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.
Bertha Miriam Clark was born on Prince Edward Island but attended public and high school in Brandon, MB. She was a member of the Class of 1929 and served as Lady Stick in her final year at Brandon College.
Clark married J. Scott Leith, Brandon College Class of 1928. Scott and Bertha Leith's son James Clark Leith is in the Canadian Who's Who.
Custodial History
Album was sent to Pat Britton, Brandon University Director of Alumni Relations, by Bertha Leith in April 1991. Britton then transferred it to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a small accordian style photograph album (7 x 10.5 x 3.5 cm) created by Bertha Clark during her years at Brandon College. The photographs, which measure 4" x 2.75", depict numerous people and events.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the 1928-1929 Sickle.
2.4 m textual records; c. 5 photographs; 1 minute book (measuring 1"x 9"x 14")
History / Biographical
The Brandon Trades and Labour Council was established in 1906, as an affiliate of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada. The original Council contained thirteen locals, including those of railway workers, sheet metal workers, plumbers and steam fitters, bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, cigar makers, printers, and barbers. By 1912, the Council contained twenty four locals. The Council's principal function was to advance the corporate interests of labour within the framework of a largely unregulated capitalism. After 1955, the Council was affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress, which was created through a merger of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada and the Canadian Congress of Labour.
Custodial History
Fonds remained in possession of Brandon and District Labour Council prior to donation to the S.J. McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of financial and administrative records of the Brandon and District Labour Council. Records also include collective agreements, correspondence, publications of the Labour Council and affiliated unions, some union local minutes, newspaper clippings, petitions, and various miscellaneous files. Fonds also includes a minute book for the Council (1971-1985) and two union charters.
The Brandon Assisted Passages Association was created in 1911, for the purpose of providing loans to "english speaking artisans" [sic] who wished to immigrate to Canada and work in Brandon, MB. In 1913, the Association was renamed the Brandon Imperial Home Reunion Association. The Association continued to operate and provided passage assistance in the form of loans to many immigrants until loan defaults mounted during World War I. After 1917, no further loans were given.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 1997. Its custodial history prior to this is unknown, but it was at one time in the posession of a H.R. Hoffman, and well as Richardson & Bishop Ltd. in Brandon.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a minute book and a single page letter. The minute book is a record of every meeting of the B.A.P.A./B.I.H.R.A. and includes the names of the board members, the names of the applicants (in some cases their addresses), and the amounts loaned. In some instances, the fonds provides a documentary record of loan repayment.
Item consists of portraits of Brandon College's Academic Class of 1906-1907 and their motto: “Qui Non Proficit Deficit.”
Top Row (L to R): L. Craig; S. Riggs; E.D. Hunt; E. Obleman; A.E. Blight; A.J. Mitchell; C. Tingley; and W.D. Collings.
Second Row (L to R): A Lochead; B. Roddick; W. Polly; H. Widen; J.E. Atkey; M.E. Scott; J.E. Holt; R.H. Clancey; and G.H. Kinsman.
Third Row (L to R): W.C. Pilling; P.M. Stewart; Professor D.W. Campbell; Dr. A.P. McDiarmid; Professor W.S. Fox; D.A. Grant (Teacher); L. Underwood; and J.C. Donaldson.
Bottom Row (L to R): H. Buckingham; A.B. Nordine; J. Boyd; G.R. Gunn; G.F. McQueen; M.S. Elliott; T. Smith; L. McDonald; and Quant Lien.
Photograph has minor water damage on the bottom left that has resulted in a slight bubbling.
Scope and Content
Item consists of portriats of the members of the Brandon College Academic 3 class, as well as photographs of H.P. Whidden (Brandon College President), Jennie Turnbull (Honorary President) and J.E. Howes (Principal).
Top Row (L to R): M. Rose; H. Henn; J. Carns; Russel Maxwell; B. Pollock; G. Berquist; and O. Peddicord.
Second Row (L to R): F. Westcott; H. Adolph; D. Bourke; J. Bocskay; M. Gronberg; and V. Philip.
Third Row (L to R): F. Friend; Miss J.M. Turnbull (Hon. President); Dr. Whidden (President); J.E. Howes (Principal); and E. Harkness.
Fourth Row (L to R): J. Kippen; A. Gronberg; G. Magnuson; William Philip; L. Smith; M. Holman; and S. Ledingham.
Fifth Row (L to R): C. Hembling; M. Young; M. Hall; and R. McLean.
