Aerial photographs of the campus were generally commissioned by the College/University to record important milestones, such as centennials, changes in status, and building projects. The general campus photographs were placed in this sub-series because the composition of the images made it difficult to place them with individual buildings.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the Brandon College and Brandon University campus.
The J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre and the A.E. McKenzie Building were both completed in 1960. The Evans Theatre is named for John Robert Charles Evans, who served as president of Brandon College from 1928 to 1959. The A.E. McKenzie Building was originally the Library and Arts building, and was named for A.E. McKenzie, a local businessman and supporter of the College. The George T. Richardson Centre, which includes the Evans Theatre and the John E. Robbins Library, was completed in 1993.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of photographs of the A.E. McKenzie Building, the George T. Richardson Centre, the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre, the John E. Robbins Library and the link between the Evans Theatre and the McKenzie Building.
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).
See collection level description for history/biography information on Frederick George McGuinness.
Frederick George McGuinness’ maternal grandparents were John POPE (b. 28 January 1852 – d. 24 January 1923) and Mary DARROCH (b. 24 May 1861 – d. 18 September 1942). Canadian Census records for 1906 show John was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1870. Mary was born in Wellington, Ontario.
John and Mary married in Brandon on 11 July 1888. The POPE family was considered one of Brandon’s pioneer families and all nine children were born in Brandon: Fred McGUINNESS’ mother Isabella Louisa POPE, John “Jack” Stuart/Stewart POPE, Annie Ruby POPE, Alice Jane POPE, George Campbell POPE, Henry Victor James POPE, Roy Clendon POPE, Hugh Edward POPE (b. 23 February 1901 – d. 9 November 1904), and Albert William POPE (b. 1 April 1903 – d. 17 November 1904).
According to the Brandon City Henderson Directories, maternal patriarch John POPE worked as a bartender in the Brunswick Hotel (in 1906), the King Edward Hotel (from 1907-1911), and the Royal George Hotel (by 1913-14). He later became an employee at the Empire Brewing Company (1921). The 1901 Canadian Census records both his brother George (b. 23 October 1843), working as a contractor, and his sister-in-law Ella DARROCH (b. 16 August 1872) as living with the POPE family. It appears George stayed with the family for a decade.
Isabella Louisa POPE (b. 09 July 1889 – 16 December 1966) worked as clerk and stenographer with the Dominion Express Company between 1907 and 1909. It was there that she likely met her future husband, William Frederick McGUINNESS, whom she married in Brandon on 2 November 1910. The 1911 Canadian Census shows William, Louisa and their one-month old daughter Mary Charlotte living with Louisa’s parents on 629 9th Street in Brandon. William was working as cashier with Dominion Express Company at the time. [See William Frederick McGuinness below for more information about Louisa and William.]
By 1916, the POPE family was living at 708 10th Street, while Louisa and William McGUINNESS were living at their home at 337 17th Street. All of the Pope brothers listed the Tenth Street address as their home and their military accomplishments are mentioned in Fred McGuinness’ popular short story “The Button Bag” that was read on CBC’s Morningside radio program and later published in his book Letters from Section 17 (1999).
John “Jack” Stuart/Stewart POPE (b. 18 March 1891 – 5 March 1971) managed the Empire Hotel’s News Stand in 1909. From 1913 to 1914, he was a clerk with the Grand View Hotel. Jack married Helen Frances FINNEGAN on 1 May 1914. On 7 November 1916, Jack enlisted with the Canadian Field Artillery’s 76th Depot Battery in Winnipeg (regimental # 12501611). His attestation papers list his occupation as a packer, likely with the Empire Brewing Company, a company to which he would return after the war. The 1921 Canadian Census lists Jack as single and living at his parent’s Tenth Street home. By 1931, Jack was working as a foreman with the Empire Beverage Company. Jack’s listings in Henderson’s Brandon City Directories are sporadic throughout the 1930s and 1940s but it appears he was an employee with the Empire Beverage Company until 1941. Jack was listed as an engineer working at the Brandon Sanatorium from 1947 to 1949. Jack died on 5 March 1971 and was interred in the Veterans’ Section of the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 27, Block C, Plot 124); his grave marker affiliates him with the 181st Battalion.
