Betty Margaret Gibson was born on July 14, 1911 in Brandon, MB. She attended primary school in Alexandra and Park schools, and took her teachers education at the Brandon Normal School. She began her teaching career in 1929. Teaching first in Deloraine and Chater, in 1936, Gibson travelled to South Africa to be the headmistress at Kingsmead College, Johannesburg. She returned to Brandon ten years later to take up the post of Principal at Fleming School. During this time she completed a BA from Brandon College (1959). Attaining her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, she taught at the University of Saskatoon and Brandon College/University. At Brandon University she was heavily involved with Indigenous teacher programs, including BUNTEP, PENT and IMPACT. She was briefly the Assistant Superintendent for the Brandon School Division (1967-1968). Gibson was active in the Children's Aid Society, co-created and appeared in a television show called "Common Sense About Reading" (CBC), and was the author of a children's book called "The Story of Little Quack." Gibson received the Centennial Medal in 1967, and the J.M. Brown Award (1974), for contribution to education in Manitoba. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Liberal Laws from BU in 1975, and even in retirement continued to teach education courses at BU and help children with reading disabilities. In 2003, she was inducted into Brandon University's Hall of Fame. Betty Gibson School in the Brandon School Division is named in her honor. Gibson never married. Betty Gibson died on February 23, 2001 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
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 Betty Gibson about her teaching career. Interviewer is JE Bateman.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Manitoba Historical Society, The Brandon Sun and the records. Transcript by Nathan Qumsieh (2014). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy created 2021 (R. Hess)
Audio Tracks
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Very poor. Item has been broken in half on a diagonal from top to botton. Upper right corner is missing. Various tape stains and some tape residue on the bottom left.
History / Biographical
Lottie Louisa Currie was born on September 9, 1876 in St. Mary's, Perth, ON, to William and Eleanor Currie. She came to the Brandon area with her family in the 1880s. Currie worked as a bookkeeper and stenographer for Smith & Burton, from at least 1906 until the business ceased operations in 1917.
Currie continued working in bookkeeping and accounts, first for Brandon Gas & Power Co., then for the Manitoba Power Commission. She appears to have retired around 1942. She is not listed as living in Brandon between 1943-1945, but was once again a resident by 1947. Currie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a charter member of the Brandon Business and Professional Women's Club and in 1916, she passed her examinations for the St. John's Ambulance Association.
Lottie Louisa Currie died on November 25, 1972 in Brandon, MB.
Smith & Burton, a grocery store that also had mail order and china departments, was founded by E.B. Smith and John Burton in the 1886. It was housed at a few locations in downtown Brandon; their location at 829 Rosser Avenue is the one that mostly likely appears in the photograph.
Scope and Content
Item is a portrait of office employees at Smith & Burton, grocers. Lottie Currie, daughter of William Currie, is shown standing on the left.
Photograph shows Fred McGuinness at a Pierre Burton book signing for "The Promised Land." Mr. Burton is seated at table in the concourse of the Brandon Shoppers' Mall in front of Doigs.
Lynn Shier was born November 28, 1942 in London, Ontario to Anglo-Saxon Protestant parents. Her father and mother were of German and English-Dutch descent, respectfully. On her father’s side, Lynn’s ancestors emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1749. Both of her parents were born and raised in Iowa, where they also married in 1929. Following her parent’s marriage, the couple moved to London, Ontario in 1928 where her father was employed as a professor at the University of Western Ontario. Lynn resided in London, Ontario with her parents for sixteen years before relocating to Santa Barbara, California. After residing in California for three years, Lynn came back to London, Ontario in order to attend the University of Western Ontario. During her time at the University, Lynn met her future-husband Allan Shier. Allan Shier was born to parents of German and Scotch descent. His father’s ancestors immigrated to North America during the late 1740s or early 1750s from roughly the same region of Germany as Lynn’s ancestors.
Lynn and Allan were married in 1963. Following the wedding, the couple remained in Ontario for two years, one year of which was spent in Toronto. The couple later moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba where they lived for two years before travelling to Souris, Manitoba. While in Souris, Manitoba Allan worked as a district city planner. Lynn and Allan remained in Souris, Manitoba for four years after which they relocated to Brandon, Manitoba in 1970, where Allan continued to work as a district city planner for the city and Southwestern Manitoba. During their married life, Lynn worked as a household interviewer, and as a secretary for the Daly House Museum and the Assiniboine Historical Society while raising the couple’s children, two girls and a boy. Lynn was also very active in the Brandon community.
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 the interview "Fur Trading in Brandon Area." The interviewee is Lynn Shier, the interviewer is Effie McPhail and the interview was conducted as part of the Voices of Yesteryear project. The tape contains details about the arrival of the first Europeans to Canada during the late sixteen-and early seventeenth-centuries, as well as more precise information concerning the history of the French and English fur trade within the Brandon, MB area.
Notes
Description by Jennifer Maxwell (2011) and Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Conservation
Preservation copy created 2021 (R. Hess)
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Hans Andersen was born at Moline, Manitoba, on February 28, 1922, the third child of Andrew and Hansine Andersen. Andersen grew up on his family’s farm, attending Moline public school. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1943 to 1946, as part of the 23rd Field Artillery of the 4th Division, serving in England, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. After military service in World War II, Andersen returned home and started a farming career in the Moore Park district, located in the Rural Municipality of Odanah. In 1946, Andersen also married Marthe Renauld (1922-1977). The couple had 3 children: Karen, James and Mary Lou.
