Robert (Bob) Troy Blair was born on March 11, 1930 in Brandon, MB. His first six years were spent in Alexander, MB, where his father and uncle operated a grocery store. In 1936, his family moved to Souris, MB, where his father ran a grocery store. Blair received his primary and high school education, with the exception of Grade 12, in Souris.
Blair remembers his school years in Souris as mainly happy years. He was involved with both piano and organ music lessons. he was never interested in physical sports with the exception of golf. World War II broke out in September of 1939. Souris became the site of #17 SFTS and home base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Many of the service men came from England, Australia and New Zealand. Blair's mother always entertained at least two for dinner every Sunday. Rationing of sugar, tea and coffee, butter and meat became a way of life. Blair had the job every Saturday of pasting the ration coupons into booklets. It was also when he was in Grade 6, that Blair realized he was more attracted to boys than to girls. Perhaps it was because so many attractive airmen surrounded him!
In November of 1947, the Blair family relocated to Alexander where Bob Blair finished his Grade 11. This was not a good year due to bullying. In September of 1948, Blair moved to Winnipeg to attend United College for his Grade 12. Upon completion of Grade 12, Blair remained in Winnipeg until June 1950. he worked at a number of businesses - Gestetner, Eaton's Mail Order shoe department, Maple Leaf Milling, and the drug store in the Medical Arts Building. In September 1950, he entered Brandon College. Blair was very active in extra-curricular affairs while at Brandon College; particularly drama. Following his B.A. he enrolled in the Education Faculty, having decided to become a teacher.
Blair's teaching career spanned 34 years. All but one year was spent in the Brandon School Division. On his first day of teaching in the Division he met the man with whom he would spend the next 46 years. He was primarily a teacher of English and Music. A highlight of his career was exchange teaching in Sacramento, California in 1961. Orientation for exchange took place in August in Washington, D.C., where Blair had the opportunity to meet President J.F. Kennedy. He vividly recals the morning that JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. In September 1965, Blair assumed the principalship of Park School and in September of 1969, the same position at George Fitton School where re remained until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of the Brandon Picnipals' Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and servedas President of the Brandon Teachers' Association. Among his major accomplishments during his time as principal were the introduction of a centralized school library in both Park and George Fitton Schools and the integration of special needs students into regular classroom situations wherever possible. He was made a Life Member of the Manitoba Teachers' Society (Brandon) in June 1990. Following his retirement Blair worked as a Library Automation Consultant (1989-1993).
Blair also had numerous community involvements during his time in Brandon. he was active in the Brandon Little Theatre (Best Actor Award, Manitoba Drama Festival for One Act Plays in 1963), the Brandon Festival of the Arts, the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Music Competition, and Arm Industries to name a few.
Following the death of his partner in 2001, Blair moved to Saskatoon to live with a younger gay couple. He has been active in volunteerism: as an Ambassador for the Saskatoon Airport Authority, assistant with the Saskatoon Health Region's Immunization Clinics, information clerk for the Festival of Trees, data entry clerk for the Saskatoon Music Festival, on the Board of the Saskatoon Jazz Society, and Hospitality Coordinator for the Saskatoon Jazz Festival.
As of October 2013, Bob Blair continues to live in Saskatoon, SK.
Custodial History
Records were in Blair's possession until he donated them to the Mckee Archives on Homecoming weekend October 2013.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of two scrapbooks containing 145 photographs and ephemera (play and graduation programs, tickets, pins, newspaper clippings) documenting Bob Blair's days at Brandon College. Social events and extra-curricular activities are heavily featured in the two scrapbooks. Also included are graduation portraits for the Classes of 1951, 1952 and 1953. Of the 145 photographs all are black and white except for two photos of the Class of '53 reconvocation (May 1993), and one from the Class of '53 reunion (2003).
Adelene Monica Bailey was the wife of J.R.C. Evans, president of Brandon College (1928-1959).