Anna “Annie” Ruby POPE (3 August 1892 – 26 December 1971) was listed as a dressmaker in Henderson’s Brandon City Directory for 1919. Shortly thereafter, she would become a long-term employee with Yaegers Furs (from 1921 onwards) working as an operator and fur finisher. After her father’s death in 1923, Annie moved with her mother and brothers to 228 15th Street. She lived at that address until her death on 26 December 1971. She passed away in Yorkton, Saskatchewan (where her surviving sister Mrs. Alice Jane Murray lived), and was interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 6, Block B, Plot 11). The furrier Yaegers Furs Ltd. closed its shop early in her honour.
Alice Jane POPE (MURRAY) (b. 8 May 1894 – d. 11 May 1983) was a binder, folder, and stenographer with Cox Printing Copy from 1914 to 1919. She married Alexander Leo Murray on 8 October 1919 and moved with her husband, a butcher and grocery merchant, to Kenora, Ontario. Alice died in 1983 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
George Campbell POPE (b. 13 December 1896 – d. 3 September 1918) was listed as an employee of the Empire Brewing Company from 1913 to 1914 in the Brandon City Henderson Directories. His attestation papers identify him as a chemist’s assistant. George had been with 99th Manitoba Rangers for six years prior to enlisting with the 181st Battalion on 12 February 1916 (regimental # 855132). Once overseas, George was transferred to the 44th Battalion. He was killed in action six weeks before the war’s end on 3 September 1918. His Commonwealth War Grave is in the Chapel Corner Cemetery (Pas de Calais, France).
Henry ”Harry” Victor James POPE (b. 15 February 1897 – d. 18 September 1952) was another Pope brother to work with the Empire Brewing/Beverage Company. Harry became a long-term employee of the brewer, working with the company from 1917 to 1951. During that time, the Brandon City Henderson’s Directories list Harry as a bottler (1925-31) and Vice President (1933, 1941-45). He briefly left the company in 1945 to work as a foreman with the Bell Bottling Company, and again in 1952. Harry never married. He lived with his sister in their family home until his death in 1952. He is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 6, Block B, Plot 63).
Roy Clendon POPE (b. 4 April 1899 – d. 03 March 1966) enlisted with the City of Brandon’s 181st Battalion on 3 April 1916 (regimental # 865466). He listed his occupation as bridge builder on his attestation papers. Once overseas, Roy was transferred to the 44th Battalion. He would survive the war and was awarded a Military Medal on 3 July 1919. After the war he became an employee with the Canadian Northern Railway (CNR) (1921-23). Roy became a carpenter by trade (1925-1945). He served as the secretary to the Kinsmen Club from 1931-33 and worked briefly with the RCAF as a laborer in 1943. By 1949 he had a wife, Anne, and moved from his family home to live at 623 23rd Street. He worked as a clerk and caretaker of the Land Titles Office from 1951-54. Roy is buried in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 6, Block B, Plot 65).
Fred McGuinness’ paternal grandparents were Frederick Anthony McGUINNESS (b. August 1857-1862 – d. 5 March 1933) and Anna Charlotte GALLAGHER (b. 19 September 1861/1863/1864 – d. 10 March 1948). Born to Irish parents, Canadian Census records list England (1891, 1901) and Newfoundland (1911) as birthplaces for F.A. McGuinness. He immigrated to Canada in 1864 or 1865 and married Charlotte GALLAGHER in 1882. His wife, Charlotte, was born in Ontario. The couple had four children: William Frederick McGUINNESS, Ernest Albert McGUINNESS, Annie May McGUINNESS, and Frederick Gallagher McGUINNESS. The family moved to Manitoba in 1900 and while in Brandon, Frederick Anthony worked as a CPR conductor from 1906 to 1924/25. He would die in Brandon two weeks before his eldest son, William, succumbed to illness. He is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 46).
