Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Accession # |
A2003.142 |
Title |
Arthur Brecken fonds, 1894-2003. -- 40 cm. |
Date |
1935-1991 |
Description |
The Arthur Brecken Fonds consists of photographs, documents and artwork by and about artist-educator Arthur Brecken (1915-2003), who lived in Erin from the 1950s until his death. He grew up in China, attended Pickering College, graduated in 1940 from Mount Allison University (Sackville, NB), and served six years in the Canadian Army. He taught art at Erin District High School, Guelph Recreation Centre, and later in his studio at home, which he referred to as "Kitchen College"; the house itself he referred to as "Wedgewood Cottage" for the blue colour he painted it. His notepaper bore the letterhead "Arthur Brecken of Erin / Polyartisan ...". His art ranged through oils and watercolours to work in leather, silver, copper, wood, soapstone, pottery and enamel. His mother was born Vida Overland, before her marriage to The Rev. Egerton R.M. Brecken. The Overland home had been in the family since 1869, and its history is documented in "A Brief History, 1854-1974: The Property at The Corner of English and Main, 199 Main Street ..." written by Arthur Brecken, 20 July 1974 [see Reading Room family history vertical files "Brecken - Erin" and "Overland - Erin"]. The materials in the fonds below have been organized chronologically. SERIES 1: MARGARET McLEOD, scrapbook, 1894-1912. File 1: [The mother of Margaret McLeod and the mother of Arthur Brecken's mother were sisters; SEE SEPARATE ENTRY FOR SCRAPBOOK]. [SEE ALSO: Erin Branch, British and Foreign Bible Society, minute book, 1894-1960 - A2003.56] SERIES 2: MRS. EGERTON R.M. BRECKEN (nee Vida M. Overland), records, 1899-1957. File 1: Membership cards, Methodist Church, Sackville, 1899-1905 Issued to Mrs. Ralph Brecken (nee Jessie Eaton); Mrs. Dr. Brecken; Mrs. Jessie Brecken; [Mrs. Brecken was grandmother of Arthur Brecken]. File 2: Wedding announcement of Kate Eaton Brecken (daughter of the late Rev. Ralph Brecken), to Dr. William Black. [The Rev. Egerton R. Brecken performed the ceremony; Vida M. Overland was bridesmaid; they later married], 1908. [see also ph 17494]; Includes booklets of poetry, by Dr. William A. Black, 1941-1943. File 3: Notebook, Chinese transliteration, 1909. File includes photocopy "Vida M. Overland / Methodist Deaconess / Training School ...1907", found at front of "Valeria, The Martyr of the Catacombs" by W.H. Withrow (Toronto: William Briggs, [1881]); also, photocopy of spine, cover and initial pages of Mandarin New Testament (Union Version) Revised, American Bible Society, 1917; found within: signed portrait; portrait with music and text on reverse. File 4: Notebook, "Classics / Confucian Analects". Contains notes, handwritten in ink and pencil, with headings: Gt. Learning; Doctrine of Mean; Mencius; Index to Subjects; Notes on Text. Some text in English, some in Chinese characters; found within "The Philosophy of Tao ..." (English and Chinese text), ca.1910. File 5: Correspondence, 1952-1962. [Includes account card for T.Eaton Co.Ltd; letter from M.H. Braude, Cambridge, England, 1952; cards from Arthur Brecken, 1955, 1957]. [SEE ALSO: Charles and Mary Overland, portrait, and commemorative plaque, ca.1902 - ph 17302, A2003.56; Matthews Overland, daybook 1908-1943 - A2003.56]. SERIES 3: PHOTOGRAPHS, ca.1924-ca.2003. Subseries 1: Arthur Brecken, house and garden; various, 1924-1990. - ph 17493 - b&w postcard, "Continuation School, Erin, Ont. Canada", ca.1924. - ph 17494 - b&w postcard, identified as "Black house, 130 Lytton Blvd, Toronto, 1927". - ph 17495 - b&w postcard, small, identified as "Front, McLaren Castle, Caledon", Peel