UW Open House Caption Contest - Photo #3

"Although this episode of The Bachelor - Scotland may have seemed a little dull at first, Rick later revealed his impressive bagpipes to much rapture."

Source: University of Winnipeg Archives & Records Centre, University Relations & Communications Photograph Collection 10.41 - “People in front of Wesley College,” c. 1925.

UW Open House Caption Contest - Photo #2

"Sadly, Phil realized that this was the closest he would ever get to washboard abs."

Source: University of Winnipeg Archives and Records Centre, SC-4-3 84-661 - “United College – Residence Life,” 1960.

UW Open House Caption Contest - Photo #1

Tomorrow in the Duckworth Centre, between the hours of 9-2 and 6-8, the University of Winnipeg Library will be participating in the Information Fair at the annual Open House (http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/openhouse/). The Library's booth will be more awesome than the others as it will feature a Caption Contest encouraging witty remarks pertaining to three photos from the holdings of the Archives and Records Centre. The best caption will be awarded a $100 gift card from the UW Bookstore.  In order to encourage more participation, online submissions will also be accepted via this blog in the comments section.  I have captioned the three photos below to get those creative juices flowing. Remember to leave your name and an email address or phone number so that we can contact you if you are the winner. 

Online submissions will be received and vetted by the author of this blog prior to their publication online. Personal information will be removed from the submission prior to its publication on the blog. This information is collected under the authority of The University of Winnipeg Act, and pursuant to The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It is used only to enter you into the contest. If you have questions regarding this collection please visit www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/admin-fippa.

Thanks and good luck everyone!

"For the first time, Bruce's shorts were not the most embarrassing part of Bruce's day."

Source: University of Winnipeg Archives and Records Centre, University Relations & Communications Photograph Collection 9.163 - “Trike race,” c. 1975.

Deep Thoughts: The 3rd Annual Historical Movember Recreation

Original image on left: University of Winnipeg Archives (SC-2-4 A0621-19298)

Greetings!  Since my last post I have started a new position as University Archivist/Digital Curator at the University of Winnipeg Archives & Records Centre.  This blog will now feature content from the University of Winnipeg Archives but all your favourite content from the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections will remain on the site.

My new position coincided with the start of Movember and so, my initial UW Archives post is the 3rd Annual Historical Movember Recreation.  My colleague, and a fine moustachioed gentleman, Daniel Matthes, has joined me for this year's recreation.  Although we have only worked together for a month, I find it hard to believe that with this photo we have not reached the pinnacle of our professions.  Daniel's background in theatre is evident throughout every pixel.  

Thanks to Brianne Selman for taking the photo and to everyone who supported my Movember campaign, especially my new friends and colleagues at the UofW.  I am touched by your generosity.  I hope you will recognize me now that I have rid myself of that hideous face rat.

If anyone is interested, it is not too late to make a donation.  Please visit my site here.

When You Wish Upon A Star

Source: Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18, A81-12), Box 23, Folder 420, Item 7

Photographer: Don Hunter; Date: August 6, 1964

 

It is Dream Big Week at the University of Manitoba campus and Archives & Special Collections has been celebrating via social media by posting photos of some historical dreamers.  Continuing in this vein, here we have Franklyn Shinn and John Stewart stargazing at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Observatory in Winnipeg.  However, judging from the slightly menacing expression on Mr. Shinn's face, it appears to me as though his dreams may also be Mr. Stewart's worst nightmare.  Perhaps this apparent resentment is born out of jealousy due to Mr. Stewart's full head of neatly cropped hair and his decision not to choose a style of moustache adorned by one of history's greatest monsters.

Jolly Old St. Knickers-less

Source: University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections - Pugh Family fonds (MSS 289, A.99-33), Item 8

 

Since her nose is as red as Rudolph's, she may have partaken in a little too much Christmas cheer (if you catch my drift).  It's best that she settle her brain for a long winter's nap where no doubt visions of sugar bums will dance in her head.  Happy holidays everyone!

Jive Revival: The 2nd Annual Movember Historical Recreation

As Movember winds down for another year, and because my Movember team has raised way more than the $2000 limit I set to support research on prostate cancer and other men's health issues, I present to you the second annual Movember Historical Recreation.  To learn more about the original photograph on the left, visit this past blog post: http://whatthefonds.blogspot.ca/2010/01/jive-turkey.html.  Thanks to my wife Denise for taking the photo, being my jive partner, and for not leaving me when, really, after this, no one could blame her.

There is still time to donate. Visit my Mo Space here and thanks for your support: http://ca.movember.com/mospace/3085357.

Some Mo' Movember Historical Recreation

You may recall that in celebration of the end of Movember 2012, I, along with the assistance of several colleagues, recreated a classic moustache pic from the holdings of the Archives.  To refresh your memory, here's the pic:

To close out Movember 2013, I would again like to bring a historical moustache into the present.  But this year I will only do so if I reach my fundraising goal.  My Movember team (which includes fellow libary/archives colleagues James, Jesse, Jarad, and Lyle and other information professionals outside of Dafoe Library) is only $200 away from raising $2000 for prostate cancer research and other men's health issues.  If my team hits the $2000 mark, I will recreate this photo which has previously appeared on the blog:

Please donate here: http://ca.movember.com/team/996893.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to make me look even more foolish than usual.  And thanks for the support.

Brett

University Administration's Gorilla Tactics

The description in our database for this photo is "President Campbell accosted by 'gorilla'." I have no evidence to disprove this theory so will assume Dr. Ralph Campbell was simply on his way out of the Administration Building for a meeting when he was unsuspectingly and irrationally harrassed by this 'gorilla' who was, I assume, wreaking havoc on campus that day.



Whatever differences President Campbell and the 'gorilla' had seemed to be put behind them moments later when he appeared to offer the bearded gentleman on the right as a sacrifice to the 'gorilla' and the three of them posed to capture the moment for posterity.

 

This posting continues a disturbing trend I'm noticing in our photograph collections of costumed hooligans.  See :

http://www.whatthefonds.blogspot.ca/2013/06/hands-up-doc-summerspast.html

http://www.whatthefonds.blogspot.ca/2011/03/you-better-watch-out-you-better-not-cry.html

 

Source: University Relations and Information Office fonds (PC 80, A83-52), Box 1, Folder 6, Items 1-2

Date: April 7, 1977

Hand's Up, Doc! #summerspast

Source: University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections - Winnipeg Tribune fonds (PC 18/5092/18-4287-006)

Photographer: Jon Thordarson; Date: June 15, 1979

The streets of Winnipeg have a reputation for being tough but one summer afternoon they appeared to reach new lows as a woman was held up at carrot-point by a desperate rabbit with nothing to lose. In actuality, this rabbit was handing out carrots to passersby on Portage Avenue to advertise the opening of the outdoor summer market in Old Market Square.