Photograph is scratched and has been glued to a backing board that has warped over time
Scope and Content
Photograph shows street view of the northeast intersection of the 000 block of 8th Street and Rosser Avenue. Horse and buggies are parked along the east side of 8th Street. Businesses on the east side of 8th Street from Pacific to Rosser Avenues are clearly visible and include: a Lunch Room (likely Aagaard's Lunch Counter), the Hotel Imperial Annex, Liverpool House (a boarding house), R.S. Thompson and Company Real Estate Office (Land Office), a barber shop (likely J. Coulter's), Frank Gowen photography studio, and Fleming's Drug Store. A possible street fair is in progress on Rosser Avenue. One man is standing on a soap box and is surrounded by a crowd in the middle of 8th Street. Another man can be seen standing behind a booth on the northwest street corner. Building construction appears to be happening on the west corner of 8th Street and Rosser Avenue.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph matting reads: 297. One photograph (20-2009.80) is glued below the photograph. Another photograph is glued on the reverse side. Page appears to be from a photo album.
Photograph shows seven men posing in front of a wood-framed shack on 10th Street. The men are wearing three-piece suits or vests and long-sleeved shirts. One man can be seen holding an axe another a saw. A double ox-team wagon is in front of the structure.
Notes
Writing on the back of the photograph reads: 10th St. May 1882, Brandon. Photograph is stamped Public Archives Canada.
Photograph shows a street view of 10th Street facing north. There are many automobiles parked along the street and several pedestrians in summer dress are on the sidewalks and street. Visible business signs include: Hentzman & Co. Pianos (possibly belonging to J.J.H. McLean Co. Ltd.), the Strand Theatre, T & D Clothes, Campbell & Campbell, the CPR Station, and Bowling Alley and Billiards.
Notes
Part of "Souvenir of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada [viewbook], Printed by Photogelatine Engraving Co. Limited, Ottawa." Dates obtained from the Burchill's Music Store Henderson's Brandon City Directory listings (1927-1929). Writing on the front of the photograph reads: 10th St., looking north (C.P.R. Station at end of Street) Brandon, Man.
A.E. McKenzie was born in Wilcox Lake, York County, Ontario in 1870 to F.B. and Maria (Carley) McKenzie. His family came to Manitoba in 1883. He was educated in Brandon, Manitoba and graduated from the Collegiate Institute at age 21. In 1897 he founded the Brandon Seed House. McKenzie was present at the cornerstone-laying ceremony of Brandon College on Juy 13, 1900. From that moment on, he was very involved in the College, first as an interested businessman, and later as a member of its Board of Directors. In 1902, McKenzie married Laura Bell in Port Arthur. They had two daughters, Marjorie Bell and Kathleen. In 1906 the Brandon Seed House was incorporated and from then on was known as the "A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd.."
McKenzie became a member of the Brandon College Endowment Committee in 1918. The following year he was on the Finance Committee. By 1925, McKenzie was a member of the Board of Directors. In 1928, he was part of a syndicate that advised the Baptist Union that they were developing an endowment plan to provide continuing financial support to the College and talked the Union into providing $10 000 towards the accumulated deficit.
In 1931, McKenzie organized the Brandon Board of Trade to help save Brandon College when the Baptists said they could no longer afford to keep the College. After the By-law failed, he helped to organize the Brandon Citizen’s Campaign to raise enough money so that the College could open the following year.
When the Baptists withdrew support in 1938, McKenzie was one of the central figures on the Brandon Board of Trade that decided to save the College from closure. A representative delegation from Southwestern Manitoba of over 60 men descended upon Premier Bracken’s office to try and convince him to help the College. On June 12, 1938 McKenzie said he would set up a $100 000 endowment to Brandon College. He subsequently raised this amount to $300 000. On August 1, 1938 the Board of Trade launched a campaign to raise $15 000 to match what the government was prepared to offer the College. McKenzie was asked to provide Brandon College with $3000 personally. In September of 1938, McKenzie upped his endowment once more to $500 000. The fund raising worked however, and the chater establishing Brandon College Incorporated was assented to on April 17, 1939. On June 6, 1939 a by-law was again presented to the citizens of Brandon, and fortunately it passed.
In 1941, McKenzie received an honorary L.L.D. from the University of Manitoba. The A.E. McKenzie Foundation was created in 1945 by the provincial government, who had assumed 90% of the A.E. McKenzie Co. Ltd. stock.
On September 25, 1964 McKenzie died at the age of 94. He never retired, but worked full time until two weeks before his death. The funeral was held in the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre. The Arts and Library Building at Brandon College was completed in 1960, and is known as the A.E. McKenzie building, in honour of the man who contributed so much time, effort and financial help to the College during a crucial period in its history.
Custodial History
Records were accessioned by the McKee Archives in 1998. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
A.E. McKenizie’s records in the Brandon College fonds are very useful from an administrative point of view. Because McKenzie was so involved in Brandon College from the very beginning until his death in 1964, it is easy to understand how the College Administration arrived at decisions. There is correspondence between McKenzie and various regarding College and Board of Director business. There are Brandon College financial statements and letters regarding the A.E. McKenzie Foundation. The records contain newspaper clippings, pamphlets and lists of names of members of various Brandon organizations. As well, McKenzie has letters regarding Building Expansion in the 1940’s and minutes of Board of Director meetings. There are also several photographs. One photograph is the 1919 graduation picture of Zoe Hough. Another is tentatively identified as Frances Wolverton, also of the Class of 1919. There are two more photographs of unidentified young women.
Photograph shows three dogs harnessed to a toboggan. A two storey wood-framed building is in the background. A man is seated on the toboggan and a young girl stands to his right.
Notes
Writing beneath the photograph in the album reads: "Mail Service"
Photograph shows eight men posing in front of a wood-framed building on the corner of 8th Street and Rosser Avenue. Above the building's entrance is a painted sign that reads: Apothecaries' Hall. A. Fleming, Druggist is painted in the window above the door. Street signs designating 8th Street and Rosser Avenue are affixed to the building. A transit/theodolite is mounted on a tripod in front of the store.
Notes
Writing on the front of the photograph reads: Corner 8th St and Rosser Ave May 1882. Writing on the back of the photograph reads: Corner 8th St and Rosser, May 1882, Apthecaries' Hall, A. Fleming, Druggist. Photograph is stamped Public Archives Canada.