Custodial History
Records were donated by Keith Evans, Adelene Bailey's son.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of Bailey's diploma awarded by Victoria Avenue Methodist Sunday School (1911), and her diploma certifying her completion of the post-graduate course of study prescribed in the Pianoforte department of Brandon College (1924)
Notes
The Brandon College diploma is signed by Franklin Sweet. Description by Christy Henry.
Storage Range
Reading room oversized drawer with Brandon University Photograph collection series 11: Documents, diplomas and certificates.
BRANDON COLLEGE BUILDING
The construction of the Brandon College Building, also known as the Original Building, was primarily financed by Mr. and Mrs. William Davies, a Toronto based Baptist meat packer, and his sister Mrs. Emily Davies, also of Toronto, who pledged $5,000 a year for five years to the new Baptist College. Four city blocks between 18th and 20th streets were purchased for the College campus and the tender of Messrs. T.M. Harrington of Winnipeg was accepted in the spring of 1900; Mr. Hugh McCowan of Winnipeg appointed as architect. Mrs. Davies laid the cornerstone for the Brandon College Building on July 13, 1900.
The Brandon College Building was conceived as a substantial five story brick structure with a stone basement. The Tyndall Manitoba quarries, located thrity miles northeast of Winnipeg, supplied the stone and presented the College with the stone steps at the main entrance. The basement contained the dining room, kitchen, laundry, furnace room, a science laboratory, and maids' rooms. The first floor housed the reception room, office, library, four classrooms and the teachers' cloak rooms. The second floor had five classrooms, a reading room, five rooms for resident students and a resident teacher. Teachers' rooms and seventeen rooms for students comprised the third floor; and additional thirteen rooms for residents took up the fourth floor. The residence was to house 70 men. The total cost of the building and furnishings was $44,000. The Brandon College Building was ready for occupancy by October 1, 1901.
CLARK HALL
The cornerstone of Clark Hall was laid by Mrs. A.P. McDiarmid, wife of the Principal of Brandon College, on May 24, 1906. The residence was officially opened on Thanksgiving Day, October 18, of the same year. The construction of the building grew our of a demand for a ladies' college. A canvass made in Eastern Canada had resulted in subscriptions totaling $10,000. When Dr. McDiarmid reported the results of the canvass to the Chairman of the Board, Dr. C.W. Clark of Winnipeg, Clark proposed that he and his wife be allowed to provided the balance of the funds, some $30,000. While presenting the building at the opening ceremony, Clark stated that the reason for his donation was his belief in the power of cultured womanhood - he believed "that refined and Christian mothers were the strength of a nation and that he wished to see in Brandon a chool of learning for women in which every Christian virtue and grace might be illustrated."
Clark Hall was built immediately north of the Brandon College Building and was connected to it by classrooms and the iron door with its door bell, which was rung by gentlemen before being admitted. It is a five story brick building, with fittings of imported Georgia pine. In the basement was the gymnasium, studios and maids' rooms. On the main floor was a spacious reception room furnished by the Honorable A.C. Rutherford, the Premier of Alberta and the Lady Principal's suite, furnished by Mrs. N. Wolverston, wife of the treaurer of the College Board. Music studios and the offices of the resident matron were also on the main floor. The second and third floors were dormitories. The fourth floor was meant to be art studios, but due to registration demands, it was divided into students' rooms. The residence was designed to house fifty students and seven teachers. Piano practice areas were also designated on the west side of the building and on the groundlevel half way between the basement and the first floor.
