Collection search - William C. Beeching fonds [textual record, graphic material, sound recording]

Record information – Brief
1
William C. Beeching fonds [textual record, graphic material, sound recording]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1919-1985.

Reference:

R5819-0-7-E, MG32-G21

Type of material:

Textual material, Photographs, Sound recordings, Art

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

101002

Context of this record:

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William C. Beeching fonds
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Record information – Details
Fonds includes:

5 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1919-1985.

Place of creation:

Canada

Extent:

2.6 m of textual records.
56 photographs : b&w.
1 audio cassette (1 h).
10 prints : posters.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Fonds consists of four series of textual records. The first one holds documents generated by the National Office of the Labor-Progressive Party (pre-1960) and Communist Party of Canada (post-1960); volumes 1-4, the National Office Series, contains meeting documents, minutes, circulars, briefs, submissions, convention materials, press releases and leaflets. The second series, volumes 5-7, holds documents generated by the Provincial Committees' of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Documentation pertaining to Saskatchewan predominates, with correspondance, circulars, convention materials, speeches, briefs, submissions, radio scripts, press releases, and leaflets being represented. The third or Subject Files Series is arranged alphabetically in volumes 8-11. The last series, Published Material, consists of newsletters, bulletins, pamphlets, books, newspapers, broadsheets, and posters in volumes 12 and 13.

The fonds contains photos related to the Communist Party of Canada and the Labor-Progressive Party, including demonstrations, conventions, delegations, strikes, petitions, peace assemblies, mostly in Saskatchewan, [ca. 1935-1974].

The fonds also includes a sound recording of a seminar entitled Crisis of Confederation given by CPC leader William Kashtan on the issue of nationalism, [ca. 1976].

Provenance:

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Beeching, William, 1913-1990

Biography/Administrative history:

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Beeching, William, 1913-1990 : A long time supporter and prominent member of the Communist Party, William Charles Beeching was born in the Highland Park District of Regina, Saskatchewan in 1913. As a young man he acted as secretary for the United Labor Association, a civic movement credited with electing labor councils in Regina during the 1930's. He also served with the MacKenzie-Papineau Batallion and saw action with the International Brigades in Spain from 1937 to 1939. As a supporter of communism, Mr. Beeching was incarcerated at internment camps in Petawawa, Ontario and Hull, Quebec from 1940 to 1942. He joined the Canadian Army in 1943 and subsequently fought overseas. Returning to Canada in November, 1945 to contest a provincial by-election, he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in January, 1946.

William Beeching served as L.P.P./C.P.C. provincial leader of Saskatchewan from 1957 to 1969. Following a two year stint as editor of the Canadian Tribune, he returned to Saskatchewan and resumed leadership of the Communist Party until 1978.

Along with his wife Elsie, William Beeching sat on the Party's central committee. He also held many executive positions in the Communist Party at the provincial level and consistantly ran as a candidate in civic, provincial, and federal elections. Mr. Beeching is well known for having authored party briefs on agriculture, transportation, and communications. He had a serious altercation with the Party over his role in editing Tim Buck's reminiscences "Yours in the Struggle". This ultimately led to his expulsion from the Party and the removal of the entire Saskatchewan Provincial Committee.

Finding aid:

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Textual record (Electronic) Finding aid is a file list describing content found in volumes 1 to 14. MSS1778 (90: Open)
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000000373.pdf

Sound recording (Electronic) See MISACS for item-level description. (90: Open)

Additional information:

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General note:

Acquired in 1988 from William C. Beeching.
Subject heading:

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Politicians, Canadian, 1919-1985

Political parties - Canada - Communist Party of Canada, 1960-1985

Political parties - Canada - Labor-Progressive Party, 1919-1960

Political parties - Canada - Provinces - Communist Party of Canada, 1941-1985

Political parties - Canada - Provinces - Labor-Progressive Party, 1941-1985

Socialism Canada
Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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1198 (1989-04-21)
123-89
1988/0135
1989-0266 MISA
1989-164 DAP

Former archival reference no.:

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MG32-G21
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Conditions of access:

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Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Finding aid box [FA 1778] 134

[Consultation 10 Closed]

Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Sound recordings

[Consultation90 Open]

Graphic (art)

[Consultation90 Open]

Terms of use:

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Photographs: No restrictions. Various copyright.

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