Chester James McFadden was born on April 25, 1897 at Bradwardine in the RM of Daly. In 1904, his family moved to Broadview Farm southeast of Rivers, MB. Chester started school at Bradwardine, then attended Pendennis school. He continued his education at Rivers Collegiate. Chester farmed with his father until 1917, when he joined the Royal Flyng Corps, and again from 1919-1926. In 1926, Chester purchased the family farm. Margaret "Madge" Rutherford was born September 23, 1896 at Wheatland in the RM of Daly. She attended Daly school. Prior to her marriage, Madge took homemaking training at Manitoba Agricultural College and training in nursing at the Brandon General Hospital. She was also a homemaker for her father and brother. Chester and Madge married on November 27, 1926. They raised their two children, Donald and Eileen, on Broadview Farm. Although they built their semi-retirement home overlooking Lake Wahtopanah in 1964, Chester continued to farm Broadview until he was 75, and continued to be actively involved in operations for another ten years after that. In 1984, Chester and Madge moved into Rivers.
Madge was a member of Daly Church and Rivers United Church, Daly Ladies' Aid, Rivers Ladies' Aid, Women's Missionary Society, the United Church Women, the Rivers Women's Institute and the Pendennis Guild of the Riverdale Hospital Auxiliary. Chester served Rivers Methodist Church and later Rivers United Church as a Tuxis boys' group leader in the 1920s and over the years as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, a church elder and board member. He was also a trustee of the Rivers Consolidated School District for 25 years, a long-time member of the Manitoba Pool Elevators, and the Brandon Consumers Co-op. Madge McFadden died February 11, 1989 in Rivers, MB. Chester McFadden died May 9, 1989 in Brandon, MB. They are both buried at Rivers 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 a reproduction of an earlier interview with Chester and Madge McFadden talking about thier life stories, as well as Rivers and district history. The original recording was made by James Penhale.
Notes
History/bio information from the records and obituaries for the McFadden's. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Related Material
OH276 Eileen McFadden
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Gerry Beaubier was born in Wainwright, Alberta to Beatty and Babe Beaubier. He completed his high school in Saskatoon, before receiving a BSc in Geography from Brandon University.
Before attending university Gerry served in the army as a special reserve, while working as a night clerk at the Bessbourough Hotel in Saskatoon. His post-graduate career consisted primarily of work for Canada Agriculture, under the PFRA Branch (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration). Later he would work as an Executive Manager, helping develop forage and range management programs for several post secondary schools, including, Assiniboine Community College, as well as schools in Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Saskatoon.
Gerry Beaubier married Joyce Abercrombie, of Saskatoon. Together they had two sons: Neil and Dean. Neil, an Account Advisor for the Royal Bank, was born in Regina, and currently works in Swift Current. Dean was born in Swift Current, received his PhD in Education and currently lives in Forrest working at Elton Collegiate.
The Beaubiers, who were originally from Ireland, emigrated to the Canadian West, making Gerry part of the fourth generation of his family to call the region home. His great-grandfather, along with his grandfather and great uncle were amongst the first one hundred settlers in Brandon. Together they first built the Beaubier House, a boarding house for early settlers and travellers. After it burnt down they began construction on the Beaubier Hotel, which stood at the corner of 8th Street and Princess Avenue in Brandon until August 17th, 2008. His grandfather, David Wilson Beaubier, continued to build and operate hotels throughout the prairies, including the Empire Hotels (of Brandon and Saskatoon) and The Park (Moose Jaw).
David Wilson Beaubier served as a secretary of the Orange Lodge of Manitoba. As an Orange Lodge Colonel, he worked with other Orange Lodge members, to recruit throughout the prairies for the purpose of World War One. For his efforts , David was promoted to Leftenant Colonel, and later Captain of the 99th Manitoba Rangers. David's sons (Gerry’s father, at University of Manitoba, and uncle at McGill), were both working towards undergraduate degrees when war broke out in 1914, and each would leave school to join their father at Camp Hughes.
Custodial History
Gerry Beaubier collected these photos primarily in the years 2000-2011, largely
from family and friends who knew of his interest in the topic. They were donated to the S.J. Mckee Archives in 2011.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of digital photographs of those who trained for battle in World War I at Camp Hughes and in Brandon, Manitoba. It also includes a digital copy of the cover of the Nominal Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, who departed from Brandon in 1917.
The photos, taken primarily at Camp Hughes, are of a number of battalions, including the 34th, 100th, 108th, 181st and 214th. The photo, PT in England, is a postcard sent home from Beaty Beaubier. The Massey Harris building seen on the right side of, WW1 B parade0001, was used to house troops throughout the war. The man standing alone at the front of the parade in, 181 Parade, is David Wilson Beaubier.
Notes
Information for the biographical and custodial histories was provided by Gerry Beaubier on September 25, 2013. Description by Dustin Lane (October 2013).
Kenneth Ralph Hanly was born in Clinton, Ontario on July 30, 1932. He obtained his B.A. (Honors in English and Philosophy) from the University of Saskatchewan in 1959, his M.A. in Philosophy from the same institution in 1960, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy with honors from the Unveristy of Oregon in 1967. Hanly was initially appointed to the Philosophy Department at Brandon University in 1963. He retired as of June 30, 1996 and in 1998, the Board of Governors of Brandon University conferred the title of Professor Emeritus on him.
