ALEXANDER MACPHAIL (14 July 1900 - 29 July 1986)
Alex was born in Vista, MB on July 14, 1900, son of John and Catherine MacPhail. He married Florence Turner (d. 1977) at Winnipeg on December 22, 1948 and together they farmed the family farm at Vista. In 1965 they purchased a house in Shoal Lake but continued to farm in Vista until Alex's retirement in 1973, when he sold the farm.
Alex was involved in the 4-H Club at Vista and was a member of the Grain Growers Association. He was also very interested in Wildlife Conservation, an interest which led him to donate a 1/4 section of land to them. Alex also started a museum in Shoal Lake, which in time he turned over to the Village. He was a school trustee for Islay School Board at Vista from 1937-1939 and took the position of Chairman from 1939, until the school closed on 1968. During his years of farming he was a registed Seed Grower and in 1957 was awarded the Robertson Certificate. As a hobby he was a beekeeper. Alexander MacMillan MacPhail passed away at the Shoal Lake-Strathclair Health Centre on Tuesday, July 29, 1986 at the age of 86 years.
MARION (MACPHAIL) MCCORMACK (1903 - 10 February 1988)
Marion attended Islay School and Rosburn Collegiate. Upon graduation, she attended Manitoba Normal School, and became a teacher. She worked at Perth, Islay (1927-1934), Plumas, Strathclair and Minnedosa.
She met and married Coll McCormack (d. 1973) in 1952, and they lived in Minnedosa. She retired from teaching in 1967. Marion McCormack passed away on February 10, 1988.
IAIN MACPHAIL (1912-1937)
Iain MacPhail was born in Vista, MB in 1912. During the years that he was attending high school, he took a keen interest in farming. After he completed his Grande XII, some of the farm projects were expanded, including bee keeping. It was while attending a Bee-Keepers Course at the University of Manitoba that Iain took ill and passed away in 1937.
JOHN ARMSTRONG (6 May 1930 - 21 June 2005)
John Armstrong was born May 6, 1930, the second son of Kate (McKinnon) and William Armstrong. He attended Perth school for his elementary grades, then Vista and Rossburn where he finished high school. John farmed with his dad and brother Hugh, except for one year of permit teaching on the Daupin River Reserve, which was accessible by canoe.
John lived at home with his parents and cared for them until his dad's passing in 1972 and his mother's in 1982. At one time John was a leader of the 4-H Seed Club and was able to help members with his weed and plant identification skills. He did some secretarial work for 4-H and the Argyle Presbyterian Church. John William Armstrong of Rossburn passed away June 21, 2005 at the Shoal Lake-Strathclair Health Centre.
Custodial History
The records in this collection were accumulated in the residence of Alexander MacPhail from various family members. The materials were discovered in the attic of MacPhail's house on the MacPhail land in Vista, MB in 2005. Subsequently they were given to Gerald R. Brown by the family living in the MacPhail house. They resided in Brown's home until their donation to the McKee Archives in September 2006.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of teaching materials and textbooks used by members of the MacPhail family - Alex, Marion and Iain. It has been divided into two sub-series, including: (1) Textbooks; and (2) Teaching materials.
Notes
Biographical notes were written by Gerald R. Brown and were taken from his "Vista Tales . . . from Islay School District No. 733 in Vista, Manitoba." Description by Christy Henry.
