The Renfrew South District Women's Institutes was formed in 1913. It is “an organization for personal growth and community action ... of rural women from farms, villages, and towns”. Its objectives are the following: 1. to assist and encourage women to become more knowledgeable and responsible citizens 2. to promote and develop good family life skills 3. to help discover, stimulate and develop leadership and 4. to help identify and resolve needs in the community. These Institutes have often been referred to as “the rural woman’s university, a place for women to gather and learn about things that interest all of us”. The Women's Institutes contributed in many areas such as child welfare, health, libraries, playgrounds, cooking and sewing.
The Renfrew South District contains many W.I. branches; at one time over 20 - as of 2013, 6 branches remain. The District forms part of the larger Eastern Area, which forms part of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO); the FWIO joins with the other provinces to form the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada (FWIC); with the Eastern Area, FWIO and FWIC all part of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). The ACWW is the largest rural organization of women in the world.
The Dacre-Hyndford Branch was organized September 29 1964. Following the District Annual in 1983, the Branch was disbanded. They had recently suffered a fire at the Women's Institute Hall and were down to four or five women attending meetings. Mrs. Maggie Bruce was President at that time and Secretary Treasurer was Mrs. Viola Merchand.
The Madawaska Valley Branch of Renfrew South District was formed in 1964 at a meeting in the Palmer Rapids Hall. Miss Margerie Lentz was its first president. This branch disbanded in July 1973 at a meeting in the home of Mrs. Harvey (Florence) Schutt. She wrote in the minute book "It is with deep regret that the M.V. W. I. has had to disban (sic). But it is my hope that perhaps in the near future, we will again pick up where we have left off to-day. I have felt that to be a member and Presidend in my sixth year it was time well spent with much knowledge gained and friendship renewed. Thank you all".
Acquisition Source
Donated by the Women's Institute of South Renfrew, 1995 (transfer from the museum), 2002, 2008, 2011. In 2014, the Minutes of the Dacre-Hyndford W.I. and Madawaska Valley W.I. were donated. In 2017, Mae Craig donated Tweedsmuir History Binder 1996-1999 and other material for Renfrew South District 2006-2011. In 2018, as District Tweedsmuir Coordinator, Mrs. Irene Robillard donated the Admaston Heritage Book and the Renfrew South District program books from 1997-8, belonging to Jean Denniston, as well as those from 2006 to 2018, several of which belonged to Joan Reid. The programs complete an existing collection in box I9.1. Mrs. Robillard donated the two Horton North cookbooks in 2019.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of four Series;
Series 1 - Minute and Cash Books of the District;
Series 2 -Tweedsmuir Histories,
Series 3 - Other Material
Series 4 - Records of Disbanded Branches.
Series 1) Minute Books: This Series includes bound volumes of minutes for regular and executive meetings held between 1913-2002. District Annual Reports and Financial Statements also appear in these volumes.
Box G6.5
Volume 1 June 1 1913-June 12 1917
Volume 2 May 1st June 12 1922
Volume 3 June 1 1923 - May 7 1926
Volume 4 June 1926 - June 5 1930
Volume 5 June 1 1931 - May 30 1935
Box G7.1
Volume 6 May 20 1936 - September 30 1939
Volume 7 June 14 1940 - November 8 1941
Volume 8 May 29 1942 - June 8 1945
Volume 9 June 9 1945 - Jan 22 1948
Volume 10 May 1 1948 - March 31 1951
Volume 11 April 1 1951 - April 30 1954
Volume 12 April 30 1954 - April 30 1958
Volume 13 May 28 1958 - May 30 1962
Volume 14 May 29 1963 - May 16 1967
Box G7.2
Volume 15 May 14 1968 - November 13 1971
Volume 16 May 17 1972 - May 13 1975
Volume 17 May 1 1976 - November 3 1979
Volume 18 May 15 1980 - October 27 1984
Volume 19 May 8 1985 - March 4 1989
Volume 20 May 10 1989 - May 2 1988
Volume 21 May 11 1998 - May 11 2002 (spiral bound volume also contains correspondence)
Series 2) Tweedsmuir History Books: This Series contains five books which cover 1947-2006. Box L1.6, L1.8
Tweedsmuir History Book No. 1 (1947-1978): Binder contains information first compiled by Edith L. Wilson in 1947 and later by other curators. It contains a list of Women's Institute branches in South Renfrew as well as a hand drawn map of same. Lists of District Officers and a history of the formation of the various South Renfrew branches are included in this first volume. Images of District Presidents and Secretaries with their years of service make this a valuable source of early history of the District. A copy of "A Country Women's Day by Mrs. William H. Hamilton (Glasgow Station) which won first prize at A.C.W.W. competition (1949-1950) is included along with a tribute to Mrs. Hamilton who passed away in 1974. Other members are recorded on "In Memorium" pages for each Branch. A copy of "Golden Jubilee, A History of Renfrew South Women’s Institute, 1913-1963" in included in this binder.