County [for information on McLaren Castle, see Roberta Allan's History of Elora, p.126.], ca.1930. - ph 17496 - 2 b&w portraits, Arthur LeRoy Brecken. Photo: The Pridham Studio / The Smith Studio / Amherst NS / Sackville NB, ca.1935. - ph 17497- 2 b&w prints [parts of same postcard?], showing women who could be stereotyped as "WW II pinups", ca.1940. - ph 17498 - b&w print, thought to be Grace Brecken. Photo: Climo, Saint John, NB, ca.1945. - ph 17499 - 2 b&w prints, Arthur Brecken, [Royal Botanical Gardens?] Hamilton, Ontario; found within envelope with card "Movie Snapshots / Box 95, Station C, Hamilton"; reverse of card reads: "expires 1 Nov. 1958". - ph 17500 - b&w print, removed from file: "Community Programmes Branch course, 1964" - ph 17501 - 4 colour prints, of which, 1 large, showing young woman with extremely long red hair; identified as Rosemarie Harris, younger sister of silversmith-artist Wesley Harris, ca.1980-1990. - ph 17502 - colour print showing home of Arthur Brecken in summer; found within envelope marked 4 Oct. 1983. - ph 17503 - colour print showing Arthur Brecken's home in winter; found within envelope marked 4 Oct. 1983. - ph 17504 - 14 related prints showing interior and exterior of Arthur Brecken's home in summer; found within envelope marked 4 Oct. 1983. - ph 17505 - 17 related prints showing home of Arthur Brecken in winter; found within envelope marked 4 Oct. 1983. - ph 17506 NA 4577 - 32 related prints, numbered 1 to 32, made [by WCMA, 2003] from negatives found in the home of Arthur Brecken. [Note: numbering on reverse of prints does not correspond to numbering of negatives] 1 shows interior of living room; 6 show desk/drafting table made by Arthur Brecken; 4 show a pond or lake; 4 show rock formations; 17 scenes in the garden of Arthur Brecken. ca.1985. - ph 17507 - colour print showing Arthur Brecken with Wesley Harris, standing next to display cabinet containing silverwork, ca.1985. - ph 17508 - 3 colour prints. One shows view towards Arthur Brecken's house, from his garden; oil lamps in window; Arthur Brecken, with man and child, Sept. 1989. - ph 17509 - colour print showing Arthur Brecken at his home in Erin, seated on the stairs leading to 2nd story; there are evergreen decorations; enclosed with letter from Carrie [name, Lantzville, BC?], 27 Jan. 1990. [SEE ALSO: Garden of Arthur Brecken, photographs, 1990 - ph 17303; Naomi Smith, photographs, 1992 - ph 17299; Arthur Brecken, portrait, ca.2000 - ph 17288; Garden of Arthur Brecken, photographs, 2003 - ph 17353]. Subseries 2: Wesley Harris, jewellery artist, ca.1970-1991. This subseries, found mostly within the same envelope, consists of photographs of jewellery, made by Wesley Harris, a student of Arthur Brecken, living in Newfoundland from ca.1984: - ph 17510 - 6 apparently related colour prints, 2 of which show table displays of jewellery; sign reads "Elmira Swimming Pool", ca.1970. - ph 17511 - 3 colour prints, showing rings, bracelet; on reverse "copyright 1984 Loft Studio". - ph 17512 - 40 colour prints of rings, pendants, jewellery. One print copyright 1984 Loft Studio; removed from folder marked "Sooter's ... Our 25th Anniversary ...". Many prints have handwritten numbers on reverse. File contains photocopy of original format of folder; ca.1984-1990. - ph 17513 - 2 large colour prints showing Wesley Harris and his bride Margaret (nee name), in wedding attire, with Arthur Brecken; found in Christmas card, 1987. - ph 17514 - 10 colour prints showing silver "Pagoda", with close-up details of top roof, bottom layer of drawers and ebony base, December 1988. - ph 17515- 8 colour prints showing ring, broach, table object, pendants, one of which identified as "Blue topaz pendant ... mobius-strip construction in teardrop shaped frame, Nov. 1988"; second of which identified as "Moss agate pendant, Jan 1989 [signed] Wesley Harris". - ph 17516- 9 colour prints of rings and pendant; 2 show "The Studio, as it looked in February, 1989"; 1 shows "Display at Summer St John's Craft Fair" [sign reads "Wesley / Harris Jewellery / Artist & / Goldsmith"]; all are numbered on front and some have hand-lettered numbers on reverse. - ph 17517- 3 colour prints of child, inscribed "To Arthur", identified as Laurel Elizabeth Harris at 9 hours old - 13 April 1989; one day old; 5 1/2 months old. - ph 17518- 9 colour prints, identified as "Gwen's piece; rings, pendants; on reverse, "147", "148";, ca.1989. - ph 17519 - 2 colour prints showing rings: pink tourmaline in red gold [numbered on front: 15 37]; 14 k. y. gold, 3 opals, [print signed] Wesley Harris [numbered on front: 9 36]. Found with letter 3 July 1990. - ph 17520 - colour print showing Wesley and Margaret Harris with child [Laurel Elizabeth Harris, born 13 April 1989]; Found with letter 24 Oct. 1990. - ph 17521 - 2 colour prints showing [Wesley and Margaret Harris with child Laurel Elizabeth Harris]. ca.1991. Subseries 3: CD-ROM [Compact Disc - Read Only Memory], 2002-2003. Contains 61 images of Arthur Brecken's home, artwork and garden, taken 2002-2003, by Alan Kirkwood. SEE SEPARATE ENTRY: A2003.152, ph 17522. SERIES 4: ARTHUR BRECKEN, documents, 1931-2003. File 1: Book inscriptions, 1931, 1946 - Photocopy, from inside front cover, "The Holy Bible": Arthur LeRoy Brecken from Father and Mother. Presented on the occasion of uniting in fellowship with the Christian Church on profession of faith, Sackville, N.B., 5 July 1931. - Photocopy, from inside front cover, ... "The New Testament ...": To Mr. Arthur Brecken and his folks at Sackville from Hugh and Edyth Dobson ... Found within: religious pamphlets; notes, handwritten in ink, for sermon[?]; handwritten notes in pencil, titled "Imperative"; inscription dated June 1946. File 2: Copies of newspaper clippings, 1969-1992. - "A Visit to Erin's total artist" [Arthur Brecken], The Telegram, Toronto, 14 June 1969. - Anne Murray, Springhill NS, 1970-1971; - Renee Grebers, Erin, 1987-1992. - Lois Etherington Bettridge, Guelph silversmith, 1990. File 3: Membership cards, 1971-1972. - Guelph Creative Arts Association. - Canadian Craftsmen's Association. File 4: Phone lists, 1990-2003. [On reverse: architectural drawing; see also architectural drawing AC2003.5, ART 810 SERIES 5: MAPS, 1937; 1966. File 1: Orangeville, 1937 [MAP 1134: SEE SEPARATE ENTRY]. File 2: City of Guelph, 1966 [MAP 1135: SEE SEPARATE ENTRY]. SERIES 6: MOUNT ALLISON UNIVERSITY, 1944-1999. File 1: - Programme, Conservatory Recital [includes piano solo by Grace Brecken], 1944. - Programmes, 16th General Council of the United Church in Canada, meeting at Sackville, NB, 1954. - Certificate of Life Membership in the Mount Allison Federated Alumni, 1978. - Letters, Mount Allison Development Programme, 1979, 1999. ["Hope you will attend the next reunion of the 1940 class"]. SERIES 7: BOOKS, 1947-1995. [NOTE: SEE SEPARATE ENTRIES] Nellie M. Lewis, "Games and Parties the Year Round" (Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1947). A.M. McKitrick, "Steam Trains Through Orangeville: A History" (Cheltenham: Boston Mills Press, 1976. [NOTE: HELD IN STACKS]. Ralph Beaumont, "Steam Trains to the Bruce" (Cheltenham: Boston Mills Press, 1977). [NOTE: HELD IN STACKS]. John H.H. Root, "Memoirs from 1908 to 1982 of John Henry Haines Root (Grand Valley: The Star and Vidette Printing Ltd. [printer], ca.1982. [signed by author]. Gordon Winters, "A Touch of Yesterday" (Grand