Some of the titles are fragile and/or stained/torn.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of the following titles:
"Tales and Trails of Western Canada" by Nell Macvicar and Irene Craig
"Manitoba Public School Arithmetic: Book II" by J.A. Smith and R.H. Roberts (1922)
"Handbook of Nature-Study for Teachers and Parents" by Anna Botsford Comstock (1911)
"Forests and Trees" by B.J. Hales (1925)
"Fodder and Pasture Plants" George H. Clark and M. Oscar Malte with water colour illustrations by Norman Criddle (1913)
"Wild Flowers of Western Canada" by William Copeland McCalla (1920)
"The Dragon and the Raven" by G.A. Henty
"Manitoba High School Civics" by A.L. Burt (1945)
"The Manitoba Arithmetic for Elementary Grades: Grade IV" by the Department of Education, Province of Manitoba
"The Treasury Sight-Reader: Book II - Junior" by Maurice Jacobson
"The Treasury Sight-Reader: Book III - Intermediate" by Maurice Jacobson
"The Manitoba Readers - Third Reader"
"Young Blood" by E.W. Hornung (1901)
"The Moonstone: A Romance" by Wilkie Collins
"Mental Arithmetic: Part I" by Charles G. Fraser
"The Canada Book of Prose and Verse: Book One" by Lorne Pierce (1948)
"How to be Healthy" by J. Halpenny and Lilian B. Ireland (1911)
"The A B C of Musical Theory" by Ralph Dunstan
"Canadian Civics" by R.S. Jenkins (1909) - Manitoba edition
"Canada: A History for High Schools" by G.J. Reeve (1926)
"History of England for Public Schools" authorized by the Departments of Education for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia (1922).
Contains the following files:
17.1 Trail B.C. advertisement 1911
17.2 Angus McPherson beaver license 1900's
17.3 "The Angels of Mons" by Lieutenant Dougald MacEchern
17.4 Brandon General Hospital school graduation invitations 1925 and 1927
17.5 Machinery catalogues [1909-1928]
17.6 Watkins Stock Raisers manual [1920's]
17.7 List and map of Indian Reserves and Metis communties 1959
17.8 Wes Pentland Orange Lodge documents and materials 1862-1940
17.9 Brandon Collegiate reunion ribbon October 9, 1908
17.10 Victory Loan documents 1943-1945
17.11 Boys and Girls Service Clubs exhibit ribbons 1927
17.12 Prize lists for Justice Boys and Girls Clubs 1923-1926
17.13 Voluntary War Aid bulletin #12 [World War One]
17.14 "Canada's War Record" July 1942
17.15 Douglas war memorial unveiling ceremony programme November 17, 1922
17.16 Travel: Waghorns Guide 1898; Manitoba Driver's Guide 1935; southland Chicago-Florida train route and schedule 1916-1917; Manitoba road map 1941-1942; CPR western lines timetables 1918
17.17 Movie programme for "Gone with the Wind" [1939]
17.18 Magazine insert of funeral of Edward VII from Illustrated London News May 24, 1910
17.19 Manitoba Telephone Systems directory with provincial exchanges March 1930
17.20 Brandon Sun articles re: Brandon Hills picnic 1963
17.21 "The Academy Critic" December 1909
17.22 Weldon's Famous Dress catalogue [1920's]
17.23 Alex M. Brown, Pharmacist calendar 1935
17.24 Empire contest from the Winnipeg Free Press (undated)
17.25 Annnie I. Pentland speech re: Barbara Heck
17.26 Electoral division of Landsdowne Municipality map 1949
17.27 Speech on wheat sales (author unknown)
17.28 Site and situation project on Brandon history (author unknown) [1970's]
17.29 Annual report from Protestant Orphans' Home 1937
17.30 Orange Lodge memorabilia (gavel, pin) 1881-1933
Notes
Part of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
Storage Location
Margaret McPherson family fonds
Box 14 (Files 17.1-17.29)
Box 15 (File 17.30 and Orange Lodge ribbons and certificates)
For biographical information on Angus McPherson and Hattie McPherson Morrison see the description for Box 6 of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
For biographical information on Murray McPherson see the fonds level description for the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
For biographical information on Hugh McPherson see the description for Box 5 of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
For biographical information on Georgie McPherson see the description for Box 4 of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
There is no biographical information for George Richardson.