William Frederick McGUINNESS (b. 22 August 1884 – d. 18 March 1933) was born in Ottawa and graduated with honors from the Willis School of Accountancy in that city. He moved with his family to Manitoba and worked as a cashier with the CPR Express Office from 1900 to 1905. From 1906 to 1911, he worked as a clerk with the Dominion Express Company. In 1910, William married Isabella Louisa POPE and they would have six children: Mary Charlotte, Dorreene Louise, Kathleen Ruth, Frederick George, Orma Grace, and Carol. From 1914-1919, W.F. McGuinness was the secretary-treasurer of the Hanbury Hardware Company; by 1921, he was the general manager. In 1925, W.F. McGuinness was manager of the Manitoba Hardware Company Limited and by 1927 he was the Company’s secretary-treasurer. He was also a member of a number of service clubs and fraternal organizations. From 1919-1923, he served as a director of the Manitoba Winter Fair and Fat Stock Show, representing the Manitoba Poultry Association. He was also a Mason and was involved with Brandon’s Council of the Board of Trade, Brandon Curling Club (1927 treasurer), and the Lawn Bowling Club. W.F. McGuinness passed away at the age of 49 after suffering from an infection for eight months, a complication resulting from influenza. He is interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 48).
While in Brandon, Ernest Albert McGUINNESS (b. 10 July 1886 – d. 30 August 1943) worked as a CPR ticket agent from at least 1906 to 1916. He was also a well-known baritone in the community. Ernest married Evelina G. DOLMAGE in Souris on 7 August 1912. They would have three daughters: Anna Charlotte, Maire, and Mrs. Edward May. Ernest moved to Winnipeg with his family in 1916 and lived there until his death in 1943. He is interred in the McGUINNESS family plot in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 48).
Annie May McGUINNESS (b. 23 December 1888 – d. 23 March 1948) was born in Carleton, Ontario. She worked as a laundress at the Brandon Asylum in 1907. She became a stenographer and worked with a number of firms, including George White Sons and Company in 1913, A.G. Buckingham in 1917, Coldwell Coleman and Kerr from 1919-43, and Kerr, McQuarrie & Meighen in 1945. Annie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a charter member of the Heather Club. She died in Brandon at the age of 59, and was interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 22).
Frederick Gallagher McGUINNESS (b. 1891 – d. 23 May 1968) was born in Ottawa, Ontario. While in Brandon, he was a student (1911) and secretary of Boys’ Work for the YMCA in 1913. He moved to Winnipeg where he graduated from the Manitoba Medical College in 1917. On 3 December 1917, Lieutenant F.G. McGuinness enlisted with the Canadian Army Medical Corps in Winnipeg. He served in France with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was a Medical Officer attached with the Ninth Royal Irish Fusiliers. Lt. McGuiness survived the war and returned to Winnipeg where he married Myrtle Eva WHITE in Winnipeg on 12 September 1922. They would have a son Jim “Jimmy” and a daughter Elizabeth (SHANNON). Dr. McGuinness practiced in Obstetrics and Gynecology and taught at the University of Manitoba’s Medical School from 1923 onwards. He was instrumental in helping his nephew, Frederick George McGUINNESS return to school after he was injured in the Second World War. Dr. McGuinness died in Winnipeg at the Deer Lodge Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Frederick George McGUINNESS had five sisters, three older and two younger. The eldest sister, Mary Charlotte McGuinness (b. 1 May 1911 – d. 02 December 1973), was born in Portage la Prairie. While in Brandon, she worked as a music teacher from 1937 to 1943 and was an organist with Knox United Church from 1941 to 1943. She married Reverend Henry John Herbert OLDFIELD (b. 4 June 1914, Saanich – d. September 2007, Victoria). They had two sons, John and William Frederick “Fred” (b. 1945 – d. 21 August 1986). Mary passed away in Coquitlam, BC.
