The first Women's Institute in Canada was created by Mrs. Adelaide Hunter Hoodless in Stoney Creek, Ontario, on February 19, 1897. The Women's Institute was created to unite rural women with the hopes that this would help women improve their homes and communities. The motto of the Women's Institute became, "a nation could not rise above the level of its homes." The group was to be non-partisan and non-sectarian to allow for maximum participation. The Women's Institute became one of the very few ways for rural women to meet and share ideas and problems with others. The Women's Institute spread throughout Canada and reached Manitoba in 1910, when Morris and Valley River, Manitoba, formed Women's Institute branches. The Women's Institute branches in Manitoba were known as Home Economics Societies until 1919, when they became branches of the Manitoba Women's Institute. The Home Economics Societies specialized in community service work. At first, the groups concentrated on home management and child care, and eventually they became involved with social and political issues. In addition to community work, the Women's Institute branches also invited many guest speakers to their meetings and promoted education and the dissemination of information to rural women on subjects such as canning, growing fruits and vegetables, dental hygiene and rural electrification. The Manitoba Women's Institute continues its work today.
Custodial History
This fonds was accessioned in 2002 by the McKee Archives. Prior custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
This collection has been artificially created and consists of miscellaneous newspaper and magazine clippings, handbooks, newsletters, photos and song sheets collected by various unknown Manitoba Women's Institute branches. Some newletters included in the collection are "Institute News" from the Manitoba Women's Institute, "National Farm Forum Guide", "Federated News" from the Federated Women's Institute of Canada and "The Country Woman" from Associated Women of the World. The newspaper clippings in the collection relate to Women's Institute branches around Manitoba and the rest of Canada.
Related women's institute collections in the McKee Archives include:
Manitoba Women's Institute; Minnedosa Women's Institute; Cordova Women's Institute; Clanwilliam Women's Institute; Rathwell Women's Institute; Strathclair Women's Institute; Crocus Women's Institute; Southwest A Region - Manitoba Women's Institute; Douglas Women's Institute
See collection level description for the James Douglas Wall collection.
Scope and Content
Image of the town of Baldur, MB. Visible is the L. Curtis Block. Canadian Northern rail cars are in the foreground with horse drawn carts and men working on road and town buildings behind.
The Curtis Block was built in 1900, possibly by Fred Stevens.
Custodial History
See collection level description for the James Douglas Wall collection.
Scope and Content
Image of the Curtis Block in Baldur, MB. The Victoria Hall, for public performances, was located on the upper floor. A group of men, one holding a hockey stick, and a dog are standing in front of the street entrance to the building.
The Fowler Block in Baldur, MB was built in 1899 by Alex Fowler.
Custodial History
See collection level description for the James Douglas Wall collection.
Scope and Content
Image of the Fowler Block in Baldur, MB. On the left is a shoe and harness shop owned and operated by the Fowlers from 1899-1978. On the right is J. Smith & Co. Merchants, a grocery and dry goods store. As of 2000, a grocery store still occupied the premises. Men are standing in front of the entrance to the two stores.
The Fowler Block in Baldur, MB was built in 1899 by Alex Fowler.
Custodial History
See collection level description for the James Douglas Wall collection.
Scope and Content
Image of Alex Fowler standing at the counter in his store. The shelves behind him are stacked with tins of dry good, while the shelves to his side are stacked with china and glass items. The post office operated out of the back of the store.
See collection level description for the James Douglas Wall collection.
Scope and Content
Image of the west end of Front Street in Baldur, MB. Business and buildings in the photo include (L-R): Cleghorn's drug store, Fowlers, Tom Johnson's John Deer Shop, barber shop, Royal Bank (Odd Fellows Hall upstairs), Lee's Chinese Cafe, Hunters Hardware, Folwer Block, L. Curtis Block, Sexsmith Block - boarding house and sample room.