 Membership list, 1946 - 1961 Miscellaneous Building costs - Montgomery House, 1964 Bills from Gilbert Plains Consumers Co-op, 1964 Lumber supply estimates, rough sheets Corporate Name: Rural Municipality of Gilbert Plains
Silver Plains Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Organizational papers: 1928 - 1933 Certificate of Incorporation, 10 March 1928 Memorandum of Association, 10 March 1928 Acknowledgement of certificate and memorandum, 16 March 1928 Minutes of meeting of Provisional Directors, 2 April 1928 Indenture between MPE and Silver Plains CEA, 1 August 1928 Memo re: Agreement between MPE and Silver Plains CEA, 12 November 1929 Minutes of Special Board of Directors meeting, 17 July 1931 Agreement between Silver Plains CEA, MPE, Maintoba Wheat Pool and the Government, 1 August 1931 Agreement between Silver Plains CEA and MPE, 2 February 1933 Minutes of Special Board of Directors meeting re: By-law no. 15, 3 March 1933 Letter re: Enactment of agreement and By-law no. 15, 15 July 1933. Directors Resolution October 18, 1961. Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 3 May 1928 - volume 6, September 1969 Minutes of Shareholders Annual meetings, 1929 - 1984 Volume no. 1, 5 December 1929 - 30 October 1968 Volume no. 2, November 1956 - 15 December 1960 Volume no. 3, 23 January 1970 - 17 April 1984 Financial records and statistics Statement of surplus, 1944 - 1945 (1 report) Annual financial statements, 1929 - 1931 (3 reports) Auditors reports, 1933, 1936, 1967 (3 reports) Membership list, no date Miscellaneous Directors Attendance list, no date (1 report) Director's report, 1928 - 1929 Corporate Name: Rural Municipality of Morris
See fonds level description (MG 3 1.14 W. Leland Clark) for history/bio information on W. Leland Clark.
Custodial History
See fonds level description (MG 3 1.14. W. Leland Clark) for custodial history.
Scope and Content
Sub sub series consists of primary sources related to Canadian agriculure in Western Canada from the Great War to the Great Depression drawn from the National Archives of Canada and the Provincial Archives of Manitoba; primary sources including interviews conducted by Dr. Clark for his PhD thesis and subsequent book titled Brandon Politics and Politicians; and various papers - published and unpublished by Dr. Clark, a few of his students, and other academics. Sub sub series also contains seven copies of Brandon Politics and Politicians.
Notes
A PDF version of this book is available. PDF courtesy Gordon Goldsborough, webmaster Manitoba History..
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
MG 3 Brandon University Teaching and Administration
1.14 W. Leland Clark