At Brandon University, Hanly was the poetry co-editor of "Pierian Spring" for 1982 and 1983, the editor for that publication for 1984 and 1985, and the editor of "Dollar Poems" from 1983-1987. He also seved as a representative on the University Tenure Committee and the Senate. His research interests included the Canadian left and political radicalism and labour movements in Brandon. During his tenure at Brandon University he was active in the NDP and particularly interested in municipal politics.
Hanly was also a member of the Manitoba Police Commission (1982-1987), the Manitoba Law Reform Commission (1970s), Amnesty International, the Canadian Authors Association, the Manitoba Writer's Guild, the Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties, and an associate member of the League of Canadian Poets (1984-1986).
As of January 2006, Ken Hanly divides his time between Oakburn, MB and the Phillipines. He can be contacted at northsunm@yahoo.com.
Custodial History
While doing research in 1974, Ken Hanly sent three tapes and a request to William Pritchard to record an oral history of the Socialist Party of Canada. The tapes were recorded in October of 1974. Wiszniowski and Pirozek were interviewed by Hanly himself in the same year. Magnacca was also interviewed by Hanly. Hanly kept these materials from 1974 until 1997 when he decided to donate them to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes cassette tapes of a conversation with W. A. (Bill) Pritchard in which he provides an oral history of the Socialist Party of Canada (SPC) and describes his activities as a militant within the party from 1911 to 1927. Pritchard devotes a good deal of time to describing his many experiences as editor of the Western Clarion, the party newspaper, running in various elections, and his tours of B.C. and Alberta on behalf of the party. Pritchard also discusses the ideology of the Socialist Party of Canada and the ideological splits within it that occurred in the 1920s.
Fonds also includes a recording of a conversation with Brandon Communist Frank Wiszniowski dealing with Wisznoiwski's evolvement in various organizations following his arrival in Brandon in 1926. Fonds also includes a taped conversation with former Brandon Mayor Stephen Magnacca concerned with various features of political life in Brandon.
Marguerite Clemintine "Margaret" Catley (nee Jamieson) was born on May 14, 1916 in Hamiota, MB. She moved to Brandon, MB in 1935, where she worked as a nurse until retiring in 1974. Marg married Oswald Roy Catley (?-1987) in Brandon on September 3, 1949. They had no children. Margaret was a member of Naomi Rebekah Lodge. Margarget Catley died on December 22, 1992 in Brandon, MB. She is buried at Brandon Municipal 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 Margaret Catley about health services, specifically the Westman Masectomy Visitation Group. Interviewer is Phyllis Long.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Hamiota local history "Hamiota: Grains of the Century 1884-1984," and the Brandon Municipal Cemetery website. Description by Christy Henry.
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Margaret Winnifred Smith (nee Scarrow) was born November 7, 1902 in Rathwell, MB. She took her schooling at Rathwell and became a telephone operator. She then went to Vancouver and then back to Winnipeg where she received comptometer instruction at Success Business College. Following her studies, she worked at Speirs-Parnell (which became Westons). Whilie in Winnipeg she joined the United Church Central Congregational Choir and the CNR Choral Society. She met Henry Bernard "Harry" Smith (?-1974) at Speirs-Parnell and they were married in 1928. They had no children.
When Harry joined the RCAF in 1939, Margaret went with him to Vancouver and then Saskatoon. They were living in Ladner, BC at the end of the Second World War. While in Saskatoon Margaret was president of the Airmen's Wive Group, and a member of Knox United Church choir. In ladner she was choir leader in the United Church. In 1945, the couple moved to Neepawa, where Harry started a business with Fred Anderson called Smith and Anderson Radio Electric. In Neepawa, Margaret joined the United Church choir, was president of the Missionary Society and the Business & Professional Women's Club, and a member of UCW. Margaret Smith died on January 26, 1999 in Neepawa, MB. She is buried at Riverside 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 Margaret Smith about her life story and that of her husband, Harry. Interviewer is Winnie Cheetham.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Neepawa local history "Heritage," and Smith's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
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Margaret Ida Oliver Wetherill (nee Mack) was born on May 26, 1912 in the Rural Municipality of Langord. She lived in Oberon from 1912-1967, and then moved to Neepawa. Margaret married Austin Verril Oliver (1904-1971) in 1934 and together they had two children: Stanley and Karen. During her marriage Margaret was a housewife, but she also served as a trustee for the Beautiful Plains School Division and held a number of offices in the Manitoba Farmer's Union from 1955-1968. Following her first husband's death, Margaret married Arnold William Wetherill (1913-1995). The couple enjoyed travelling in their retirement. Margaret Wetherill died between 2006 and 2016. She is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Neepawa, 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 Margaret Wetherill about Oberon village history, 1902-1983. Interviewer is Dorothy Martin.
Notes
History/bio information from the records, the Find A Grave website and Stanley Oliver's obituary. Description by Christy Henry.
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