Dorreene “Doney” Louise McGUINNESS (b. 31 December 1912 – d. 16 February 1976) was born in Virden, Manitoba. She married Dr. Robert INGLIS (b. 17 April 1913 – d. November 1982) and had four children. Dorreene passed away in Estevan, Saskatchewan and is buried in Souris Valley Memorial Gardens.
Kathleen Ruth McGUINNESS (b. 12 September 1915 – d. 15 September 1963) was born in Brandon, Manitoba. She worked as an operator with Government Phones from 1937 to 1941 and as a clerk with CPR Telegraphs from 1943 to 1951. In 1951, she was President of the Trillium Business and Professional Women’s Club. She died in Brandon at the age of 48, and was interred in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery (Section 22, Block D, Plot 50).
Orma Grace McGuinness (b. 13 January 1925 – d. 3 January 2013) was born in Brandon. She had trained as a nurse by 1947. She married George Edmond LONGPHEE (b. 9 September 1924, Souris, PEI – d. 7 May 2002, Sidney, BC) in Brandon on 1 June 1948. They had five children. Orma passed away in Sidney, BC.
Carol McGUINNESS married Herbert YOUNG on 16 January 1954 and had two children. She is the last surviving McGuinness sister of Frederick George McGuinness.
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
Subseries consists of records created and collected by members of the McGuinness family, as well as records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his years in the Canadian navy, college, and as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer. The papers and letters include materials from paternal and maternal sides of the McGuinness family.
Records in the subseries consist of newspaper clippings, correspondence, financial papers, legal documents, and military records .
Notes
Biographical information about the Pope-McGuinness families was obtained from the following: Manitoba Vital Statistics Database for birth, marriages, deaths; 1901, 1906, 1911 Canadian Censuses for immigration dates, addresses, occupations; Henderson’s Brandon City Directory (1906-1955) for addresses and occupations; obituaries published in the Brandon Daily Sun, Brandon Sun, and Winnipeg Free Press.
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
McGuinness wrote about his family and published snippets in his newspaper columns (see McG 2 Newspaper career series), articles (see McG 3.2 Miscellaneous freelance) and monographs (see McG 5 series). His book, Letters from Section 17: A Collection of Morningside Essays is autobiographical in nature
Trillium Business and Professional Women’s Club records
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period.
Documents
McG 1_1 McGuinness family papers and letters inventory.pdf
See collection level description for history/biography information on Frederick George McGuinness.
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
Subseries consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his years in the Canadian navy, college, federal government (Unemployment Insurance Commission), Saskatchewan government (Saskatchewan Jubilee), and as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer.
The papers and letters include materials from some members of the McGuinness family who assisted McGuinness with his research, as well as reader correspondence and materials from workshop participants. Readers of McGuinness’ columns often reminisced about Brandon’s local history and enclosed newspapers clippings, photographs, and pamphlets with their correspondence. Participants from his memoir writing workshops submitted their personal or family memoirs for McGuinness to review, provide feedback, or add to his collection.
Records in the subseries consist of correspondence (letters, e-mail communications, facsimiles, invitations, telegrams), newspaper clippings, programmes, ticket stubs. There is a Medicine Hat News logo patch located within File 10 1955-1965 Medicine Hat News.
Notes
In the file level inventories, square brackets at end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder.
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
John Everitt collection
Clarence Hopkin collection
Lawrence Stuckey collection
Jack Stothard collection
William Wallace papers
It is possible research and additional correspondence pertaining to McGuinness’ columns and research materials may be found in Personal papers (McG 1.1), Newspaper career (McG 2), Freelance (McG 3), Broadcasts, talks and workshops (McG 6). Photographs were pulled and added to McGuinness photographic collection (McG 9)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period.
Documents
McG 1_2 Fred McGuinness correspondence inventory.pdf
See collection level description for history/biography information on Frederick George McGuinness.
