Mary Ellen Birtles was born at Sheffield, England in 1858. She emigrated to Canada with her family in June 1883, settling in Winnipeg. In 1889, she was one of the first three graduates of the nurse training program at the Winnipeg General Hospital. During her nursing career, Mary Ellen worked in North Dakota, Medicine Hat, Brandon and Calgary. In Brandon she served first as a senior nurse (approximately 1892-1894), then returned in 1898 to become Matron of the Brandon General Hospital. She retired from that position in 1919. In 1935, Mary Ellen received the Order of the British Empire from the Governor General of Canada for her role in the pioneer nursing of Western Canada. She never married. Mary Ellen Birtles died on June 22, 1943 in Alexander, MB. She is buried at Alexander 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 Phyllis Long reading an article written by Mary Ellen Birtles in 1925, about the history of the Brandon General Hospital.
Notes
History/bio information from the Manitoba Historical Society website. Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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Multiple yellow accretion marks down right edge of picture. Backing paper is almost completely torn off on the perimeter edges. Frame has multiple abrasions and chips all around frame edge. Bottom two mitre joints are separated.
Winifred North (nee Seaborn) was born December 13, 1920 in Burwash, Sussex, England. At the age of five, she moved to Manitoba, growing up in the Osprey and Mentmore districts, attending Osprey and Gordon schools. Winnie married Alfred James North (1917-1994) on October 16, 1948. Together they had three children: Bruce, Heather and Maureen. Alf served in the armed forces during the Second World War. Following the war he farmed in the Norman district until 1966, at which point the family moved to Brookdale. Alf then served as custodian for the Brookdale school before retiring in 1983. In Brookdale, Winnie worked at the post office, becoming postmistress. Winnie was a member of the Brookdale United Church, the Neepawa Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Brookdale Belles and Beaux square dancing group. Winifred North died on January 13, 2018 in Neepawa, MB. She is buried at Neepawa 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 Winnie North about the 100th Anniversary of the Brookdale Post Office. Interviewer is Dorothy P. Martin.
Notes
History/bio information taken from the records and the Brookdale local history "Quest in Roots." Transcript by Megan Holowick (2014). Description by Christy Henry.
Language Note
English
Audio Tracks
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