District Presidents throughout the years covered in this book include:
Mrs. J. F. Blane (Burnstown) 1913-1917
Mrs. G. F. Cardiff (Bonnechere Valley) 1918
Miss Janet Yuill (Pine Grove) 1919 also 1928-1930
Mrs. J. C. Cole (North Horton) 1920-1921
Mrs. William Neil (Castleford) 1922-1924
Miss Jessie McIntyre (South Horton) 1925-1927
Mrs. Robert McEwen (South Horton) 1931-1932
Mrs. Alex W. Stewart (Clay Bank) 1933-1934
Mrs. Robert Mullin (Braeside) 1935-1950
Mrs. Walter Galbraith (Bonnechere Valley) 1937-1938
Mrs. J. H. Findlay (Pine Grove) 1939-1940
Miss Kathryn Farmer (Combermere) 1941-1942
Mrs. John E. Miller (Goshen) 1943-1944
Mrs. S. G. Wilson (Arnprior) 1945-1946
Mrs. John Henderson (Bonnechere Valley) 1947-1948
Mrs. C. D. Dewar (Dewars) 1949-1950
Mrs. R. M. MacGregor (Lochwinnoch) 1951-1953
Mrs. Forrest Merrifield (Braeside) 1954-1955
Mrs. Archie Bennet (Arnprior) 1956-1957
Mrs. Gordon Campbell (Pine Grove) 1948-1959
Mrs. Hector Scheel (Stewartville) 1960-1961
Mrs. Harry Stevenson (Combermere) 1962-1963
Mrs. William Buffett (South Horton) 1964-1965
Mrs. J. C. McConnell (Burnstown) 1966-1967
Mrs. H. Collins (North Horton) 1968-1969
Mrs. J. A. Young (Glasgow) 1970-1971
Mrs. T. H. Jones (White Lake) 1972-1973
Mrs. W. H. Richards (Dacre-Hyndford) 1974-1975
Tweedsmuir History Book No. 2 (1979-1988): Binder contains photographs of the interior of the Erland Lee Home and bus trip there in 1986, photographs of various displays, 4-H awards, guest list, photographs and report of the Tweesdmuir History Tea held June 4 1980 in the basement of the Burnstown United Church. The binder contains reports from Arnprior, Balsam Hill (history of Branch), Bonnechere Valley (history of Branch), Braeside, Burnstown, Calabogie, Clay Bank, Castleford, Combermere (history of Branch), Dewars, Glasgow Station, Goshen (history of Branch), Lochwinnoch (history of Branch), North Horton, Pine Grove, Rose Bank (history of Branch), South Horton, Stewartville, White Lake (includes historic notes and photos of displays at Renfrew Fair), Appreciation Tea held in 1983 to honour Mrs. Vera Bedore and others who served at the District Level and Area Convention Reports 1979 -1989. It also contains an "In Memoriam" list.
This Tweedsmuir History contains resumes and photographs for various District Officers including:
Christina L. Burton, President 1976-1978
Eva Mitchell, President 1980-1982
Mary Wallace, Secretary Treasurer 1978-1984
Mrs. Olive Watt, President 1982-1084
Susannah MacMillan, President 1985-1086
Flora Campbell, Secretary 1985-1989
Tweesdmuir History Book No. 3 (1988-1997): Binder contains a profile of Mae Craig, Renfrew South Women's Institute President from 1986-1988 and Marilyn Misener, President 1996-1998. It also contains reports of District Annuals, and various Tweedsmuir History Curator's Reports, list of Officers for 1997-1998, History of South Renfrew District 1897-1917 by Eileen Brydges, 1917-1956 by Doris Humphries, 1957-1970 by Gloria Hamilton which list the highlights of the WI throughout the years. In the summer of 1992 Tweedsmuir Curator Marcie Johston sent all area Tweedsmuir curators a notice that a new "Quilts" section should be added to the Tweedsmuir History books. This Tweedsmuir also contains photographs, newspaper clippings and information about activities of the following branches: Arnprior, Balsam Hill, Bonnechere Valley, Burnstown, Calabogie, Castleford, Combermere (includes tribute to Miss Kathryn Farmer), Dewars, Glasgow, Goshen (includes history of Goshen school), North Horton, Horton South, Lochwinnoch, Pine Grove, Rosebank, Stewartville.
This Tweedsmuir also contains an "In Memorium" Section, Workshop Section and Eastern Ontario Women's Institute News section.
Tweedsmuir History Book No. 4 (1998-2005): Binder is packed full of information and Curator's reports from the various Branches similar to the previous three books. A new section "Grandmother's Legacy" was an opportunity for members to contribute profiles of their grandmothers in an informative and loving manner.
Tweedsmuir History Book No. 5 (2006): Binder contains Annual Tweedsmuir Reports from the various Branches of the District as well as monthly news clippings for activities of the Women's Institute Branches. A Manual for Compiling Tweedsmuir Histories (1987) is also contained in this binder.
