The idea for a Kin history was initially conceived in 1984-85 between the authors and a pair of Brandon Kinsmen, Tom Breneman (National President) and Michael Cox (National Director). These records were produced between 1986 and 1987, the researching and writing period for the book Only in Canada: Kinsmen and Kinettes. Published in 1987 by Friesen Printers (Altona), “Only in Canada” is a 271-page soft cover book, containing 40 images.
BU faculty members Dr. Kenneth “Ken” Stephen Coates, Assistant Professor of History, and Mr. Fred McGuinness, Lecturer in Journalism, authored the book. Assisting the writers was a research team of BU history students: Don Cooper, Diane Fowler, Rob McGarva, Scott Parker, Kurt Refvik, Karen Skinner, and Pam Svistovski supervised by Joy Dorian and Bruce Stafeld. During the writing of the book, Dr. Coates accepted a position at the University of Victoria.
During the research phase, the authors consulted Kin Magazine, committee minutes, newspapers, and members of the Kin service clubs across the country. The entire history of the Kin service organization is covered from its inception in 1920 to the time of publication; following the evolution of the association over time and documenting the contributions the organization made to quality of life in their respective local communities and to the country as a whole.
Custodial History
Accession 18-2002 records were in the possession of Fred McGuinness until the publication of Only in Canada. In the course of writing the history, records of the Kinsmen Club in Canada were amassed at the McKee Archives. The research materials developed by Coates and McGuinness were simply added to the Kinsmen records ca. 1987. The Kinsmen records have since been de-accessioned by the SJ McKee Archives and transferred to Kin Headquarters in Ontario.
Scope and Content
The subseries materials consist of letters of correspondence from the authors to numerous Kinsmen across Canada requesting information about the organization’s founder Hal Rogers for chapter one and the epilogue, as well as early drafts, outlines, and brites for all six chapters of the book. The book was commissioned by the Association of the Kinsmen Clubs of Canada and published in 1987. Of additional interest is a memo from Fred McGuinness to the Kinsmen National President Dr. Tom Breneman about the book’s launch, promotion, and distribution (see file 1).
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from the preface of the book Only in Canada: Kinsmen & Kinettes
Accruals
Closed
Language Note
Fred McGuinness often uses journalistic jargon to label his files. A “brite” refers to a short, amusing story. McGuinness often organized his ideas and research materials by potential brite topic. The term brite is often annotated on the letters of correspondence in these subseries files
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Archival materials held at Kin Canada headquarters. For an
inventory of materials de-accessioned by the McKee Archives see the donor file. Contact the Archivist for access
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to book chapter following the de-accession of the Kinsmen records
These records were produced between 1989 and 1990, the researching and writing period for The Chronicle of Canada monograph. Published in 1990 by Chronicle Publications (Montreal and Paris), the Chronicle of Canada is an approximately eight-pound, 980-page hard cover book, containing illustrations, photographs, and maps.
The premise of the Chronicle of Canada was to tell the social history of Canada in a journalistic style from the dawn of the dinosaurs to present day (July 1, 1990). Historical events were presented as short journalistic articles following a timeline.
Fred McGuinness was asked to be a contributor to the Chronicle of Canada in the summer of 1989. The writing assignment lasted six-months. Fred received, via courier every Monday, a writing package containing a computer diskette and a list of assigned stories to be completed within the week. The stories were researched, written, and saved onto the diskette, which was couriered back to Montreal on the Friday. The length of each article ranged from 100 to 500 words. The rate of pay for each article was $1.00 per line.
The editors of the Chronicle of Canada estimated their publication would contain 3,000 articles. McGuinness was assigned the majority of the prairie articles, which the editors estimated to be around 500 to 600 stories. It is possible to determine which articles McGuinness contributed to the project from the weekly period assignments and invoices.
