The Westman Oral History collection was a project of the Westman Oral History Association and ran from 1980-84. The Westman Oral History Association was created on August 12, 1980, by a steering committee of the Assiniboine Historical Society. The Oral History Association undertook a project called "Voices of Yesteryear." The project was created in order to record and preserve the lives and experiences of early settlers to the Westman area. Work began in 1981, and included interviews conducted with approximately seventy senior citizens from over twenty communities in western Manitoba. The Association held a training session for committee members on April 11, 1981, where 125 participants learned how to conduct an effective interview and how to operate the recorders used in the interviews. The chairman of the Westman Oral History Association was Effie McPhail, the coordinator was Sally Cunningham, and the secretary was Bob Coates. Some of the interviews recorded were used in the early months of 1982 on a local radio station, CKLQ, as part of a program called "Centennial Memories." The project resulted in the creation of the Westman Oral History Collection.
Custodial History
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
The collection includes the audiotapes used to record the interviews, as well as corresponding files for each interview subject. The files contain facts about the interviewees, including date and place of birth, occupations, and marital status. The files also include a summary of the interview heard on each tape.
The interviews were done with men and women pioneers from the Westman area of Manitoba, and describe the daily lives of common people during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. The topics covered in the interviews include the following: Agriculture, Associations and Clubs, Churches and Church Life, Cultural Events, Early Politics, Education, Health Services, Immigration, Local Businesses, Native-White Relations, Pioneer Settlements, Pioneer Way of Life, Social Life, Sports, Transportation, and War Brides. This collection includes interviews with residents from the following communities: Brandon, Boissevain, Brookdale, Carberry, Deloraine, Douglas, Elkhorn, Erickson, Forrest, Glenboro, Hamiota, Hartney, Justice, Kenton, Killarney, Melita, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Ninette, Oak Lake, Rapid City, Reston, Rivers, Shoal Lake, Sioux Valley Reserve, Souris, Strathclair, Virden, and Wawanesa. The interviews also disclose the unique experiences of pioneer women in rural areas. Many of the interviewees provide brief family histories during their interviews.
Notes
Some of the files include photocopied pictures of the interviewees. Description written by Robyn Mitchell (2001).
Some damage to matting, especially on the back. Photograph is good. There are two brads in the matting (one on the left edge, one on the right edge). The brads are connected to a (broken) red ribbon likely used to hang the photograph.
Custodial History
Kay Sullivan gave the photograph to Fred McGuinness in August 2007.
Scope and Content
Photograph was taken from the riverbank and shows the steel bridge in Souris, MB. A second wooden bridge is visible behind the steel bridge. The residence of Dr. W.A. Sherrin can be seen to the right of the bridges.
Notes
Dr. Sherrin's residence was identified using the Illustrated Souvenir of Souris, Manitoba (p. 38).
Some damage to matting, especially on the back. There is also significant water damage to the image. There are two brads in the matting (one on the left edge, one on the right edge). The brads are connected to a red ribbon likely used to hang the photograph.
Custodial History
Kay Sullivan gave the photograph to Fred McGuinness in August 2007.
Scope and Content
Photograph was taken from the riverbank and shows the suspension foot-bridge in Souris, MB. A number of buildings, both commerial and possibly residential, can be seen on the far side of the river.
Erected by the village of Wawanesa, the memorial is dedicated to the local citizens who died as a result of the First and Second World Wars. It was unveiled on November 11, 1921.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows the dedication of a war memorial in the village of Wawanesa, MB. The memorial is located near the bank of the Souris River. The photograph was taken from Wawanesa Mutual. The street on the left is 4th Street.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the Canadian National Defense website.
Bunclody, MB was located near Souris, MB. The bridge in question crossed the Souris River.
Custodial History
Photograph was donated by a "Mrs. Wilson" in 1989.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a portion of the Great Northern Railway track with the Bunclody bridge in the background. Also visible are a couple of houses, railway cars, lumber and part of the Souris River. The photograph was taken in early winter or early spring.
Bunclody, MB was located near Souris, MB. The bridge in question crossed the Souris River.
Custodial History
Photograph was donated by a "Mrs. Wilson" in 1989.
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a moveable crane used for railway maitenance on the Great Northern Railway bridge at Bunclody, MB. The photograph was taken from the Souris River and shows the bridge structure.
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