Search Results - S. J. McKee Archives

School of psychiatric nursing (BMHC)

http://archives.brandonu.ca/en/permalink/descriptions4066

Part Of: School of Health Studies

Description Level: Sub sub series

GMD: multiple media

Date Range: 1900-1989; predominant 1920-1980

Accession Number: 9-2000

Part Of: School of Health Studies

Description Level: Sub sub series

Series Number: 7.5.4

Accession Number: 9-2000

GMD: multiple media

Date Range: 1900-1989; predominant 1920-1980

Physical Description: 3.85 m textual records; 880 photographs (220 negatives); 26 slides

Physical Condition: Good

History / Biographical: The Brandon School of Nursing was established in 1921, at the Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases (hereafter B.H.M.D.). It was first alluded to in 1913, when the Superintendent of the B.H.M.D., J.J. McFadden, recommended it as a means of enhancing the reputation of the hospital. In 1919, the Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene released a highly critical report on the state of custodial institutions for the mentally ill in Canada that paved the way for reforms such as the establishment of psychiatric nursing schools. In 1920, the new superintendent, Dr. Charles A. Baragar, in his first annual report, again mentioned the need for trained nurses and instructional facilities in which to train them. Lectures began at B.H.M.D. in October of 1920 for attendants and nurses, but they were not compulsory and were not part of a formal program of studies. This was followed in 1921 with the establishment of the School of Nursing through which courses were offered beginning in 1922. The program consisted of a two year Mental Nurses Diploma Course, and a shorter "demonstrative" course that was required for all employees of the B.H.M.D. who elected not to enroll in the diploma course. The Class of 1923 was the first class of graduates from the Brandon School of Nursing. They were, by all accounts, the first graduates in all of Western Canada with a diploma in Mental Nursing. In 1924, wages at the B.H.M.D. were adjusted to take into account the completion of formal training in psychiatric nursing. In 1925, a short lived affiliation with the St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, that ended in 1927, was begun. That year also saw the beginning of a graduate studies course. In 1930, the diploma course grew to a three year program. In 1986, as many aspects of the B.H.M.D. - now referred to as the B.M.H.C. (Brandon Mental Health Center) - were phased out in favor of community based care, the B.M.H.C. School of Nursing was incorporated into Brandon University's School of Nursing, which began to offer a 2 year Post-Diploma Degree in Nursing and Mental Health.

Custodial History: This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 2000. Prior custodial history is unknown.

Scope and Content: Sub sub series consists of a collection of records dealing with the history of the School of Nursing at the Brandon Mental Health Centre. The records consist primarily of administrative documentation created by the school dealing with various internal issues, such as student recruitment, graduation services - including an almost complete collection of graduation programs - and records dealing with the behavior of the students. Administrative records also refer to external issues faced by the B.H.M.D. as a whole, such as its burgeoning patient population and the constant problem of adaquate accommodations for patients, staff, and student nurses. The collection also includes staff recollections, and correspondence from within and from outside of the B.H.M.D. Also included are documents relating directly to the history of the School of Nursing and of the B.H.M.D. as a whole. A smaller amount of curriculum materials, including instruction manuals, notebooks, and hand-written lecture notes are also included. Publications from within the B.H.M.D.., including "The Opinion" from 1970-1990, and the "The Ego" 1956 - 76 (seven editions) are also included, as well as a collection of outside publications dealing with psychiatric nursing, mental diseases, medical ethics, and heredity. Fonds also includes medical dictionaries and handbooks of different nursing institutions such as the Victorian Order of Canadian Nurses. Lastly, the collection includes approximatley 880 photographs, 220 negatives, and 26 slides, that provide a graphic portrayal of the history of the Brandon Mental Health Centre.

Notes: A detailed inventory for the textual records exists. An inventory for the photo collection is also avaiable. The description for this sub sub series was written by Mike White (2002).

Name Access: Brandon Mental Health Center; Brandon Asylum; Brandon Hospital for Mental Diseases; B.M.H.C; B.H.M.D

Subject Access: Mental health; Mental illness; Psychiatric Nursing; School of Nursing; Asylum

Access Restriction: Access to these materials is restricted. Those interested in the collection should consult the Archivist.

Storage Location: RG 6 Brandon University fonds Series 7: Faculties and Schools 7.5 School of Health Studies

Related Material: Other material relating to the BHMD./BMHC. are housed at the Manitoba Provincial Archives.

Arrangement: The sub sub series is organized into eight sub sub sub series, including: (1) History; (2) Correspondance; (3) Administrative Records; (4) Curriculum Materials; (5) Publications of B.M.H.C.; (6) Outside Publications; (7) Photographs, Slides, and Negatives; and (8) Miscellaneous Items.

Mark Cousins interview

http://archives.brandonu.ca/en/permalink/descriptions14690

Part Of: Westman Oral History collection

Description Level: Item

GMD: sound recordings

Date Range: November 7, 1981

Accession Number: 35-1998

1 audio

Part Of: Westman Oral History collection

Description Level: Item

Item Number: OH291.Cou

Accession Number: 35-1998

GMD: sound recordings

Date Range: November 7, 1981

Physical Description: 1 audio cassette [0:40:00]

History / Biographical: Mark Cousins was born on January 28, 1894 in Sneighton Heights, Yorkshire, England. In 1905, at the urging of an uncle who was already there, the family moved to Canada. They landed at Halifax before travelling to Elkhorn, MB. Mark's schooling began in England but continued at the school in Elkhorn. Mark farmed with his parents at a few locations before settling in the Mossgiel district. Mark married Pauline "Polly" Wouchuk (1910-?) in 1928 and they continuted farming the home farm until 1964, when they retired and moved to Elkhorn. Together the couple raised four children: Douglas, Mildred, William and Betty. In 1967, Mark was presented with an honorary life membership from the Elkhorn Agricultural Society. He was also an honorary life member of the Progressive Conservative Party. Mark Cousins died on May 25, 1987 in Elkhorn, MB. He is buried at Elkhorn Cemetery.

Custodial History: As part of the Westman Oral History Collection, this collection was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. The original tapes from the Westman Oral History project were deposited in the Brandon Public Library. Copies of these originals were made by Margaret Pollex of the Brandon University Language Lab at the request of Eileen McFadden, University Archivist in the early 1990s. These copies compose the collection held in the McKee Archives.

Scope and Content: Item is an audiocassette tape containing an interview with Mark Cousins about his life. Interviewer is Ron Heritage.

Notes: History/bio information from the records, the Elkhorn local histories "Mossgiel Memories" and "Steel and Grass Roots," and Cousins' obituary. Description by Christy Henry.