BRANDON COLLEGE BUILDING AND CLARK HALL RESTORATION PROJECT
By the early 1990s, it was clear that major reconstruction work on the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall was necessary if the buildings were to remain in use. The alternative was to demolish both buildings and construct a new central administrative structure for the campus. Because of the historic character of the two original campus buildings, the decision was taken to mount a complete restoration of the structures that involved a complete removal of everything except for the surrounding brick fascade and the construction of new buildings within the old external walls. This project was financed by the Provincial government of Manitoba, who granted the University approximatley 10 million dollars. The Chief Architect for the restoration was George Cibinal. Work began in 1996 and was completed by the fall of 1997. In addition to the restoration of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall, a new entrance was built on the west side of the buildings, as well as an addition to Clark Hall, which included a skywalk connecting it to the A.E. McKenzie Building.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall.
Notes
History/Bio information was taken from Brandon College: A History, 1899-1967 by C.G. Stone and F. Joan Garnett (Brandon, Manitoba: Brandon University, 1969), chapters 2 and 3. Tom Mitchell provided history/bio information on the restoration project.
The Citizens' Science Building was built in 1922 and financed by Brandon citizens. It was renamed the Knowles-Douglas Student Union Centre c. 1984 in honour of Brandon College graduates Stanley Knowles and Tommy Douglas, both of the Class of 1930. The Knowles-Douglas Addition was completed in 1987.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the Citizens' Science Building and the Knowles-Douglas buildings, which include the Knowles-Douglas Student Union Centre and the Knowles-Douglas Addition.
The Gymnasium is located on the southside of Louise Avenue at the corner of 20th Street. It was completed in 1965 and houses the Athletic programme, which includes both intercollegiate sports and intermural sports and recreation. In the 1960s, it was also the venue for student dances and performers, including Gordon Lightfoot, the Mitchell Trio, the Guess Who and others. Convocation was also held in the Gym for a number of years. In 2007, a financial campaign was launched to raise money for extensive rennovations to the Gym.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the Gymnasium.
The Original Music Building was completed in 1963. The School of Music moved to the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building in 1985. From c.1986 until 1997, the Original Music Building housed Student Services. Since 1997, the building has been used by the School of Health Studies; a new segment was added to the Original Music Building in 2003 to create the Health Studies Complex.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the Original Music Building and the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building.
Notes
Queen Elizabeth II Music Building has been abbreviated to QEII Music Building.
Arrangement
All photographs of the Health Studies Complex, which includes the Original Music Building, are part of BUPC sub-series 2.10.
The John R. Brodie Science Centre was completed in 1971, with the official opening on May 7, 1972. It is located in the southeast corner of the campus and houses the Faculty of Science. The Brodie Building was named for John R. Brodie, a Brandon man who donated $250,000 to Brandon College in 1963 with the stipulation that the money be used for a Science Centre.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the John R. Brodie Science Centre.
Notes
Additional biographical information on John R. Brodie is available in his bio file in the Reading Room.
The Jeff Umphrey Memorial Centre was completed in 1970 and is located on the north side of Victoria Avenue and 20th Street. Campus Books was located in the basement of the Umphrey Centre from 1970 to 1978. Once Campus Books moved to the lower McMaster Concourse, the University Archives occupied the basement from 1981 to 1997. A branch of the Bank of Montreal was located on the west side of the building until c. 2006 when the Department of Fine Arts moved into the Umphrey Centre and the Glen P. Sutherland Gallery was constructed on the main floor.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the Jeff Umphrey Memorial Centre and the various University organizations that have operated out of the Centre.
Physical Plant provides security, workplace health and safety, building maintenance, utilities, cleaning, groundskeeping, and key storage services, as well as capital project management for the Brandon University campus. It includes the new Physical Plant building and new steam plant on 20th Street and the Site Services building on the corner of 20th Street and Louise Avenue. Prior to the opening of the new Physical Plant building in 2010, services were operated out of World War II era H-Huts in the centre of campus. The original steam plant (1962-1990s) was sold following the construction of the new steam plant.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of Physical Plant buildings including: the original Steam Plant; the (new) Steam Plant; the Site Services Building; the Physical Plant H-Hut; and the new Physical Plant building.