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness during the writing phase of the monograph Chronicle of Canada. The materials were donated to the SJ McKee Archives by the Estate of Fred McGuinness circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries consists of textual records, created and collected during the production of the monograph Chronicle of Canada. It includes correspondence, journal articles, book chapters, Government industry publications, newspapers articles, promotional materials, and McGuinness’ articles for Chronicle of Canada printed in the Chronicle template.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News column #578 (McG 2.3, File 14); letter to Mr. Fred McGinnis [sic] from Chronicle Publications, dated September 25, 1989 (McG 5.7, File 1)
In the file level inventory, 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
Photograph shows the City of Brandon parade float pulled by two clydesdale horses. The parade is in honour of the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The float is decorated with wheat sheaves, the city's coat of arms, and the words "education" and "health" adorn a pergola or arbour in the centre of the float. Seven people are on the float and appear to be in costume. An Aboriginal man is dressed in full regalia, one man appears to be in academic robes, another dressed as a farmer. One woman appears to be dressed like a nurse while another may be wearing a pioneer costume.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Brandon City's foat in 1927, Celebrating 60 years of Confederation, The lady in white is Miss Ann Carnahan who was on the city staff for a number of years and now resides in Victoria. She is my husbands [sic.] sister.
Photograph shows the Mental Hospital parade float pulled by two clydesdale horses. The parade is in honour of the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The side of the float is decorated with Canada's coat of arms and the words "Sixty Years." In the centre of the float is a three-tiered birthday cake with a Union Jack affixed to its top. Four women are draped in toga-like gowns and each are holding provincial (small) coat of arms for New Brunswick, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. Two men can be seen wearing top hats and coats.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Mental Hospital foat in 1927.
Photograph shows the Timothy Eaton Company's parade float pulled by two clydesdale horses. The parade is in honour of the diamond anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The side of the float reads: Canada's Power in the Affairs of the World. A large globe is strapped to the back of the float and the provincial coat of arms for Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and the Dominion of Canada line the side. The Canadian Red Ensign is mounted at the front of the float.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: T. Eaton Co. float, 1927, 60th Anniversary of, Confederation.
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Mrs. Marian Gray of Brandon, September 13, 1978.
Scope and Content
Postcard shows the West End Park (also known as Stanley Park) and Park School. The school was situated on the southwest corner of Lorne Avenue. A couple of residences surround the school. Walking paths, a park bench, and a gazebo/grandstand can be seen in the park.
Notes
Front of postcard reads: Published for Christie's Book Store, Brandon, Man., 6350. Back of postcard reads: Canadian Souvenir Post Card, Warwick Brothers & Rutter, Limited, Printers, Toronto. The postcard is addressed to Miss Isabella Heastwell of Broderick, Saskatchewan, and is dated July 14, 1910.
Given to Fred McGuinness by Stewart Tait (1912-1988) of Brandon.
Scope and Content
Photograph is an outdoor class picture of young students standing on the front steps of what appears to be Park School.
Notes
Mr. Tait provided Fred McGuinness with a photocopy of the photograph (see McG 1.2, file 19) on which he identified a number of students in his class, including: first/front row - Miss Fleming (fourth from right); second row - Stan Fraser (first from left), Stewart Tait (second on left), Mrs. Ron Relf (nee Stock?) (fourth on left); third row - Ed Bolton (fourth from left), G. Cranston (fifth from left), Ed McGill (offset, above G. Cranston), Mary McGregor, daughter of C.C. McGregor (third from right)
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard is an outdoor class photograph of the 1909-1910 Central School Grade 8 class. The girls are wearing dresses and the boys suits and ties. School principal, Bedford A. Tingley, lays in front of the class.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Grade VIII, Teacher, B.A. Tingely [sic.], Allena Coombs
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts an outdoor class picture of the 1908-1909 Central School Grade 7 class. The class is posing outside of the school. The girls are wearing dresses and bows in their hair. The boys are wearing suits and ties. Teacher Naomi Moore stands to the right of the class.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Grade VII, Teacher, Naomi Moore, Allena Coombs, 1908-1909.
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts an outdoor class photograph of the 1907-1908 Central School Grade 6 class. The class is posing outside of the school. The girls are wearing dresses and the boys are wearing suits and ties.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Grade VI, Allena Coombs, 1907-1908.