Valley: The Star and Vidette Printing Ltd. [printing], 1984). [signed by author; includes note from Cindy Aitken]. "The World Book of Breckens" ("copyright MCMXCV by Halbert's Family Heritage") [The first four chapters are general in nature, dealing with history, migrations to Canada; the origin and meaning of names; heraldry; how and where to research your family history. Chapter 5 is titled "The Breckens Around The World" and lists Breckens immigrating to New York and Prince Edward Island. Page 5.3 lists "The Brecken International Registry" - addresses of those with the same surname in Canada (showing Arthur Brecken, in Erin), USA, Great Britain and Germany. A letter enclosed describes the process in generating the publication, and asks for additional orders before 2 June 1995]. SERIES 8: CORRESPONDENCE, 1950-1996. This series consists of correspondence in the form of notes, letters, and greeting cards, written to Arthur Brecken from family members, friends and fellow artists. Subseries 1: Family, ca.1950-1996. File 1: Mrs. John Stewart MacNairn (nee Grace Brecken, sister to Arthur Brecken), 1950-1997.Includes programmes for Clawson Methodist Church, Clawson, Michigan, 1956, 1966; St. Paul United Methodist Church, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, 1980. File 2: Christmas tags, ca.1959. - To Art from Cousin Margaret [name]. - To Artie-Boy from Auntie Margaret [name], 1959 File 3: Aunt Jessie / Mrs. P.R. Brecken, Calgary, 1969. File 4: Gwendolyn MacNairn [niece; Halifax], 1970, 1985. [includes clipping, 1970]. File 5: Cynthia ("Cin/Cindy") MacNairn [niece; Seattle], 1987-1999. File 6: Nancy MacNairn [niece; Halifax], 1990, 1996 Subseries 2: Christmas cards, 1960-1996 The correspondence listed below reflects upon the contributions of Arthur Brecken to art and the teaching of it, as well as to his love for his garden, and his hospitality and generous nature. Some of the Christmas greetings take the form of a 1-4 page Christmas letter, copied several times for mailing to different friends and family members; there may be personalized salutations and closings added; they are indicated as "multiple". File 1: Christmas card list [?], 3-pages, page III in another hand, 1960. File 2: 1968-1970. Sheri [name], 1968, 1969. Maude [name], 1970. File 3: 1978-1979; 1987. Ruth Black, Toronto. File 4: 1984-1985. Margaret Czapelka, Brampton. Daniel Kam-hoo Tsui, Hong Kong. Eugene and Eleanor Melvin, Carmel, California, USA. John and Margy Riley, Mount Morris, Illinois, USA. Bert and Goldie Fulford, Toronto. Bill and Carrie [name], Lantzville, BC [multiple]. Gwynneth M. Cook, Hamilton [multiple]. Marjorie F. Atkinson, Fredericton, NB [multiple]. Edna and Roy DeMarsh, Stanley, NB [multiple]. Rose family, Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA [multiple]. File 5: 1987-1989. Christmas card list [?], 1-page, 1987. Isabel [Hasting, BC ?]. Helen [name], Dundas. Clayton Baxter, Thamesville. Naomi [Smith]. Brigitte Vander Knaap, London, Ontario. Kathy (Somerville) Neil, Calgary. June and Paul [name], Channel Islands [multiple]. Marjorie and Ted Atkinson, Fredericton, NB [multiple]. Peggi and Shan Rose, Hendersonville, Tennessee, [multiple] 1987. Margaret and Shan Rose, [Hendersonville, Tennessee], [multiple] 1989. Carrie [name, Lantzville, BC?], 1 Jan. 1990. Subseries 3: Art and artists, 1961-ca.1995. File 1: Includes Recreation Commission, Guelph, 1961; The Canadian Handicrafts Guild, Toronto, 1962; Wallace Silversmiths, Lancaster Pennsylvania, 1963; imitation envelope addressed to "Arthur of Erin" from "Santa's Kitchen" 1980; letterhead: "Arthur Brecken of Erin / Polyartisan ..." ca.1985; typescript of interview, 1987; copy of newspaper