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
Subseries consists of records related to the business workings of Fred McGuinness Ltd. It includes financial statements prepared for Fred McGuinness Ltd. and information on insurance coverage.
Notes
In the file level inventories, square brackets at end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Statements on royalty earnings for McGuinness’ monograph Manitoba: The Province & The People are located in the Correspondence subseries (McG 1.2). Invoicing for McGuinness’ work on the Chronicle of Canada is located with that monograph subseries (5.7)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period.
Documents
McG 1_3 Fred McGuinness Ltd business documents inventory.pdf
See collection level description for history/biography information on Frederick George McGuinness.
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
Subseries consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his years in the Canadian navy, college, and as a journalist and publisher with The Medicine Hat News.
The subseries includes of variety of certificates pertaining to McGuinness’ marriage, volunteer work, professional memberships, and awards. The scrapbook contains ephemera (e.g., photographs, newspaper clippings, programmes, invitations, certificates, napkins) during McGuinness’ early years in the navy, college, and at The Medicine Hat News.
Notes
In the file level inventories, square brackets at end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
File level inventory is available for the certificates
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Related Material
Materials from McGuinness’ time during his navy and college years may be found in the Personal papers series (McG 1). Materials pertaining to his time at The Medicine Hat News are in the Newspaper career series (McG 2)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period.
Fred McGuinness worked with The Medicine Hat News for 10 years, starting in 1955, when he was hired as an assistant to the paper’s publisher. In 1958, he was promoted to publisher of the newspaper. At the same time McGuinness was also appointed vice-president of Southam Company Limited. Based in Toronto, Southam Company Limited was the parent organization that oversaw the Southam Printing Company (Toronto and Montreal) and the publication of a number of weekly newspapers, including The Ottawa Citizen, The Hamilton Spectator, The Winnipeg Tribune, The Calgary Herald, The Edmonton Journal, The Vancouver Province and The Medicine Hat News. In addition to his administrative duties, while with The Medicine Hat News, McGuinness authored a column titled, “The Lighthouse.” In November of 1965, he resigned as publisher and moved with his family to Winnipeg where he was appointed manager of the New Personnel and Information Division with James Richardson and Sons.
In 1988, McGuinness was hired by The Medicine Hat News to write a 20 article feature about his reminisces of Medicine Hat. McGuinness referred to this collection of stories as “Hat Memoirs.”
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 subseries contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer for The Medicine Hat News. Records include Medicine Hat News clippings from the 1960s, a scrapbook containing clippings of McGuinness’ Lighthouse column (1961-1964) and drafts of McGuinness’ 1988 Medicine Hat memoirs.
Records in the subseries consist of rough drafts, article proofs, newspaper clippings, a scrapbook, and correspondence.
Notes
Readers’ correspondence pertaining to McGuinness’ time in Medicine Hat may be found in Fred McGuinness’ personal papers, subseries McG 1.2 Correspondence
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
In November 1966, McGuinness was hired as vice-president to the Brandon Sun. He moved to Brandon with his family and had a career with the paper until his death in 2011. During his years with the Sun, McGuinness wrote a tri-weekly “Sunbeams” (sometimes spelled “Sun Beams”) column using the nom-de-plume F.A. [Fifth And] Rosser. Sunbeams was similar to McGuinness’ “Lighthouse” column for The Medicine Hat News; commenting on a variety of current events, Sunbeams also included book reviews, local events, and reminiscences.
Upon his retirement in January 1987, McGuinness was made publisher emeritus of the Brandon Sun. A week after his retirement, he began writing a new column for the Sun, called the “Diary.” Initially a bi-weekly column, which was made into a weekly column in 2009, McGuinness continued writing the “Diary” until his hospitalization in 2010. The Diary column was primarily a historical retrospective of Brandon, although it also touched on broader topics of interest to McGuinness during the time period.
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 subseries contains records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer with the Brandon Sun. The records consist of scrapbooks of Sunbeams columns, Sunbeam drafts, Diary drafts, article proofs, column research, and correspondence.