Sixth Row (L to R): A. MacPherson; C. Lindbow; E. Rand; V. Robinson; C. McNeil; and W. Cranston.
Bottom Row (L to R): C.H. Henderson; R. Whidden; J. Robertson; and F. Adolph.
There are a few small tears around the edges of the photograph and one ink stain in the bottom right corner.
Scope and Content
Items consists of portraits fo the members of Brandon College's Academic III class in 1926 and their motto "Ad Astra Per Aspera"
Top Row (L to R): W.C. Clark; R.O. Shuttleworth; R. W. Rederburg; M. Sopp; M.F. Windrim; F. Stade; K.J. Higgins; and J. Winstock.
Second Row (L to R): M. Bromley; A.D. Stade; Miss I. Osborne (Hon. Pres.); L. Leigh; and M. McCowan.
Third Row (L to R): J. G. Marshall; E. Powell; G. Gooden; Mr. E. D. Renaud (Ac’ Principal); Dr. H.P. Whidden (Principal); A. Turnbull; E.E. King; and M. Pollock.
Fourth Row (L to R): J. McLellan; J.A. Strahl; D.H. Stromgren; and M. Mischfeter.
Fifth Row (L to R): E. Barr; R.D. Matthews; K. McNaught; C.E. Erickson; B. Archer; and T.W. Willey.
Bottom Row (L to R): L. King; C.A. Bearisto; W. Phelp; E. Calverly; F.E. Adolph; J.E. Hembling; E. Hinsley; and W.M. McLellan.
Item consists of portraits of the members of Brandon College Academy III class of 1925.
Top Row (L to R): A. Thomson; D. Hill; R. Wicklund; E. Allen; and S. Mitchell.
Second Row (L to R): Professor Jones (Honorary President); V. Lissaman; Dr. MacNeill (Dean); R. Kingshott; and Professor Dennison (Principal).
Third Row (L to R): M. Shewan and C. Gammon.
Fourth Row (L to R): J. Young; C.J. Smith (Class Pres.); H. Lewis (Sect. Treas); H. Booth (Vice Pres.); and B. Manthorne.
Bottom Row (L to R): G. Shaw; J. Leslie; F. McKenzie; M. Miller; and H. Clendenning.
Photograph came from the estate of Margaret Hawley Speers, Class of 1928. It was donated to the McKee Archives by her cousin David Speers in July 2009.
Scope and Content
Item consists of 87 small portraits of the members of the Brandon College Arts Class of 1928. There are also portraits of H.L. McNeill, Dean of Arts, and Prof. C.P. Kerr, Hon. President, as well as a photo of the Brandon College campus. The Class of 1928's motto "Patet Omnibus Veritas" is also included.
Item consists of portraits of the Brandon College Arts Class of 1930 taken in 1927, and the Class of 1930s motto: “Age Quod Agis.”
Top Row (L to R): J. Elviss; R. Harris; R. Patmore; M. MacDonald; J.P. Odin; K. Kilgour; H. Vaisler; M. Bigelow; A. Clark; W.M. Anderson; C.W. Wicklund; E. Smith; and W.T. Dick.
Second Row (L to R): M. Martin; J.M. Campbell; D. Campbell; G. Brown; M. Dunkin; G.D. Wilkie (Sec.Treas); B. Hyndman (Vice Pres.); T.C. Douglas (Class Pres.); K. McKenzie; W.I. Easton; M. Fotheringham; A. Robertson; and L. Popkin.
Third Row (L to R): H. McDowell; J. Lane; E.C. Black; S. Pechet; G.M. Boyes; and H.L. Young.
Fourth Row (L to R): M. Evans; J. Allan; T.A. Salekin; D. Dadson; A.T. Grantham; and V. Ulinder.
Fifth Row (L to R): R. E. Hunter; E.M. Pierse; R. McNeil; V. Gilmour; M. Maltman; and R.A. Clement.
Sixth Row (L to R): L. E. Shanks; C.R. Emerson; C. Lamont;, A.T. Keeler; N.F. Spearin; G. Jernberg; E. Fidler; H. R. Rorke; J. Cowan; A. Cameron; H. Cairns; and H. Lousley.
Last Row (L to R): W.S. Stevens; S. Wickstrom; W. McFarland; E.M. Harris; R. Simpson; M. Patmore; G. Eaton; J. Hitchings; R.P. Umphrey; K. Underwood; A. Holstein; E. Knapp; and V.A. McLeod.