clipping re exhibit at Wellington County Museum, 1993; undated thank-you letters from Carman [name] and from Lotte and Burna [name] re courses; undated, in the hand of Arthur Brecken: lists of courses (one with notation "Kitchen College"), resume, poetry, invoices. File 2: Penny Heald [artist], 1968-1987. File 3: Jennifer ("Jen") Pepper [artist], 1982-1987. ------------------------------------------------ FILES ABOVE STORED IN MU 498 FILES BELOW STORED IN MU 499 ------------------------------------------------ File 4: Wesley Harris [artist], 1982-1990. File 5: Lucy Erskine [artist], 1984. File 6: Cindy Czapelka / Mrs. H. Aitken [artist], 1984-1987. [addressed to "Polyartisan c/o Kitchen College"]. File 7: Siglinde Knoespel. 1984-1987. [includes additional cards, some embroidered, signed S.K.]. File 8: Patt Dyson, Oakville [artist], 1985-1996. SERIES 9: HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES, records, 1960-1999. File 1: Guelph Horticultural Society, history, 1900-1960 (2 copies). File 2: Ontario Horticultural Association, 1960-1963. [includes Annual Reports for 1960, 1962]. File 3: Erin Horticultural Society, 1963-1999. [includes a few Minutes 1963-1967; seven programmes 1976- 1997; Cavan's Town Gardener Newsletter, 1999]. SERIES 10: ERIN UNITED CHURCH, records, 1956-ca.1990. File 1: - Handwritten order for "Atlas of the Bible", 1956. - Report "Branch Contributions, Georgian Bay Division", showing results for 1959,1960, 1961. - Leaflet, "Christmas '62: Five Oaks Conference For Hi-Teens", 1962. - Minutes, Meetings of Guelph Presbytery, 1962-1963. - Directory of Elders, Stewards, Committee membership, Erin United Church, 1964. - Fundraising letters, 14 Oct. 1965. - Sunday School attendance, 1966-1967[?]. - Financial Report, Jan. 1978. - Programme, Burns' and Knox Presbyterian Churches [Erin], 1989. File 2: "Journey to the Celestrial[sic] City - Paradise: Songs, Stores and Poems" written by Deborah L. Veldman (and others), 1970. File 3: Membership list 1985-1986. File 4: "Erin United Church 1839-1989", by Doris Fines [signed by author, page 69; 1-page biography (page 16) of missionary Vida May Overland, later Mrs. Egerton Ryerson Moro Brecken, mother of Arthur and Grace Brecken; also (page 48), Arthur Brecken is listed as Sunday School Superintendent, 1954-1961]. File 5: "The Families of Erin United Church" [title from inside text; consists of colour studio portraits of members, with names and addresses, ca.1990]. SERIES 11: ONTARIO COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES BRANCH, records, 1964. During the 1960s, the Community Programmes Branch, Ontario Dept. of Education, sponsored a "Provincial Leadership Institute". The 1964 course was held at Federated Colleges, Guelph [later University of Guelph]. File 1: Course notes; photo [ph 17500, filed with photos]; includes promotional leaflets for Provincial Leadership Institute; Macdonald Institute. Others who attended were Mrs. O. Campbell, Fergus; Mrs. Dorothy Clendenning, Guelph; Mrs. J. Hardie, Moorefield. The course included "Leadership Sessions" and "Skill Sessions" (for craftsmen, potters, milliners, children's art, youth programmes, senior's programmes ...), June 1964. SERIES 12: THE ERIN ADVOCATE, five issues, 1969-1979. [SEE SEPARATE ENTRIES] SERIES 13: ERIN DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL, records, 1972-1980. Subseries 1: Programmes, class lists, course descriptions, 1972-1980. File 1: Programme, Erin District High School Graduation Exercises, 3 Nov. 1972. [includes newspaper clipping noting that Arthur Brecken would be teaching five classes]. File 2: Class lists 1973-1974. PERSONAL INFORMATION BANK. PLEASE ASK ARCHIVIST FOR ASSISTANCE. The name