File containing Renfrew South District Annual invitations, minutes and reports and misc. correspondence from 2006-2011 was added in 2018.
Series 3) Other Material: Series includes publications and miscellaneous administrative material. Box L1.7, L1.9, I9.1
1. Renfrew South Renfrew Institute Newsletter starting with the first issue of December 2003 and ending with the last printed copy dated December 2012.
2. Home & Country Rose Garden Newsletter, Winter 2008 and Home and Country magazines that contain items from Renfrew South District branches, 1958-2005 with gaps. (Note: all Home and Country Magazines were digitized by FWIO)
3. "Sharing Our Heritage" presented at the Renfrew South, Women's Institute District Annual Meeting of May 2005. Publication contains short histories of the various branches that constitute Renfrew South as a District including Arnprior, Balsam Hill, Bonnechere Valley, Burnstown, Calabogie, Castleford, Dewars, Glasgow, Horton North, Horton South, Lochwinnoch, Pine Grove, Rosebank Stewartville, and White Lake. This publication also contains a history of the Renfrew South District Banner; a commemorative project that produced a colourful banner from quilted blocks contributed by all active branches and embroidered names of disbanded branches of the District. (2 copies)
4. Ontario Women's Institute Story, written in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the Women's Institute of Ontario published by the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario in 1972.
File also contains a calendar produced for 100th Anniversary of the Women's Institute 1897-1997.
5. Blue Duotang containing newspaper clippings and photographs for Renfrew South District from 1982-1995. This scrap book is similar to the Tweedsmuir history books of the same period.
6. Scrap book containing clippings, documents and photographs of Renfrew South District Women's Institute's 60th Anniversary celebrations in 1973.
7. Spiral bound notebook containing signatures of South Renfrew District Women's Institute Delegates who attended District Annuals from 1981-1999
8. Binder of material belonging to a District Secretary containing correspondence, reports, draft documents, membership lists, administrative forms etc. (Contents removed from Binder and placed in file by Archivist).
9. Miscellaneous documents including a script for 90th Anniversary bus trip in 2003 which toured the Ottawa Valley from Renfrew, up the Opeongo road to Combermere (visit to Madonna House) and back along Highway 60.
10. The History of South Renfrew 1897-1997 (various contributors).
11. Personal Scrapbook compiled by Mae Craig containing news clippings, photographs, cards, etc. relating to the activities of Renfrew South District Branch between 1986-1989. Mae Craig was President of the Castleford Women's Institute and President of the Renfrew South District, as well as Eastern Ontario Area President at various times. She was also involved with the restructuring of the FWIO as a board member. A profile of her roles is included in the front of the binder.
12. Purple covered folder containing more photographs of WI activities compiled by Mae Craig including a trip in 1986 to the Ontario Agricultural Museum in Milton and Erland Lee Museum, Barnet Cottage visit, 1994 International Plowing Match and members receiving Ontario Volunteer Service Awards 2002-2003.
13. Renfrew South District Women's Institute Program books; 14 books from 1997-8 and 2005-2018 (Box I9.1)
14. "The Admaston Heritage Book," written by Carol Bennett and the Balsam Hill Women's Institute, chronicling the history of Admaston Township. This book is also in the reading room of the AMBA.
Series 4) Records of Disbanded Branches: Box L1.10
1. 1 bound Volume of Minutes for the Dacre-Hyndford Women's Institute April 1981 - March 1983
2. 3 bound Volumes of Minutes for the Madawaska Valley Women's Institute May 1964 - July 1973. Volume 1 (1964 - 1967), Volume 2 (1967-1972), Volume 3 (1972-1973). These Volumes also record Cash Expenditures, a Financial Statement for 1973 and Record of Attendance.
3. 2 bound Volumes of cook books from the North Horton Women's Institute. "It's Fun to Bake it Yourself: North Horton Women's Institute Cookbook," published in 1947, and "The North Horton Women's Institute Heritage Cookbook, 1915 - 1995." Searchable online on the FWIO Virtual Archive.
Notes
Formerly 1995-0014.
Tweedsmuir History Books Vols 1-5, Program books, Mae Craig Scrapbook, North Horton Cookbooks, Madawaska Valley WI Minute Books and miscellaneous files are digitized and searchable online through the FWIO Virtual Archives.
Access Restriction
Tweedsmuir Books, Program books, North Horton Cookbooks, the Madawaska Valley WI minute books and the Mae Craig Scrapbook - please use digitized versions rather than originals. Searchable online through the FWIO Virtual Archives.
Reproduction Restriction
no restrictions
Accruals
Accruals are expected
Related Material
See Glasgow Women's Institute for copies of Programs of the Women's Institutes in South Renfrew District 1947-2018 in Box I9.1
See also Goshen Tweedsmuir History Volume 2 - Programmes of the Women's Institutes in South Renfrew District 1958-1959
A copy of "Golden Jubilee, A History of Renfrew South Women’s Institute, 1913-1963" is available in Reading Room.