Fred McGuinness was a sessional lecturer in the English Department at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba where he co-taught an introductory undergraduate course in journalism with English Professor John Blaikie. Although McGuinness had 30 years experience as a journalist, editor, publisher, and freelance writer, as well as an extensive public speaking career, the partnering was necessary because he did not have a graduate degree, a qualification necessary for teaching in a university setting. In addition to his professional experience, McGuinness was also an avid reader on topics about the process of writing and the publishing of popular writing.
McGuinness likely began teaching his journalism course at Brandon University in 1983 and continued until 1990, possibly 1996. McGuinness often referenced his class when writing his Neighborly News column. A portion of McGuinness’ course involved analyzing and debating current events from newspaper headlines. McGuinness emphasized the importance of clean copy, spelling, and grammar with his editing assignments.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and sessional instructor. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a sessional instructor and writer. Consisting of teaching materials McGuinness used in the undergraduate course he taught with Professor John Blaikie the subseries includes: lecture notes, quizzes, exercises, exams, and newspaper and magazine articles.
Notes
Information for the history/biography was obtained from documents in the BU journalism course subseries (McG 6.2), and his Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3)
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible materials pertaining to his teaching career may be found in other subseries of the Fred McGuinness collection. Several articles McGuinness wrote for Neighborly News referenced his BU journalism students (see McG 2.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Negative shows a man dressed in coveralls working on a helicopter inside a hanger. The helicopter has a RCAF - Royal Canadian Air Force - logo on the exterior.
Notes
Negative was stored in a Medicine Hat News envelope with the following typed on the front: Cpl. Rick Cooke working on a helicopter
Postcard shows a street scene of Donald Street looking south from the Portage Avenue Intersection.
Notes
Writing on the back of the postcard reads: Aug 9, Dear ruth, Aunt Eva, Aunt Annie and Fred were over to the bowlnig greens tonight. Every one fine. Doddy. Postcard is addressed to Ruth McGuinness, 337-17th St., Brandon, Man. Postmarked: Winnipeg 12 PM Aug 10 1927 Man.
Fred McGuinness was a man who always seemed to hold down multiple jobs. As a university student, McGuinness worked as CPR telegrapher and then as a public speaker for the War Finance Committee’s War Bond drive. When he was employed with the Unemployment Insurance Commission to promote the program and its services, McGuinness also picked up a contract with the Royal American Shows during the summer fair tour. While working at the Brandon Sun as its editor and vice president, McGuiness was also a regular contributor to CBC radio and Reader’s Digest magazine. He also sessionally taught a journalism course to undergraduates at Brandon University.
Once McGuinness retired from the Brandon Sun in 1987, he continued writing his syndicated column for the prairie weeklies and started writing his Diary column for the Sun. During that time he continued to co-author several monographsm abd later he consulted with Brandon University’s WESTARC Group and continued to be heavily involved in rural economic development issues. He worked as a writing consultant for Industry Canada from 1996 to 2000, promoting the Community Access Program (CAP); this initiative involved introducing the internet into rural communities, particularly in public libraries and community centres. McGuinness would be responsible for writing factsheets, government press releases, community profiles, and reports.
McGuinness’ Industry Canada work was likely his last major freelance writing assignment. His age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was diagnosed in 2001, and became an impediment to his research, writing, and editing abilities. He did continue his Diary column with the Brandon Sun until his death in 2011. During this time, McGuinness also offered many memoir-writing workshops to community and seniors’ groups.
Custodial History
Accession 1-2015 contains records created and collected over the course of McGuinness’ career as a newspaper journalist and freelance writer. The Estate of Fred McGuinness donated the materials to the SJ McKee Archives circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The series contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. The series has been divided into two subseries, including: (1) Reader’s Digest and (2) Miscellaneous freelance.
The records consist of research materials (e.g., newspaper clippings, copies of articles and book chapters, brochures, pamphlets), notes, drafts, copies of articles and reports, and correspondence. These items were generally filed together if they were related to the topic or article at hand.
Notes
Freelance materials in this series are identified as additional contract work outside of McGuinness’ employment as a journalist and broadcaster
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventories for each subseries are available. See
individual subseries’ descriptions
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Fred McGuinness would write/publish about a topic in a number of forums. Therefore, it is possible research materials pertaining to his newspaper columns may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), and Newspaper clippings (4.2)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Series has been re-arranged according to publication period
McG 3 Freelance
McG 3.1 Reader’s Digest
McG 3.2 Miscellaneous freelance
Photograph shows a western view of the residential area along Lorne Avenue from St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church. Roof-tops of Central School, First Baptist, Brandon College, Manitoba Power Plant, and Old City Hall are visible.
Notes
Writing on the front of the postcard reads: Lorne Avenue, looking West from St. Augustine's R.C. Church, Brandon, Man. Writing on the back of the postcard reads: The Valentine & Sons Publishing Ltd., Montreal and London, Printed in Great Britain. A cancelled George VI purple Canada 3 cent stamp has been postmarked: Brandon SP 11 52.
Photograph shows a view from the rooftop of the Prince Edward Hotel. The south side of the Brandon Hotel (most recently the Brandon Inn) and a service station along Prince Avenue can be seen.
Notes
Writing on the back of photograph reads: across the street from roof of P.E. Hotel 1927