Scope and Content
Contains the following files:
15.1 Medical receipts 1945-1950
15.2 Miscellaneous farm receipts 1945-1950
15.3 Cattle and grain papers 1941-1953
15.4 Correspondence 1943-1951
15.5 Insurance 1909-1952
15.6 Angus McPherson wills 1937-1953
15.7 Angus McPherson - income tax forms and papers 1946-1956 (includes Farmers Income Tax Guides and Farm account book)
15.8 Murray McPherson correspondence 1934-1956
15.9 Hugh McPherson - blank form for Fenian Raid Volunteer Bount Act 1912
15.10 Miscellaneous 1929-1950
15.11 Angus McPherson income tax forms and papers 1943-1947
15.12 Income tax forms/papers 1943-1947 for George Richardson (1947), George McPherson and Hattie McPherson
15.13 Angus McPherson - income tax forms 1918
15.14 Receipts 1947
15.15 Receipts 1949
Notes
Part of the Alfred Angus Murray McPherson collection.
File consists of the BU Music Students Association constitution, applications for BUSU grants, correspondence, memos, council member lists, membership lists and financial information.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 14: Brandon University Students Union
14.4 BUSU clubs
Box 1
File consists of the Brandon University Student Music Educators Association constitution and by-laws, information regarding requests for BUSU grants, correspondence, executive members lists, schedule of events, and financial information.
Storage Location
RG 6 Brandon University fonds
Series 14: Brandon University Students Union
14.4 BUSU clubs
Box 1
The Brandon Women's Musical Club was formed in 1945 by Miss Peggy Sharpe and Miss Hilda Smith. Together with a group of women from around Brandon, they managed to form a large club for, according to the club's constitution, "the study of vocal and instrumental music, literature and related arts and the encouragement of promising Junior Artists under eighteen years of age." With these goals in mind, the club undertook to provide tuition for young music students and contributed to the formation of the Brandon Women's Musical Choral Club. The club held meetings during which club members listened to guest speakers and observed performances by local musical and dance groups, as well as some national musical stars. The group also sponsored performances of musicals, plays, and recitals, and held an annual Christmas party.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned by the McKee Archives in 2002. Previous custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds is composed predominantly of two scrapbooks, one of which covers the years 1953-1960, the other the years 1960-1965. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings about the Musical Club's meetings and performances. There is also a file containing miscellaneous correspondence, the constitution and bylaws of the group, the club's membership lists from 1959-1964, and questionnaires about the Women's Musical Club.
According to the typed sheet in the back of the secondo score, the Blue and Gold March was an original composition written by a Third Year Arts student, Mr. Charles Koester. It was accepted and named "The Blue and Gold March of Brandon College" by President J.R.C. Evans in April 1948.
The piece was the result of many years of work. The melody first entered Koester's thoughts during the war when he was an RCAF Flight Lieutenant in North Africa. It was first played as a piano duet by Miss Zen Koester and Mr. Gordon Sefton at regular Chapel service. In his remarks at the occassion, Charles Koester acknowledge the assistance he received from Zen Koester, Gordon Sefton and Professor E. Savage in arranging the music.
Charles Henry Koester attended Brandon College ca. 1911-1916 and served in Wold War I.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the original score of the Blue and Gold March of Brandon College written by Charles H. Koester and arranged by Elizabeth Z. Koester and Charles H. Koester. Written as a piano duet, there is sheet music for the primo and secondo parts. At the back of the secondo score, there is a brief history of the March and a copy of "Hail Our College" (music and lyrics). Fonds also includes the sheet music for the B flat saxophone part of the march.
Notes
Description by Christy Henry, with help from Donna Lowe (2007).
Accruals
The Faculty of Music is planning to record the March and donate a copy of the recording to the Archives.
Repro Restriction
While technically copyright remains with Charles Koester, it is clear that he wrote this music for use by Brandon College. Individuals or organizations other than Brandon College or Brandon University are limited by the copyright provisions affecting this composition.
Storage Location
MG 2 Brandon College Students
2.17 Charles H. Koester