Notes
Readers’ correspondence pertaining to McGuinness’ time with the Brandon Sun can be found in Fred McGuinness’ personal papers, subseries McG 1.2 Correspondence. Possible research for his Sunbeam and Diary columns may be found in McG 4.1 Local history research and McG 2.3 Neighborly News (File 3)
Accruals
Closed
Finding Aid
A file level inventory is available
Storage Location
2015 accessions
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
Fred McGuinness wrote the syndicated weekly news column “Neighborly News” for 22 years, beginning in 1979. According to McGuinness, the Neighborly News column evolved out of the interest in and the impending cancellation of the CBC Radio broadcast “Neighborly News from the Prairies.” McGuinness credits Eugene Derksen (Steinbach Carillon), Miles Phillips (Boissevain Recorder), and Ian MacKenzie (Portage Graphic) for approaching him about printing/publishing a Neighborly News column. The column initially began with a dozen subscriptions from weeklies and grew to publication in 55 weeklies.
McGuinness described his creative process as follows. McGuinness received weeklies from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, from which he would read the first page and the editorial page. He created thematic files from clippings he accumulated over a period of time. He would then write four columns at a time based on the materials he assembled and had the columns printed at the Brandon Sun plant for camera-ready copy. Other weeklies had to re-type the columns if they did not have the facilities. The weekly columns were written for publication periods beginning every Monday.
McGuinness wrote his last Neighborly News column during the publication week of April 1, 2002. In his final column he confessed that his age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diagnosed in 2001, had become an impediment to his research, writing, and editing abilities. A month later, a Neighborly News retrospective written by McGuinness was published. In that column McGuinness reviewed the history of the Neighborly News broadcast and column and described his writing process.
The successor to McGuinness’ Neighborly News column was Margaret “Peggy” HASEIN, the editor and co-publisher of the Biggar Independent. Hasein was the successful bidder for the column after McGuinness put his column up for sale upon receiving his AMD diagnosis. The Neighborly News column is still in print today (2015).
Custodial History
Records were collected and created by McGuinness during the publication of the syndicated column Neighborly News from 1980 to 2002. The materials were donated to the SJ McKee Archives by the Estate of Fred McGuinness circa 2011. The Archives accessioned the records in 2015.
Scope and Content
The subseries consists of textual records (i.e., typed drafts, camera ready copy, and correspondence) created during the publication period (1980 to 2002) of Fred McGuinness’ syndicated Neighborly News column. The Archives does not have copies of McGuinness’ Neighborly News columns from 1999 to 2002. There is one file folder containing letters of thanks and congratulations upon McGuinness’ retirement in April 2002.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News columns published in the Roblin Review (April 2, 2002, 4), and The Glenboro Gazette (May 7, 2002, 11). In the Glenboro Gazette column, “Looking Back,” McGuinness recalled the history of history Neighborly News radiobroadcast and column. The timeline provided in the article, appears to conflict with the actual dates the radio broadcast was cancelled by CBC and the beginning of the publication of the Neighborly News column. The Archives have used McGuinness’ date in the looking back column but researchers should be aware of the discrepancies in the timeline
The original location of the file (when the Fred McGuinness collection was unprocessed) is noted on the front of each file folder. The first sentence of each column was provided in the file level inventory because weeklies published alternative titles for the same column. The square bracket at the end of each item contains a few keywords for the respective column
Camera-ready proofs are numbered and dated for the weekly publication period beginning on Mondays. Certain columns in this series were mis-numbered and/or mis-dated by McGuinness. McGuinness’ numbers and dates have been retained and the discrepancies noted by the editorial marking [sic]
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. For example, when researching and writing the Bootstrap profiles for the provincial government, McGuinness also mentioned these individuals in his Neighborly News or Brandon Sun Diary columns. Therefore, it is possible research materials pertaining to his Neighborly News columns may be found in the subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Clippings (McG 4.2), Local history (McG 4.1), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2) and Reader’s Digest (McG 3.1)
McGuinness details his vision problems and sale of the Neighborly News column in his memoir “Lost in Hotel Beesborough” (see McG 2.2 File 16, and McG 3.2, Misc. Freelance File 53)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been arranged according to column number/publication period
Fred McGuinness published 17 articles in Reader’s Digest magazine. His most intensive period of writing for the digest was between 1972 and 1982. McGuinness published his first story, “RAPESEED: Golden Bounty for the Prairie Farmer,” in August of 1972. The story “Mrs. K’s Eggs” (1992) appears to be his final publication with the magazine. McGuinness noted in one of his Neighborly News columns (#701, May 24, 1993) that his account about John Lane and his bluebird boxes, titled “The Man Who Brought the Bluebirds Back” (1973), generated the most readers’ correspondence.
