Postcard is stained and ripped in the right hand corner. A label is taped to the front of the postcard. The postcard has been issued.
History / Biographical
Harry Spafford (b. 22 Oct 1888, d. 10 May 1978) was born in Holmfield, Manitoba. He married Isabella Hawking of Ninga in 1914 and the couple moved to Brandon in 1915 where they continued to reside until 1973. Harry worked as a locomotive fireman and then as an engineer with the Canadian Northern Railway (CN). While with CN, he was an active member of the Brotherhood of Local Engineers and Firemen No. 788 of Brandon. He served as an alderman in Brandon from 1928 to 1945. In 1932, Harry ran in the Manitoba by-election for Brandon as an Independent Labour candidate and lost to the Conservative member George Dinsdale. In 1952, Harry ran as a Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) member in the provincial election and lost to Conservative party representative Reg Lissaman. Harry Spafford passed away in Burnaby, BC, and is interred in the Ocean View Cemetery. (Source: see obituary in McG 4.1 File 66)
Alva/Alvery/"Alvie" Reddell/Riddell/Ridall Spafford (b. 15 Mar 1891, d. 23 Aug 1985) was born in Enterprise, Manitoba, in the R.M. of Turtle Mountain. In 1911, he married Francis Ethel Harrison (d. 1979) in Killarney and had three children. Alvie farmed in Bannerman from 1902 to 1936, after which he moved to Boissevain to work as a Rawleigh salesman. In 1942, the family moved to Brandon where Alvie worked as a conductor with the CNR until his retirement. Alva Spafford passed away at the age of 94 at the Brandon General Hospital. His funeral was held in Killarney, Manitoba. (Source: Obituary, Brandon Sun, 23 Aug 1985)
Scope and Content
Postcard is a group photograph of some of the members of the Spafford family standing on the front steps of a residence. The four women and four men are dressed in heavy coats and jackets.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Harry Spafford on left, Alvie Spafford in centre, Alf Spafford on extreme right, about 1910; The back of the postcard is addressed to Mrs. Alva (Francis) Spafford of Bannerman, Manitoba. Alvie Spafford has written at brief note to his wife, Francis. The postmark reads November 23, 1912, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The names Aunt Ida, -- --, Uncle Harry, Alf, and Alva are written in pen at the top of the postcard.
Photograph shows a group of nine people surrounding an elderly man, likely A.E. McKenzie, who is wearing a black suit. The group appears to be photographed in residential yard.
Photograph shows a family before a log cabin. A man wearing a long-sleeved shirt, tie, and vest with watch fob stands at the entryway to the home. A woman wearing a white blouse and long skirt sits on a rocking chair on a rough a rough-hewn porch. A boy wearing a pea coat sits on the porch to the right of the man and woman. Lace curtains are hanging in the window.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: Mr. D.H. Hopkins and family
A number of the letters are samples of "cross writing"
Physical Condition
Some of the letters are fragile, but generally the fonds is in good condition.
Custodial History
Ann Murdoch donated a copy of "My Dear Will" to the McKee Archives in February 2008. The formal donation of the Baker family letters occurred on September 27, 2008 at a reception in the Gathering Space at the John E. Robbins Library.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a collection of about 200 letters primarily written by William Baker (although letters written by other family members are also included), who left Liverpool and settled in Oak Lake, to his son William who remained in England. The letters offer insights on a wide range of subjects including the conditions of immigrants and the Riel "situation".
The fonds also contains a supplement to "My Dear Will: Reflections of Prairie Pioneer Life." This latter publication consists of transcribed copies of the letters in the Baker family fonds. The letters were originally transcribed by Ronald James Parsons and his wife Rita Olive Parsons (nee Blake) and published, along with some letters, photographs and other documents for family c. 1997. The booklet was updated in 2007 by Ronald and Rita's daughter, Ann Murdoch. The Supplement was prepared by Ann Murdock and her sister Dawn Powell.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry.
Finding Aid
My Dear Will booklet
Storage Location
2008 accessions. Booklets and family tree stored in Rare Books: RC 3399.B73Z495 2007 v.1 and v.2.
See collection level description for the James Douglas Wall collection.
Scope and Content
Group portrait of what may be a family reunion or wedding anniversary celebration. There are some potted plants and a coupld of photographs placed in front of the group. The woman seated in the wooden chair towards the centre of the image is wearing a corsage.
Sitting Bull made only one tour with the Wild West Show, declining other invitations feeling his presence was needed by his followers at the Standing Rock Agency. This photograph was known to have been taken by David Notman, son of the premier Canadian photographer William Notman, during the summer of 1885. Barry likely obtained this copy of the negative from Notman himself. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
15 X 10.5 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
Severe bowing back of both vertical edges away from mat.
Sitting Bull 'Tatanka Iyotanka' (1834-1890). The spiritual leader and head of the Hunkpapa warrior societies, Sitting Bull poses in Barry's studio wearing a crucifix of brass and wood. It was presented to him in June of 1868 by 'Black Robe', Father Pierre Jean De Smet, who had been sent by General Sherman to bring Sitting Bull and his hostiles to council. Without Sitting Bull the 'Laramic Treaty' council took place at Fort Rice, D.T., July 2, 1868. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Sitting Bull 'Tatanka Iyotanka' (1834-1890). Most probably the last photograph of the legendary chief and vision seeker, Sitting Bull had guided his people for nearly 40 years during the times when Manifest Destiny sought her fortune within the lands of the Sioux . (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Sitting Bull 'Tatanka Iyotanka' (1834-1890). Having been civilized by two years of subjugation and stripped of his tribal authority by the white man, Sitting Bull remained the sentinel to which the traditional Sioux clang, resulting in his death as the Ghost Dance passed. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
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