of Wesley Harris is listed; includes 1-page instruction sheet: "Etching". File 3: Course descriptions, Class lists, 1974-1975. PERSONAL INFORMATION BANK. PLEASE ASK ARCHIVIST FOR ASSISTANCE. Arthur Brecken is listed teaching part time, Art [grades] 10, 12, 13]. File 4: Programme, Erin District High School Music Tour Germany, 26 April - 8 May 1990; includes programme "Grade 12 Presents ..." [undated]; letter re Cemetery Committee, judging at [public speaking] contest, payment [undated]. Subseries 2: Yearbooks, 1974-1980. File 1: "Hermes" Erin District High School Yearbook 1974-1975. File 2: "Hermes" Erin District High School Yearbook 1975-1976. File 3: "Hermes" Erin District High School Yearbook 1979-1980. SERIES 14: ART, ca.1980-ca.1990. [SEE SEPARATE ENTRIES, AC2003.2, ART 790-ART 792; AC2003.5, ART 797-ART 810]. SERIES 15: EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, records, 1983-1990. Extended Learning Opportunities was a volunteer organization, founded in 1981, and funded by "New Horizons", Federal Dept. of Health and Welfare. It brought to Erin, during the fall and winter, a series of speakers mainly from the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo. SERIES 16: ERIN AND DISTRICT ARTS COUNCIL, minutes, 1992. SERIES 17: ERIN FALL FAIR, programme, 1995. |
Creator \ Maker |
Brecken, Arthur Leroy [compiler] |
Creator \ Maker |
Brecken, Arthur Leroy [photographer] Pridham Studio [photographer] Smith Studio [photographer] Harris, Wesley [photographer] Movie Snapshots [photographer] Loft Studio [photographer] |
Item Name |
Record Group |
Person \ Organization |
Aitken, H. (Mrs.) Atkinson, Marjorie F. Baxter, Clayton Bettridge, Lois Etherington Black, Ruth Black, William A. (Dr.) Braude, M. H. Brecken, Arthur Leroy Brecken, Egerton R. M. (Mrs.) Brecken, Grace Brecken, Jessie (Mrs.) Brecken, Kate Eaton Brecken, P. R. (Mrs.) Brecken, Ralph (Mrs.) Burn's Presbyterian Church Campbell, Oreen Canadian Craftsmen's Association Canadian Handicrafts Guild Clendenning, Dorothy (Mrs.) Climo Community Programmes Branch Cook, Gwynneth M. Czapelka, Cindy Czapelka, Margaret Demarsh, Edna Demarsh, Roy Department of Education (Ontario) Dobson, Edyth Dobson, Hugh Dyson, Patt Eaton, Jessie Elmira Swimming Pool Erin and District Arts Council Erin Continuation School Erin District High School Erin Fall Fair Erin Horticultural Society Erin United Church Erskine, Lucy Extended Learning Opportunities Federated Colleges, Guelph Fines, Doris Fulford, Bert Fulford, Goldie Grebers, Renee Guelph Creative Arts Association Guelph Horticultural Society Guelph Recreation Commission Hardie, J. (Mrs.) Harris, Laurel Elizabeth Harris, Margaret Harris, Rosemarie Harris, Rosemary Harris, Wesley Heald, Penny Knoespel, Siglinde Knox Presbyterian Church Loft Studio MacDonald Institute MacNairn, Cynthia MacNairn, Gwendolyn MacNairn, John Stewart (Mrs.) MacNairn, Nancy McLaren Castle McLeod, Margaret Melvin, Eleanor Melvin, Eugene Mount Allison University Movie Snapshots Murray, Anne Neil, Kathy New Horizons Ontario Horticultural Society Overland, Vida May Pepper, Jennifer Pridham Studio Riley, John Riley, Margaret Rose, Margaret Rose, Shan Royal Botanical Gardens Smith Studio Smith, Naomi Somerville, Kathy Sooter's Tsui, Daniel Kam-Hoo United Church of Canada Vander Knaap, Brigitte Veldman, Deborah L. Wallace Silversmiths |
Place |
Caledon Erin Guelph Hamilton Michigan New Brunswick Newfoundland Orangeville Sackville |
Subject |
Arts Bridge Christmas Education Gardening Religion Swimming |
Photo, Map # |
NA 4577 ph 17493 ph 17493 - ph 17521 ph 17521 ph 17839 |
Year Range from |
1935 |
Year Range to |
1991 |
Accession # |
A2003.142 |
Containers |
MU 498 - OVERSIZED MU 499 |