THE BROPHEY PAPERS
1847 – 1960
MS 26
Municipal Archives
Windsor Public Library
Acc No. 1987/3Martha J. Lunenborg
17 in./42 cmArchives Intern
May 1988
THE BORPHEY PAPERS
MS 26
Historical Note
Thomas R. Brophey, born in 1908, held a diverse range of high profile positions during the course of his life. He began his journalistic career as early as 1924, for what was then the Border Cities Star, later the Windsor Star, as a carrier and ultimately as a popular columnist and reporter. He abandoned journalism to study law at Osgoode Hall. He then became a prominent municipal politician, Alderman of Ward 1 in 1944-1945, Controller in 1946-1947 after which he failed to be re-elected to that position. He made a bid for the mayoralty in 1948 and placed second to incumbent Mayor Arthur Reaume. Perhaps the best remembered episode of his political endeavours was his abbreviated career as mayor in 1951. A local election on 6 December 1950 saw Brophey triumph over Reaume. A recount requested by his opponent caused Brophey to vacate the mayoralty eight days after his inauguration on 2 January 1951. He lost by sixteen votes. Brophey resumed what proved to be a successful legal career eventually forming a partnership with is son Tom Brophey Jr.. Brophey’s last project, at the age of 70, was the acquisition of property for the E.C. Row Expressway. He died 6 March 1987 at the age of 79.
THE BROPHEY PAPERS
MS 26
Content Note
The Brophey Papers is a multimedia collection consisting primarily of newsclippings, compiled in scrapbooks, but also of photographs, audio materials and assorted printed ephemera. The collection is divided into six series, Family Papers consisting of deeds, Queen’s University Ephemera and Daily Columns for the Windsor Daily Star which provide a thorough sampling of Tom Brophey’s journalistic endeavours, Mayoral Election Scrapbooks which document his candidacy, his success and his subsequent failure in the local election of December 1950, Miscellaneous Clippings consisting of stories by or about Brophey and finally Audio-Visual Materials. The condition of the materials ranges from poor to good.
Further information on Thomas R. Brophey can be found in the Windsor Star Index located in the Literature and History Division, Windsor Public Library.
Related information on various themes in the holdings of the Municipal Archives include:
Newspapers: MS 6 The Herman Collection
Politics: RG 2 AIIIBoard of Control
RG 2 EI – 1Records of Nomination
World War, 1939-1945:MS 4Waddell Collection
MS 20Masson Collection
* Photographs removed to Photograph Collection (PC/7094 – 7107).
BOX AND UNIT LISTING
MS 26
Box 1II/1 – 3
III – 1/1 – 3
Box 2III – 1/4 – 8
Box 3III – 1/9, 11
III – 2/1 – 2
III – 3/1
IV/1 – 5
V/1
VI – 1/1 – 14
VI – 2/1
Box 4III/10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MS 26
Box and Unit Listing
Historical Note
Content Note
Summary of the Records
Series Description
THE BROPHEY PAPERS
MS 26
Summary of the Records
IFAMILY PAPERS 1847-1927
IIQUEEN’S UNIVERSITY EPHEMERA 1926-1928
IIIDAILY COLUMNS FOR THE WINDSOR DAILY STAR 1934-1944
1.“The Roving Reporter” Scrapbooks 1934-1041
2.“Starbeams” Scrapbooks 1938-1943
3.“Today in Ottawa” 1944
IVMAYORAL ELECTION SCRAPBOOKS 1950-1951
VMISCELLANEOUS CLIPPINGS 1935-1944
VIAUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS
1.Windsor Daily Star Photographs – removed to photograph collection
PC/7094 - /7107
2.Printed Ephemera
3.Audio Materials
FAMILY PAPERS
MS 26 I
Series Description
This series contains three deeds which document the transfer of title of the same piece of land in SandwichTownship. The participants in these property dealings were Gregoire Drouillard to Alexandre Dufour, Alexandre Dufour to Albert Dufour and Albert Dufour and Wife to Leo A. Dufour consecutively. Because of their size they are all stored in a map folder.