Most of McGuinness’ topics focused on agriculture in the Canadian prairies and included: rapeseed, beef/cattle farming, credit unions, ranching, wheat, soil erosion, trout farming, honey, and birds (killdeers, bluebirds, and turkeys). Several articles – “Northwest of 17,” “Boy with Wheel,” “He’s Got a Good Fist,” and “Mrs. K’s Eggs” – were autobiographical in nature.
McGuinness contributed six articles to the Reader’s Digest book division for their publication, Reader’s Digest Scenic Wonders of Canada: An Illustrated Guide to Our Natural Splendors (1976). His assignment for the book focused on the prairie region and McGuinness contributed segments on Clear Lake/Riding Mountain National Park, Cypress Hills, The Big Muddy, Lake of the Woods, Qu’Appelle Valley, and Valley of the Dinosaurs/badlands of Red Deer Valley.
McGuinness conducted research on a number of topics for Reader’s Digest that did not get published with the magazine and he, therefore, published these stories elsewhere. Subjects included: wild rice, Father Larre, Frederick Phillip Grove, coal on the prairies (“Chores/Chore Boy”), community symbols, researching/writing local history, and a story titled “Hole in the Ground.” McGuinness ultimately published his “Frederick Phillip Grove” (1984) and “Coal Days on the Prairies” (1986) articles with Western People magazine. He would write about wild rice, Father Larre, and community symbols in his syndicated Neighborly News column. McGuinness used his local history research materials for his Brandon Sun Diary columns and possibly for the Friesen publication Local History Style Guide (1984) as well as in his memoir writing workshops. He continued to rework “Hole in the Ground,” a story about the swimming pool at Christmas Tree Farm, until 2009.
Fred McGuinness often used his Reader’s Digest articles as writing samples in his memoir writing workshops. He also continually added materials to his research files after an article was published, and in the case of his Reader’s Digest materials, he built upon his “writing local history” and “community symbols” files.
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 subseries consists of records created and collected by Fred McGuinness during his time as a journalist, editor, and freelance writer in Manitoba. It includes research materials (e.g., newspaper clippings, copies of articles and book chapters, brochures, pamphlets), notes, drafts, copies of published Reader’s Digest articles, and correspondence.
Notes
Information in the history/biography was taken from Neighborly News columns (McG 2.3 file 12, file 17, file 18); letter dated April 29, 1874 to Glen Sutherland from Fred McGuinness (McG 3.1, file 6); and personal e-mail communication from Rick Ediger, Editor, Reader’s Digest, March 25, 2015
In the file level inventories, square brackets at the end of file names reference the original location of the file in the unprocessed Fred McGuinness collection. The original location is also noted on the front of each file folder
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 research materials pertaining to this subseries may be found in the Fred McGuinness collection subseries: Correspondence (McG 1.2), Brandon Sun (McG 2.2), Neighborly News (McG 2.3), Miscellaneous freelance (McG 3.2), Local history research (McG 4.1), and Talks and workshops (McG 6.3)
Arrangement
Arrangement was artificially created by the Archives. Subseries has been re-arranged according to publication period
