Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
Adelene Monica Bailey was the wife of J.R.C. Evans, president of Brandon College (1928-1959).
Custodial History
Records were donated by Keith Evans, Adelene Bailey's son.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of Bailey's diploma awarded by Victoria Avenue Methodist Sunday School (1911), and her diploma certifying her completion of the post-graduate course of study prescribed in the Pianoforte department of Brandon College (1924)
Notes
The Brandon College diploma is signed by Franklin Sweet. Description by Christy Henry.
Storage Range
Reading room oversized drawer with Brandon University Photograph collection series 11: Documents, diplomas and certificates.
Christy Morgan Henry was born in Souris, MB on October 3, 1978. She moved to Brandon, MB in 1981 with her family, where she attended Valleyview Centennial School and Vincent Massey High School. Henry obtained her B.A. (Spec. in History) from Brandon University in 2002. Henry completed her M.A. in Archival Studies through the University of Manitoba in May 2009.
During her years as a student at Brandon University, Henry was a member of the Religion Club, where she became involved in the early planning and implementation stages of the Labyrinth of Peace project.
Henry completed contracts with the University of Calgary Archives and the Legal Archives Society of Alberta before taking a position as a Library/Archives Assistant at Brandon University in July 2006. She was appointed University Archivist at the S.J. McKee Archives in 2011.
Custodial History
The photographs were in Henry's possession until their donation to the McKee Archives in September 2007.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of sixteen photographs of the Labyrinth of Peace, including photographs of all of the original stained glass symbols, and one photograph of Ed Milton, Peter Hordern and Robert Brockway at Milton's retirement tea.
Dufrost Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Organizational papers: 1928 - 1961 Certificate of Incorporation, 7 April 1928 Memorandum of Association, 7 April 1928 General By-laws, 7 April 1928 Letter re: Above By-laws, 13 April 1928 Lease, 1 August 1928 Memorandum of agreement, 22 November 1929 By-law nos. 18, 19, 20 and General By-laws, no date Directors' Resolution, 18 October 1961 Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 9 June 1928 - volume 3, 25 April 1969 Minutes of Shareholders Annual meetings, 1941 - 1945 (5 reports) Financial records and statistics Statement of surplus, 1944 - 1952 (3 reports) Final statements, 1944 - 1952 (3 reports) Auditors report, 1946 - 1951 (2 reports) Analysis of Operating Results summary, 1951 - 1952 (1 report) Annual financial statement, no date Correspondence, 1941 - 1959 Membership list, 1943 - 1969 Miscellaneous Directors Attendance list, 1946 - 1947 (1 report) Corporate Name: Rural Municipality of De Salaberry. Sub-district Council minutes March 24 1980 - April 1 1986.
Niverville Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 6 July 1960 - 24 July 1968 Minutes of Shareholders Annual meetings, 1967 (1 report) Financial records and statistics Analysis of Operating Results, 1965 - 1966 (1 report) Correspondence, 1960 Membership list, 1967 Miscellaneous Directors Attendance list, 1960 - 1961 (1 report) Application for membership list, 11 May 1960 Corporate Name: Rural Municipality of Richot. Niverville Local Pool Board of Directors meeting minutes Sept 5 1968 - Feb 1 1977. Sub-district Council meeting minutes Jan 1970 - Feb 13 1984.
Sub-district #603 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 15 August 1969 - volume 2, 21 June 1980 Financial records and statistics Financial standing, 31 July 1971 Financial standing, 31 July 1972 Financial standing, 31 July 1975 Requisition for payment of councilors fees and Honorariums, 1970 - 1971 Correspondence, Letter dated August 24, 1982. Miscellaneous, Notes on Council meeting held August 18, 1982.
Sub-district #505 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 14 August 1969 - volume 6, 27 June 1990 Financial records and statistics Payment of Councilors fees and Honorariums, 1975 Requisition for committees fees and secretary's honorarium, 10 January 1976 Miscellaneous Record of attendance, 1975; local Pool Committee mintues September 26, 1990 - June 20, 1991.
Sub-district #203 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 15 August 1967 - volume 3, 30 July 1986; local Pool Committee minutes September 24, 1986 - June 18, 1991.
Sub-district #605 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 12 August1969 - volume 2, 8 January 1980; local Pool Committee mintues March 31, 1980 - June 13, 1991.
Sub-district #506 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 13 August 1969 - volume 3, 26 March 1980 Correspondence, Letters dated January 7, 1972 & August 11, 1976. Membership, Membership list prior to July 31, 1931.
Sub-district #204 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 20 August 1969 - volume 4, 22 March 1988 Correspondence, 1978. Sub-district council minutes July 1988 - June 11 1991.
Sub-district #205 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 29 September 1969 - volume 2, 21 January 1980
Sub-district #404 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, Volume 1, 12 February 1976 - Volume 2, 24 July 1985; Sub-district Council minutes February 11, 1986 - October 21, 1992. Elgin & Fairfax Pool Local meeting minutes Oct 20 1982 - Nov 28 1990.
Sub-district #106 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Organizational papers: 1980 Reorganization meeting, 8 April 1980 Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 20 August 1969 - 9 April 1980 Minutes of Shareholders Annual meetings, 29 November 1979 (see above vol. 1) Correspondence, 18 February 1980 - 23 June 1980
Sub-district #704-705 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 1 February 1977 - 2 August 1984; sub-district #705 (Rorketon) local Pool Committee mintues June 5, 1983 - July 27, 1991.
Sub-district #401 Co-operative Association: Minute Book October 12 1976 - June 12 1984; Minute Book Oct 15 1984 - June 11 1991; Minutes April 10 1973, April 2 1994 - April 1999; Attendance 1982 - 1999; Ledger Vol 1 1981 - 1990; Ledger Vol 2 (photocopy) 1990; Expenses Nov 1986 - Feb 1994
Altona Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board Meetings, Volume 1, 19 January 1980 - 24 July 1990; local Pool Committee mintues July 26, 1988 - June 11, 1991.
Sub-district #402 Co-operative Elevator Association Limited Minutes of Executive Board meetings, volume 1, 8 August 1973 - 14 February 1980; local Pool Committee minutes October 5, 1987 - April 30, 1990.