MS 26 IFAMILY PAPERS 1847-1927
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1-Deed of Bargain 11 Jan 1847Fragile, O/S
2-Deed of Land 22 Oct 1895Fragile, O/S
3-Deed of Land 8 Apr 1927O/S
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY EPHEMERA
MS 26 II
Series Description
The second series contains examples of Brophey’s early creative writing and journalistic endeavours.
MS 26 IIQUEEN’S UNIVERSITY EPHEMERA 1926-1928
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1-“Tales of Twenty Nine”-- Nov 1926
2-“Queen’s Journal”15 Nov 1927Fragile
3-“Queen’s Doggeral”-- Mar 1928
DAILY COLUMNS FOR THE WINDSOR DAILY STAR
MS 26 III
Series Description
The third series consists of a fairly complete sampling of Brophey’s columns. They are, for the most part, “folksy” in nature and provide an interesting perspective of Windsor and Windsorites. This series is divided into three subseries, “The Roving Reporter” Scrapbooks, “Starbeams” Scrapbooks and “Today in Ottawa”, the last being a temporary assignment replacing the usual columnist, John Marshall. The “The Roving Reporter” after 23 October 1940, see the Windsor Star on microfilm in the Literature and History Division, Windsor Public Library.
MS 26 III – 1THE ROVING REPORTER SCRAPBOOKS 1934-1941
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1- 24 Nov 1934 – 11 Oct 1935items removed
2- 14 Oct 1935 – 15 Aug 1936
3- 17 Aug 1936 – 20 Jul 1937
4- 21 Jul 1937 – 17 Dec 1937items removed
5- 18 Dec 1937 – 6 May 1938
6- 7 May 1938 – 30 Sep 1938items removed
7- 1 Oct 1938 – 15 Feb 1939
8- 17 Feb 1939 – 21 Jun 1939items removed
9- 24 Jun 1939 – 16 Nov 1939
10- 20 Nov 1939 – 23 Oct 1940O/S
11- 9 Oct 1935 – 2 Mar 1939loose clippings removed from
scrapbooks
MS 26 III – 2STARBEAMS SCRAPBOOKS 1938-1943
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1- 31 Aug 1938 – 18 Nov 1939
2- 19 Feb 1940 – 23 Oct 1943
MS 26 III – 3TODAY IN OTTAWA 1944
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1- 13 Apr 1944 – 2 May 1944
MAYORAL ELECTION SCRAPBOOKS
MS 26 IV
Series Description
The fourth series documents the abbreviated career of Tom Brophey as mayor of the City of Windsor. The results of the local election on 6 December 1950 declared Brophey the winner. The subsequent recount restored Arthur Reaume to the Mayor’s office only eight days after Brophey’s Inauguration on 2 January 1951.
The scrapbooks contain clippings from various papers including the Windsor Daily Star, the Montreal Daily Star, the Toronto Daily Star and the Telegram which also emanated from Toronto. Also included are numerous congratulatory letters and telegrams from around the country.
For more information regarding this event refer to the Windsor Star on microfilm in the Literature and History Division, Windsor Public Library, specifically:
- “Candidates Will Wind Up Campaign Tomorrow.” 6 Dec 1950 on the third page
- “Mayoralty…” 22 Nov 1950, page 3 concluded on page 12
- “City Clerk Officially Declares Brophey Mayoralty Winner.” 8 Dec 1950
on the third page
MS 26 IVMAYORAL ELECTION SCRAPBOOKS 1950-1951
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1-Untitled Dec 1950-Jan 19512 photographs removed –
see MS 26 VI – 1/11/12
2-Brophey Wins Dec 1950-Apr 1951poll results and loose
clippings removed
3-Recount Jan 1951
4-Clippings 29 Nov 1950-10 Jan 1951removed from MS 26 IV/2
5-Municipal Election held 6 December 1950removed from MS 26 IV/2
- Summary of Ballots Issued 29 Dec 1950
6-“Thumbnail Sketch of Candidates Seekingremoved from MS 26 IV/2
13 Windsor Civic Offices”, Windsor Daily O/S and encapsulated –
Star 5 Dec 1950 stored in map folder
MISCELLANEOUS CLIPPINGS
MS 26 V
Series Description
This series consists of various articles by or about Tom Brophey. An unrelated clipping was discarded. The citation for the article is:
Romain, Ken. “Windsor set to become next boom town.”
