Laura Anne Orchard was born on July 31, 1909 at Graysville, MB to Jeannie and Harold Orchard. She was the fourth of six children. In 1912, the family moved to Glenorchie Farm in the Morton district near Miami, MB.
Laura attended Morton School and Miami High School, completing Grade XI, then attended Manitou Normal School in 1928-1929. She taught in one-room schools: Bracken near Laurier (1929-1930); Rothesay near Isabella (19301-1931 or 1932); and Badger near Roland (1932-1933).
After Laura married Hugh Loyns in 1934, they farmed near Roseisle, MB and raised two children, Shirley, who became a high school teacher, and Alwyn, who became a university professor.
Laura continued to work with young people through 4-H Clubs. She also served on Eldviado school board, the one-room school where her children attended. In 1958, Laura returned to teaching at Roseisle Consolidated School District until 1961. When Laura and Hugh left the farm to live in Vanderhoof, B.C., she worked as a resource teacher in Vanderhoof Elementary School from 1965-1974. Though she never completed Grade XII, she did continue to keep abreast of teaching methods through correspondence courses, workshops, and summer sessions.
In the late 1970's, Laura and Hugh retired to Chilliwack, B.C. Laura Anne Orchard died at Chilliwack on July 28, 1983.
Custodial History
The records in the collection were in the possession of Shirley Hicks, Laura Anne Orchard's daughter, until donated to the S.J. McKee Archives in September 2013.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records related to Orchard’s time at Manitou Normal School. The textual records include: An autograph book with signatures of all the students at Manitou Normal School; Department of Education Entrance examinations for drawing (1929), composition (1929,1930), science (1929), and physiology and hygiene (1930) ; a copy of the Manitou Normal School Closing Ceremonies programme (1929); a notebook on how to teach reading (c.1929); a lesson plan notebook containing notes on various subjects including Manitou Normal School executive, Students, Arithmetic, Primary Reading, Grammar, History, Poetry, Spelling, Geography, Geometry, Science, and class scores.
The collection also contains ten black and white reproduction photographs including: the 1928-1929 Manitou Normal School composite portrait; the Manitou Normal School building; Manitou Normal School Executive; Mr. Gordon, School Principal (1927-1930); various students; and an individual photo of Laura Orchard.
Notes
History/Bio information was provided by Shirley Hicks. Description by John Ball (2013).
Prince Edward Hotel Dining Room. Student Activity: Brandon College Arts Banquet. D. Walker, L.M. Finlay, K.L. Kidgell, B.L Bole, M. Doyle, E. Bowen, H. C. Stark, H. Shaw, O. Gardiner, J. Bradd, A. McKillop, H. J. Hyson
The Class of 1940 at the Arts Banquet. Back Row-L to R: Clare Pentland, Jack Wood, Tom McLeod, Iven Galvin. Middle Row-L to R: Jim Smith, Stan Leaming, Frank Goodwin, Marj Kirk, Jean Wedderburn, Bertha Davis, Ross Williamson, Ormand Williams, Don Lee. Front Row-L to R: Kay Drake, Florence Trent, Marg Hickling, Jean Hutchinson, Gwen Dobbie, Marion Stone
Photograph came from the estate of Margaret Hawley Speers, Class of 1928. It was donated to the McKee Archives by her cousin David Speers in July 2009.
Scope and Content
Item consists of 87 small portraits of the members of the Brandon College Arts Class of 1928. There are also portraits of H.L. McNeill, Dean of Arts, and Prof. C.P. Kerr, Hon. President, as well as a photo of the Brandon College campus. The Class of 1928's motto "Patet Omnibus Veritas" is also included.
See sub sub series level (RG 6, 8.4.1) for history/bio information.
Custodial History
See sub sub series level (RG 6, 8.4.1) for custodial history.
Scope and Content
File consists of grant application materials including a project proposal, budget template, bios for participating authors, and minutes for the April 20, 2007 meeting of the Aboriginal Literary Festival Committee.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 8: Library Services
8.4 Library special events
8.4.1 Brandon Aboriginal Literary Festival
