MSS 6, PC 4

Title: G.L. Shanks fonds

Dates: 1908-1976

Extent: 24 cm of textual records, 2.25 m of print material, 14 photographs, and 350 glass slides.

Biographical Sketch: Graham Lawson Shanks was born on November 15, 1889 in Pettapiece, Manitoba. Shanks and his wife Mildred had one son named John Edward. In 1909, Shanks enrolled in the Manitoba Agricultural College (which would later be amalgamated into the University of Manitoba in 1929) and three years later, in 1912, graduated as member of the first graduating class of three in Agricultural Engineering. After graduating, Shanks held a position as an
instructor of farm mechanics at the School of Agriculture in Vermillion, Alberta. In 1917, he accepted appointment at the Manitoba Agricultural College as a lecturer in Agricultural Engineering. A year later, he did service in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps as a Cadet where he returned from duty on December 1918. At the age of 32, in 1921, he then went on to accept a position as Head of the Agricultural Engineering section where he continued to work until his retirement in 1955. Later on in 1930, Shanks would go on to receive an M.S. at the Iowa State College. His position was secure until 1933, when the Department of Agriculture closed its doors due to the depression. During that time Shanks remained on staff as a member of the Department of Civil Engineering but once the Department of Agricultural Engineering was re-established in 1947, Shanks reclaimed his title as Head of the department. In addition to teaching, Shanks also held many memberships in societies. He was a member of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, the Engineering Institute of Canada, and the Agricultural Institute of Canada. On December 15, 1951, Shanks took a leave of absence to serve as an adviser in farm mechanization to the government of Pakistan under the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations until December 15, 1952. G.L. Shanks has also made many more contributions by heading investigations into farm affairs and farm machinery problems in Manitoba that contributed to the formation of business and government policy. On June 15, 1983, Shanks passed away at the age of 94.

For more information please see PC-4 (Collection of photographs that pertains to Shanks’ essay).Some of his publications include: - Shanks, G.L. UM, Manitoba Agricultural College. Dept. of Agricultural Engineering. Dugouts for Water Storage. #61 (Jan. 1922) - Shanks, G.L. et al. UM Faculty of Agriculture. Dept. of Agricultural Engineering. Storing Grain on the Farm. # 166 (June, 1941) - Shanks, G.L. and Paterson, J.J. The Riley Sprayograph. (Agricultural Engineering, July, 1952) - Shanks, G.L. & Paterson, J.J. Effects of Wood and Insect Sprays on Spraying Equipment Materials. (Scientific Agriculture, April, 1952).

Custodial History: The photographs were donated to the Archives & Special Collections in 1981 by F.F. Parkinson. The print material and glass slides were donated by Don Meadows, the Faculty of Agriculture in 1981.The diaries were donated prior 1978.

Scope and Content: MSS 6, PC 4 - The fonds consists of twenty four diaries written by G. L. Shanks and a collection of photographs pertaining to Professor Shanks' essay "Philip Grove - His Ability to Describe the Rural Scene."

MSS 6 (A.81-16) - The fonds consists of Shanks' glass slides and printed material.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.

Finding Aids:

MSS 6, PC 4 - Diaries, photographs

MSS 6 (A.81-16) - Glass slides and print material

MSS 6 (A.81-16) - Print material listed by theme

We greatly acknowledge the financial support of the Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the Heritage Grants Advisory Council in the creation of this finding aid.