Postcard has two thumb tack holes in its corners, bottom left corner is creased, face of one student is blotted out.
History / Biographical
Central School was situated on Lorne Avenue between 5th Street and 6th Street.
Custodial History
Donated to Fred McGuinness by Allena Strath (nee Coombs).
Scope and Content
Postcard depicts an outdoor class photograph of the 1906-1907 Central School Grade 5? class. The class is posing outside of the school. The girls are wearing dresses and boots. Most of the boys are wearing suits and ties.
Notes
Back of postcard reads: Allena Coombs, 1906-1907. All the students' names are listed. The class teacher is identified as Miss [Nettie?] Harrison.
Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Harry Spafford feeding Canada geese.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Harry Spafford feeding Canada geese near Vancouver 1976.
Photograph sent to Fred McGuinness from Leila McDiarmid Leck of Mission, BC, on 08 Feb 1983 in response to his Park School column (see F.A. Rosser, “Sunbeams – Park School reminiscences from a far away friends, Brandon Sun 25 Jan 1983)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of young boys posing for a picture in a school yard. Back row: Doug Barr, Bob Russel, Stan Wilkins, Murray Bowen, Rae McKenzie and Bob Epton. Middle row: Jimp Thompson, doug Jameison, Bill Beaton, Harold Barker and Harry Munroe. Front Row: Ted Tracy, Jim Richardson, Wilkie Collins, Clifford Kitson and Glen Speers.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Photograph is stamped: Crawford's Drug Store Brandon Tru-Tone Finish? Names of boys obtained from correspondence dated 08 Feb 1983 to Fred McGuinness from Leia McDiarmid Leck.
Photograph sent to Fred McGuinness from Leila McDiarmid Leck of Mission, BC, on 08 Feb 1983 in response to his Park School column (see F.A. Rosser, “Sunbeams – Park School reminiscences from a far away friends, Brandon Sun 25 Jan 1983)
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of co-ed students standing on a sidwalk between two railings. Students have been identified as: Glen Speers, Clifford Kitson, Rae McKenzie, Ellis McLaren, Shirley Lane, Beth (Babs) Kingston, Helen Tackaberry, Mina Collins, Mary Watson, Thelma Brownell, Jean Muirhead [dark head], Mary McDonald, Lorna Lawrence, Leila McDiarmid, Eleanor Wyre [head], Eleanor Sellers, Beth Crawford [head], Margaret Robinson, Florence Roberts, Eileen Muirhead? [head], Beulah Cristal, Marjorie Carruthers, Josephine Hamm [dark head], Dorothy Tinline?, Mary Wgner, Clayton Copp, Bob Epton, Howard Bell, and Anna Roberts in front.
Notes
Signatures of the students are on the back of the photograph. Names of obtained from correspondence dated 08 Feb 1983 to Fred McGuinness from Leia McDiarmid Leck.
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a group of individuals posing with a Purity Flour, Western Canada Flour Mills Company truck. Two men pose by the drive-side door and another two pose by the tail gate. Standing in the truck's payload are 13 individuals. It is possible that Edith Lepard (nee Harden) third from left and her mother, Catherine "Kate" Harden (nee Chalmers), third from right are standing in the payload.
Notes
The back of the photograph is stamped: Crawford's Drug Store, Brandon
Photograph was given to Fred McGuinness by Linda Bilkoski (nee Lepard) of Lac du Bonnet, MB.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a large group of men, women and children posing in a park. A man in a WWI Canadian uniform is standing in the back row, left-hand side.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Methodist Mission Sunday School Picnic taken in the Assiboine [sic.] Park. 1st 1915. 1915. Mr. Hugh Connolly Minister, Mr. Fred Denstedt, Teacher. Miss Hornbrook, Bible Class teacher. Mr. John Davies, Choir Leader. Mrs. Foreman in the center in dark dress the oldest member & four babies. Mrs. E. Harden, 33-10th Street N., City.
