Material Type

Photograph

Date Range

no date

Physical Description

2 12.5 x 17.5 cm Black and white copy photographs

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Catherine [Kate] Brodie was born in Lethbridge on 19 July 1895, one of four children of Minnie Ann [nee Robb] and John Brodie. Kate Brodie attended elementary and secondary school in Lethbridge. On 15 July 1912, shortly after graduation from Grade 12, Miss Brodie began work as a school teacher in Etzikom. In 1913 she attended the Calgary Normal School for formal training as a teacher. Before completing her studies at the Calgary Normal School, Miss Brodie was asked to come to Warner to fill in for the teacher who had become ill. The following year Kate Brodie taught in Stirling, and after a year quit to come to Lethbridge where she taught at Fleetwood and Westminister Schools. In 1921 Kate Brodie married William Andrews. The couple moved to their farm in the McNally district in June 1924, where Mrs. Andrews lived for the rest of her life. The couple had three daughters: Nora [Mrs. Daly], Dorothy [Mrs. Ostheller] and Barbara [Mrs. Bond]. In 1924 Mrs. Andrews was elected to the board of the White School District, and served with that board until the White School District was absorbed into Lethbridge School District No. 7 in 1937. In 1940 Mrs. Andrews was elected to the board of Lethbridge School District No. 7, a seat she held for 24 years. She was the first woman trustee, and in 1952 became the first woman Chair of a divisional school board in Alberta, a position she held until 1964. Kate Andrews also served with the Canadian School Trustees Association and Alberta School Trustees Association, and was awarded a life membership in the latter organization in recognition of her work. Kate Andrews was also active in post-secondary education as well. In 1956 Lethbridge School District No. 7 appointed her to the provisional board of Lethbridge Junior College. Mrs. Andrews had been active on the planning committee for the Junior College since 1949, and was a driving force in its founding. She became Chair of the Lethbridge Junior College Board, and oversaw the early growth of that institution. In 1957 she was appointed to the Senate of the University of Alberta, a position she held into the 1960s. Among her other interests, Kate Andrews was active in the Wilson White Community Club. She also served on the board of referees of the National Employment Service at Lethbridge as co-Chair from 1948 to 1956, and as sole Chair from 1956 until her death. Kate Andrews was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953, and in 1960 Kate Andrews High School in Coaldale was named for her. In 1966 Mrs. Andrews received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alberta. In January 1967 the Kate Andrews Building on the campus of Lethbridge Junior College was also named in her honour. Unfotunately, Kate Andrews did not live to see this last honour. She died on 9 January 1967 at Lethbridge, age 71.

Acquisition Source

Bond, Barbara 10 Laval Court West Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 4L1

Scope and Content

Two head and shoulder portraits of Mrs. Kate Andrews, one as a young woman and one as an older woman.

Notes

The donor is Mrs. Andrews' daughter.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20001027000

Collection

Archive

Less detail