For 40 years, Andersen farmed in the Moore Park area, where he was also heavily involved in the local community. He was a trustee for Moore Park consolidated school district and a member of the Elton municipal school board. He was also a member of the Moore Park pool elevator board, and the Royal Canadian Legion. In 1970, Andersen was elected to the position of Reeve of the RM of Odanah. He remained the Reeve of Odanah until 1978.
In 1978, Andersen married Thelma Terry, and moved to Rapid City. In Rapid City, Andersen continued farming, gradually reducing his time in farming until he sold the last of his land to his family in 1990. In Rapid City, Andersen was involved in the building of a brand new seniors centre, and occupied himself in retirement with not only golfing but lots of traveling, going to places like the United States and Europe.
After 2000, Andersen’s health began to deteriorate due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Hans Andersen died on January 12, 2008. He is buried at Rosewood Memorial Gardens.
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 Hans Andersen. Interviewer is Mae Johnson. Andersen discusses topics such as the history of the rural municipality, the administration of the RM, some of the issues dealt with by the leadership of the RM through its history, and some of the bylaws that were enacted since the establishment of the RM of Odanah in 1883.
Notes
History/Biographical information provided by Brandon Sun obituary entry, January 19, 2008, electronic correspondence with James Andersen, December 7-9, 2011, and the Manitoba Historical Society website. Description by Tyler Warren (2011) and Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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Alice Eva Simmons was born on July 23, 1909 in Wingham, ON. Her mother's side of the family came to Ontario from England through the Immigrant Department of Canada, with the help of the Salvation Army. After Eva's father died, her mother remarried a farmer from the Bunclody, MB area; Eva and her three siblings grew up in this area, with Eva attending high school in Brandon. Eva married Carman Duncan in 1932, and the couple farmed in the Moline area until Carman's death in 1957. It was here that their daughters Corinne and Peggy were born. Eva and Corrine lived in Brandon and Calgary before Eva moved back to Brandon, where she resided for the rest of her life. Eva was actively involved in the Salvation Army in Brandon, serving as the secretary of the Brandon Salvation Army court. She was also very active in the Daily House Museum auxiliary. Eva Duncan died on August 15, 2001 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Rapid City 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 Eva Duncan about her personal experiences with the Salvation Army. The interview includes the historical origins of the Salvation Army, a chronological development of the Salvation Army in Canada and Brandon, as well as the major functions of the Salvation Army. Interviewer is Effie McPhail.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from The Brandon Sun. Description by Lei Peilong (2011) and Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
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Elmer A. Travis was born February 7, 1900 in the Rolla District of North Dakota. His family farmed sixteen miles east of Rolla, North Dakota. In May 1905, his family, which included his parents and seven children, and some friends, decided to move up to Canada as there was no wood source within 25 miles of their homestead. They also desired more range for their cattle. The group settled eighteen miles north of Roblin in the San Clara District, with a single quarter section of land, eventually expanding to five quarter sections of land. Due to their location the family often did their shopping in Togo, Saskatchewan, and shipped their grain from Mycroft, Manitoba. During his youth, he met a local girl named Mary Louise Lafournaise (1900-1993)
Travis married Mary Louise Lafournaise on May 3, 1921 in the San Clara District. After their marriage they settled on their own farm in the district. Elmer served as a blacksmith for the local area while farming, working as a mechanic, selling Rawleigh’s goods, and hauling cream (1939-1940). In 1957, due to Mary’s poor health, they moved to British Columbia for a year, before moving back to Elphinstone, Manitoba. They then moved to Souris in 1963, where they continued to live, except for another year in Creston, British Columbia from 1967-68. Elmer Travis died in 1995 and is buried in Souris-Glenwood.
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 Elmer Travis about homesteading and rural community life. Contents include settlement at Roblin, Manitoba, schooling, farming practices, housing, social life in the area, Mr. Travis’ musical talents, and his marriage to Mary Louise Lafournaise. In addition, there is content on the community working together on building, how to make lime from burning limestone, moving to BC and return to Manitoba, descriptions of the various jobs held by Mr. Travis, the installations of home telephones and hydro in his home district, Roblin hospital in the 1930’s, and his hobbies at the time of the interview in 1981. Interviewer is John E. Forsyth.
Notes
Included on the cassette are several musical recordings done by Mr. Travis. Transcript by Jaclyn Matchullis (2014). Description by Joel Springer (2011) and Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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J. Hilton Ashton was born on March 19, 1919 in Mulvihill, Manitoba. He lived in Mulvihill until 1925, before moving to Fleming, SK and Butler, MB, before settling in Virden, MB in 1930. Ashton was a journeyman electrician by trade. During World War II he served in the Air Force, serving a year in Canada and four years in England as a fighter pilot, seeing approximately 2 ½ years of active duty. Ashton married June MacMillan of Winnpeg, and together they had five children: Richard, Bruce, Janet, Judith and Glen. Hilton Ashton died in 1996 and is buried in Virden, MB.
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 Hilton Ashton about his experiences in the Airforce in the Second World War, as well as early air shows. Interviewer is Elmer Armstrong.
Notes
Description by Evan Stitt (2011) and Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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