Archibald E. Wilson was the son of Reverend E.F. Wilson and the husband of St. Clair Vidal Wilson. Rev. E.F. Wilson was at one time in charge of the Shingwauk and Wawanosh Homes at Sault Ste. Marie. Rev. E.F. Wilson moved to Elkhorn, Manitoba in 1888, to establish an educational home for Indian children. He was joined by his son, Archibald E. Wilson who was, in 1890, appointed assistant to the superintendent. A.E. Wilson became Principal of the Indian Industrial School in 1892. His wife served as Matron of the girls departments. Togerher they had three daughters: E.F. Metita, Winifred St. Clair and Murial Grace, as well as two sons: Edward Vidal, and St. Clair Vidal Wilson.
Archibald Wilson and his family lived in Elkhorn, Manitoba during the years 1892 to 1918 while he was principal. At the beginning of his term as Principal there were 12 students enrolled; enrollment reached as high as 95 students, representing eight different nations. In February of 1918, the government withdrew funding and the school closed. In September of 1918, Wilson left Elkhorn to take up his new position as a clerk at an Indian Reserve near Gleichen, Alberta.
During its years of operation, the Elkhorn Industrial School included an Athletic department, a curling team and a boys' football team. Students studied carpentry, shoemaking, harness making, tailoring, knitting and sewing. In 1893, the school was presented with a large Canadian flag for being the best Industrial School in Manitoba and the Territories. In November of 1893, a brass band was established, which provided music for the local Anglican Chruch. After a fire demolished most of the school in 1895, Wilson convinced the Federal Department of Indian Affairs to rebuild the school. In 1899, the Elkhorn Industrial School was reopened.
Custodial History
Most of this fonds was at one time in the possession of Principal A.E. Wilson. After Wilson passed away the pieces of the fonds were kept by one of his daughters, Winifred St. Clair Wilson, now deceased. Winifred married Mr. Frank Clark, M.D. and kept the fonds when she moved to Vancouver B.C. and then to Calgary, Alberta. Winifred Clark eventually donated the fonds to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes four journals, one testimonial and one newspaper article. The journals include: the ‘7th Annual Report of the Washakada Indian Homet 1895-1896,' written by Principal A.E. Wilson; ‘The Greater Britain Messenger’ September and October 1899, which includes the article ‘The Elkhorn Home, Manitoba;’ ‘The National Monthly of Canada’ September 1902, which includes the article ‘Indian Children at Home;’ and the Centeneray Number (March-April 1932) issue of ‘The Algoma Missionary News,’ which includes an article giving information about Rev. E.F. Wilson and his missionary work.
Fonds also includes an article from the November 19, 1971 edition of The Vancouver Sun, entitled "Leisure's Book Reviews," which discusses Indigenous publications in Canada. The testimonial that is included in the fonds, was given to Archibald Wilson upon his departure from Elkhorn. There are 28 subscribers to the testimonial and it is dated September 19, 1918.
Notes
The Wilsons are discussed in J.R. Miller's "Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens: A History of Indian-White Relations in Canada," Miller's "Shingwauk's vision :a history of native residential schools" and John S. Milloy's "A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System 1879-1986." Description by Christy Henry.
Young-Man-Afraid-of-his-Horses 'Tasunka Kokipapi' (c.. 1830-1900). Although the hereditary Oglalachief, Man-Afraid yielded his tribal authority to Red Cloud amid the turbulent years when the Sioux and Cheyenne openly opposed the Boreman Trail and succeeded in their struggle to drive the army from Sioux hunting grounds within the Powder River country. He led his people on the warpath throughout the Red Cloud War and during his later years was president of the Pine Ridge Council and represented the Oglala in Washington on several occasions. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
View is west to McDiarmid Drive from approximately 16th Street between Princess and Louise Avenues. Photograph shows: Brandon College, Fleming School, Coronation Park, and West End Community Centre.
View is northwest from the corner of 18th Street and Louise Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon College campus, the Steam Plant and Kinsmen Stadium. Flora Cowan Hall is under construction.
View is east southeast from approximately 22nd Street between Princess and Louise Avenues. Photograph shows: Brandon College, Stanley Park, Park School, Prince Edward Hotel, First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Wheat City Arena, First Church United, St. Paul's, Central United Church.
View is southeast from 21st Street and Princess Avenue. Photograph shows: Brandon College, Wheat City Arena, Armories, Reform (Knox) Church, Alexander School, Knox United Church, Kinsmen Playground, Kinsmen Stadium.
View is east northeast from approximately 22nd Street between Lorne and Louise Avenues. Photograph shows: Brandon College (before planting of trees in quadrangle and before the Education Building), McKenzie Seeds, Prince Edward Hotel, Central United (St. Paul's) Church, St. Augustine's Church.
View is north northeast. Photograph shows the Brandon College Building in the foreground with the Education Building and North Hill in the background. Photo was taken from the roof of McMaster Hall.
View is north northwest from the roof of Flora Cowan Hall (?). Photograph shows: the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre, the A.E. McKenzie Building and the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium as well as a number of houses on 20th Street.
View is southeast and was probably taken from the roof of McMaster Hall. Photograph shows the greenhouse situated on top of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.
View is northwest, taken from the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Photograph shows: Citizens' Science Building in the foreground, the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall in the background, as well as the driveway in front of the buildings.
View is northeast, taken from the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Photograph shows: the Brandon College Building, the Student Services H-Hut, the Education Building, and the Student Union Building (Citizens' Science Building), as well as 18th Street and some houses. The trailer to the south of the Education Building was a Canada Manpower office in the 1960s. It was latter moved over by the Gymnasium, where it became the Quill office.
View is north northwest from the John R. Brodie Science Center (?). Photograph shows: Citizens' Science Building, Brandon College Building and Clark Hall, the Education Building and the driveway running in front of the buildings.
View is southwest from the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Photograph shows: Flora Cowan Hall, the Brandon University Gymnasium, Darrach Hall, the Quill trailer and the Jeff Umphrey Centre.
View is north, taken from approximatley 19th Street and Rosser Avenue. Photograph shows: Clark Hall, the A.E. McKenzie Building, the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre, H-Huts, Darrach Hall and Flora Cowan Hall, as well as a number of homes in the area.
View is northwest from approximately the corner of 18th Street and Louise Avenue. Photograph shows the Brandon College campus after the completion of Flora Cowan Hall.
Notes
BUPC 2.1.20 is a larger version of this photograph.
