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.
See collection level description for history/biography for information on Fred McGuinness.
Custodial History
Records in this series were acquired in four accruals and were in the possession of Fred McGuinness until their donation to the Archives.
Accession 18-2002 records were in the possession of Fred McGuinness until the publication of Only in Canada, a book on the history of the Kinsmen Club of Canada co-authored with BU history professor Ken Coates. In the course of writing the history, records of the Kinsmen Club in Canada were amassed at the McKee Archives and the research materials developed by Coates and McGuinness were simply added to the Kinsmen records circa 1987. The Kinsmen records have since been deaccessioned by the McKee Archives and transferred to Kin Headquarters in Ontario.
Accession 6-2008 contains records created and collected during the writing of the Provincial Exhibition book, Pride of the Land. Fred McGuinness, who co-authored the book with Ken Coates, donated these records to the McKee Archives circa 1988.
Accession 20-2009 contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness over the course of his career as a newspaper journalist and during the research and writing period of the Brandon history book, The Wheat City. Records remained in his possession at his home until their transfer to the McKee Archives on July 28, 2009.
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. This accession contains records for the following monographs: Manitoba: The Province & The People (1987); The Keystone Province: Manitoba Enterprise (1988); The Wheat City (1988); The Chronicle of Canada (1990); and Old Pathways, New Horizons (1995).
Scope and Content
The series contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness and writing partners during the production of seven of Fred McGuinness’ monographs. Series has been divided into seven subseries, including: (1) Pride of Land: (2) Only in Canada; (3) Old Pathways, New Horizons; (4) Manitoba: The Province & The People; (5) The Keystone Province: An Illustrated History of Manitoba Enterprise (1988); (6) The Wheat City; and (7) Chronicle of Canada.
Records in the series consist of notes, drafts, correspondence and research materials in the form of photographs and photocopied newspaper clippings, journal articles and book chapters pertaining to Manitoba history.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News column (#934, November 10, 1997)
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
File level inventories for each subseries are available. See
individual subseries’ descriptions
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Series has been re-arranged according to publication period with the exception of Old Pathways, New Horizons (1995)
McG 5 Monographs
McG 5.1 Pride of the Land (1985)
McG 5.2 Only in Canada (1987)
McG 5.3 Old Pathways, New Horizons (1995)
McG 5.4 Manitoba: The Province & The People (1987)
McG 5.5 The Keystone Province: Manitoba Enterprise (1988)
McG 5.6 The Wheat City (1988)
McG 5.7 Chronicle of Canada (1990)
Series VI: Faculty Activities: This series contains eleven sub-series which consist of the various faculties at Brandon University such as sub-series I: Arts Activity, sub-series V: Education Activities, and sub-series VIII: Science Activity. These photos mainly consist of activities that deal with one specific faculty, for example, field trips taken by the science departments. There are also pictures of students and faculty members working in the classroom.
Series VII: Special Events: This series contains ten sub-series which highlight special events at Brandon University. For example, there are sub-series with photos from Brandon University’s 75th Anniversary, Bicycle Races, and Installations. There is also a very large sub-series called “Other” which includes almost 200 pictures of various special events, such as Prime Minister Chretien’s visit to the university, and Montreal Massacre Vigils held at the university.
Series X: Scholarships and Awards: This series contains three sub-series: Outlines, Colour Presentations, and Other. This series consists of pictures of scholarship and award winners, as well as pictures of awards ceremonies and presentations.
Retirements: This is a very small series consisting of only six photographs, mostly taken at the retirement parties for Lucy Kennedy and Bertha Watkin.
Series XII: Other University Activities: This series contains five sub-series: Alumni Activities, Baccalaureate Services, Board of Directors Activities, Drama, and W.U.S. Activities. This sub-series contains numerous photos of various activities from the Class of ’34 Reunion, and Homecoming ’95, ’96, and ’97.
The offices of the President and General Manager were established in 1896 with the creation of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. These positions were held jointly by the one officer of company until 1975, when the Board of Directors of the Company divided the two positions, thereby relieving the President from management of plant operations.
Under the General By-Laws of the Company, the President, when present, presided over all Board of Directors meetings. He also signed all documents that may have required his signature and performed any other duties assigned to him by the board. The President exercised general supervision and control over the business of the Company and performed such duties as are usually associated with the office of President of Chief Executive officer of a company.
The General Manager had full power and authority to manage and direct the business and affairs of the Company. He was also responsible for employing and discharging agents and employees of the Company. After A.E. McKenzie gifted the majority of his company shares to the Government of Manitoba in 1945, the General Manager remained responsible for all operations of the Company. However, the General Manager found himself accountable to a Board of Directors comprised mainly of government appointees.
A. E. McKenzie held the offices of President/General Manager from 1896 until his death in 1964, at which time J. Lasby Lowes succeeded him. Following Lowes' retirement in 1968, A.R. Swanson was appointed by the government to fill the positions. Anthony J. Maruca became President of A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. in 1972. In 1975, the Board of Directors appointed William Moore the first individual to hold the position of General Manager without also occupying the President's office. At the same time, Mr. Pat Kelleher was named the new interim President. Following Kelleher's resignation, Moore was appointed President of the company. Keith Guelpa became President around 1984 following Moore's departure from the company to face criminal charges arising from his activities as an officer of the company. Raymond West assumed the position after Guelpa’s departure.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
Series consists almost entirely of records and documents generated by the first two President/General Managers of A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. In addition to the records created by A.E. McKenzie and J. Lasby Lowes in their capacity as President/General Manager, records pertaining to the various properties owned by the Company are also included. The series also contains marketing documents, including catalogues and sales literature, as well as a reference library comprised of twenty titles dealing with business and the seed industry and some records dealing with the President/General Managers following Lowes' retirement.
The series has been divided into seven sub-series, including: (1) A.E. McKenzie; (2) J. Lasby Lowes; (3) Comptroller; (4) Properites; (5) Marketing; (6) Reference Library; and (7) Miscellaneous Publications/Correspondence.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 2 Office of the President/General Manager
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.