H-Huts refer to structures built to house military personnel at the Commonwealth Air Training Program just north of Brandon during World War II. The name H-Hut derives from the layout of the structures, which were built in an "H" formation. The original H-Huts were moved onto the Brandon College campus in 1956 to house the library and arts classrooms.. Additional H-Huts have been located in various places and used for various departments and services on campus including Student Services, Continuing Education, and the carpenter's workshop. Only the Physical Plant H-Huts, located to the west of the Knowles-Douglas Student Union Centre, remain on campus in 2007.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of various H-Huts on campus.
DARRACH HALL
Darrach Hall is the men's residence and was completed in 1961. It is named after Robert and Sarah Darrach.
FLORA COWAN HALL
Flora Cowan Hall is the women's residence and was completed in 1962. It is named after Flora Cowan.
MCMASTER HALL
McMaster Hall is the co-ed residence and was completed in 1971. It is named in honour of Brandon College's association with McMaster University
DINING ROOMS
The Main Dining Room was completed in 1961 and is connected to all three residences either by a link (Flora Cowan Hall), the McMaster main concourse (McMaster Hall) or a hallway (Darrach Hall). Within the Main Dining room is the Louis Riel Room. The Louis Riel Room was previously the Small Dining Room, and later the Private Dining Room. It was renamed the Louis Riel Room in 2008 in honour of the Métis leader’s contribution to Manitoba history and heritage, as well as in honour of ongoing contributions to the University made by the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Louis Riel Institute. The room is often used to host dignitary dinners, awards and recognition ceremonies, seminar and conference sessions and other special events.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of Brandon College/University's three residences: Darrach Hall, Flora Cowan Hall and McMaster Hall, as well as images of the dining rooms.
Notes
History/Bio information for the Louis Riel Room was taken from the Brandon University website, available at: http://www.brandonu.ca/news (February 2008).
Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon was born 20 April 1919 in Leeds Village, Quebec. McCutcheon attended Macdonald College at McGill University, graduating with a Bachelor of Agriculture in 1942. He completed a Bachelor of Science in 1943 at Concordia, a Bachelor of Arts in 1944, and a Bachelor of Education at Acadia in 1946. McCutcheon gained a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1948 and completed his Doctoral studes at Cornell University in 1951. McCutcheon spent 1951-52 at the London Institute of Education engaged in postdoctoral studies.
McCutcheon was appointed the Dean of the Faculty of Education at Brandon College in 1955. He was the first Dean of Education at Brandon University. McCutcheon served as Dean until 1967.
With Ms. Joan Garnett, Co-ordinator of the Office of BU Alumni Relations, McCutcheon helped to to establish many awards. With the collaboration of "Tommy" Douglas, Mrs. J.G. Diefenbaker, and Mr. D.L. Campbell, he assisted in the creation of the JRC Evans Student Loan Fund as a memorial tribute to Dr J.R.C. Evans, President of Brandon College 1928-1959.
From 1967 to 1974, McCutcheon taught at the Ottawa Teachers' College, later integrated into the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa.
McCutcheon authored over fifty academic articles. He was awarded a honorary Doctor of Education by Brandon University in 1989 and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Concordia University in 1996.
Wilfred Whyte McCutcheon died 31 March 2008. He was predeceased by his wife Phyllis Bishop in 2003.
Custodial History
These records were in Dr. McCutcheon's possession until his death. They were donated to the S.J. McKee Archives by his estate executors and delivered to the archives by Mr. Gerald Brown on their behalf.
Scope and Content
Fonds contains correspondence, pamphlets, publications, photographs, dilpomas and certificates of standing, newspaper clippings, a report prepared by Dr. McCutcheon for the Canadian Governor General's Office concerning the Canadian honours system, a copy of Dr. McCutcheon's doctoral thesis - Cornell University, 1951- and miscellaneous materials related to Dr. McCutcheon's long and distinguished career in Canadian post secondary education and public service.