Globe and Mail Report on Business, 27 Dec 1978.
MS 26 VMISCELLANEOUS CLIPPINGS 1935-1944
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1-Clippings 3 Sep 1943 and 21 Apr 1944
2-“Amateur Roving Reporters” WindsorO/S and encapsulated –
Daily Star, 14 Dec 1935 in map folder
3-“Roving Reporter Finds Life’s LittleO/S and encapsulated –
Sidelights.” Windsor Daily Star, in map folder
6 Aug 1938
4-“What’s There In It For Me?” 2 Nov 194?O/S and encapsulated –
in map folder
AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS
MS 26 VI
Series Description
The sixth and final series is subdivided into three subseries, each representative of a different format, photographs, printed ephemera and audio tapes. The subject matter spans the various phases of Brophey’s career as newspaper carrier, reporter, politician and his personal life.
MS 26 VI – 1WINDSOR DAILY STAR PHOTOGRAPHS 1934-1960
(Removed to Photograph Collection)
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1PC/7094-EastWindsorCity Council for 1934.news copy glued to
b/w, 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm) verso
2PC/7095-King George and Queen Elizabeth at
CN Station, Windsor (Ont.). 6 Jun 1939
b/w, 8 x 10 in. (25 x 20 cm)
3PC/7096-1947 City Council.
b/w, 9 ½ x 7 ¼ in. (23.8 x 18.5 cm)
4PC/7097-Tom Brophey, C.V. Waters, Unidentified
Man. No Date
b/w 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm)
5PC/7098-Declaration of Office – Alderman Tomnews copy glued to
Brophey and C.V. Waters, City Clerk. verso – photograph
16 Aug 1944. touched up
b/w, 8 ½ x 7 ½ in. (21.5 x 18.5 cm)
6PC/7099-Board of Control at MarlboroughSchool.
[1946 or 1947]. Johnson.
b/w, 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm)
7PC/7100-Tom Brophey et al. pointing to scale
model. No Date.
B/w, 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm)
8PC/7101-Tom Brophey et at. No Date
b/w, 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm)
9PC/7102-City Council 1945. 17 Oct 1945.touched up by
b/w, 9 ¾ x 6 in. (23 x 15 cm) photographer
10PC/7103-City Hall Musicians. No Date.touched up by
b/w, 9 ½ x 5 ½ in. (24 x 14 cm) photographer
11PC/7104-Local Elections Mar [1940]removed from
b/w, 9 ¼ x 7 in. (23 x 17.5 cm) MS 26 IV/1
MS 26 VI – 1WINDSOR DAILY STAR PHOTOGRAPHS 1934-1960 - continued
(Removed to Photograph Collection)
UnitDescriptionRemarks
12PC/7105-City of Windsor 1960 City Council.removed from
Frank Wansbrough. MS 26 IV/1
b/w, 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm)
13PC/7106-American Newspaper Guild – The Biggest
Little Union in Canada. Labour Day
[1946 or 1947].
b/w, 9 x 7 in. (22.5 x 17.5 cm)
14PC/7107-1960 Town Council. B.G. (Spike) Bell,
Windsor Herald.
b/w, 8 x 10 in. (20 x 25 cm)
MS 26 VI – 2PRINTED EPHEMERA 1924-1943
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1-Carrier’s Certificate of Service Grantedsigned by W.F. Herman
by the Border Cities Star, 4 Sep 1924
2-Invitation for the reserved section at the
CN Station, Windsor (Ont.) for the
arrival of King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth. 6 Jun 1939
3-Map of Central London for Canadians onO/S – in map folder
Leave, 194?
4-Poster – “$5,000 Reward; T.R. Brophey;
Alias Roving Reporter…” No Date
5-Windsor Daily Star – 25th Anniversary Fragile
Supplement 3 Sep 1943
6-Christmas Greeting 1938poem – “The Wise Angel”
inside
MS 26 VI – 3AUDIO MATERIALS 1951
UnitDescriptionRemarks
1-Inaugural Speech. 2 Jan 1951. CKWW
Radio 58. 4 in. (10 cm) reel