Sous-fonds consists of records of the Cortes Island Women's Institute. It is arranged in nine series: Minutes, Reports, Financial, Administrative Records, Correspondence, Subject Files, Ephemera, Photographs and Artifacts.
The Cortes Island Women's institute was formed in 1984. Although Cortes Island had historically been difficult to traverse, and the communities consequently insular, by the 1980s the road systems were such that "a Women's Institute for the whole of Cortes Island" seemed to make sense.
CIWI was founded with the bank balance of a Manson's Landing service group called the Ladies Guild, which was founded in the 1940s. When membership and activity in the guild declined in the 1970s, the focus was shifted to a renovation and addition to Manson's Hall. Once the Hall had been sufficiently updated, it was thought that the remaining funds might be put to use "creating an instrument for better communication between all our women and a chance to work together in the community".
Charter members of the CIWI were Heather Berry, Peggy Newsham, Maryann McCoy, Linda Hendricks, and Mary Block.
Custodial History
Records were donated to CIMAS by the Island Women's Club in 2009.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of records of the Cortes Island Women's Institute. It is arranged in nine series: Minutes, Reports, Financial, Administrative Records, Correspondence, Subject Files, Ephemera, Photographs and Artifacts.
Fonds consists of material generated by the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society and includes meeting minutes, administrative records, research materials, correspondence, ephemera, maps, plans, and publications of the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society, as well as some records of the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization. Fonds is arranged into twelve series, following the original order of the records.
An accrual in 2023, described as Series 12, contains meeting minutes, correspondence, etc; arranged in chronological order (original order).
In 1987, members of the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization incorporated the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society (currently known as the Cortes Island Senior's Society) with the following stated purposes:
(a) to operate a facility where persons aged 65 years or older, or persons between 55 and 65 years of age who are in need, can improve their health through physical and other acitivity;
(b) to operate a residential housing facility for such persons;
(c) to carry on social activities incidental to the above purposes, but not to own, operate or manage a social club.
The records of the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society provide useful insight into their process of envisioning the future of seniors' housing on Cortes Island.
Custodial History
Donated by Ruth Zwickel on behalf of the Cortes Island Senior's Society in 2013. An accrual was donated by Elinor Harwood on behalf of the Cortes Island Seniors' Society in 2021.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of material generated by the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society and includes meeting minutes, administrative records, research materials, correspondence, ephemera, maps, plans, and publications of the Cortes Island Seniors' Building Society, as well as some records of the Cortes Island Old Age Pensioners' Organization. Fonds is arranged into twelve series, following the original order of the records.
An accrual in 2023, described as Series 12, contains meeting minutes, correspondence, etc; arranged in chronological order (original order).
File consists of correspondence, including letters regarding the local CIWI leaving the provincial WI; a letter from Gilean Douglas outlining the history of the Whaletown Women's Institute; four photographs taken at Manson's Hall (need identification).
File consists of correspondence, including letters regarding the local CIWI leaving the provincial WI; a letter from Gilean Douglas outlining the history of the Whaletown Women's Institute; four photographs taken at Manson's Hall (need identification).
File consists of 7 photographs. 2009.001.002-.005 were marked "Letters, 1988-89, 3-17" and 2009.001.006-.007 were marked "Loose I.W. Box 3, 1989". Image captions are as follows:
2009.001.006
"Iris James (Campbell River president) (signing book compiled on North Island Women's Insts.) at meeting in Nanaimo.
Leis worn are recycled plastic.
Pearl Hopper, Pres. Cortes W.I., & Lorena Teames attended."
2009.001.007
"Pioneer Room of Manson's Community Centre set up for Women's Institute (1989) luncheon with invited guests--members of former institutes on Cortes Island -- (Whaletown and Cortez Island)
People in picture: L-R: Nellie Jeffery -- Leona Meuller -- Mary Munro -- Jessie Mould -- Lorena Teames -- Mary Bernard -- Eva Freeman (seated) -- Penny Hansen
Picture taken: June 1989"
2009.001.008
"Picture taken at Meuller home, Cortes Bay
Shelagh Baillie, Mary Brown, Flo. Dickson, Nesta Stackhouse, Eve Rickenbacker, May Ellingsen, Henrietta Barnard, Leona Mueller"
File consists of 7 photographs. 2009.001.002-.005 were marked "Letters, 1988-89, 3-17" and 2009.001.006-.007 were marked "Loose I.W. Box 3, 1989". Image captions are as follows:
2009.001.006
"Iris James (Campbell River president) (signing book compiled on North Island Women's Insts.) at meeting in Nanaimo.
Leis worn are recycled plastic.
Pearl Hopper, Pres. Cortes W.I., & Lorena Teames attended."
2009.001.007
"Pioneer Room of Manson's Community Centre set up for Women's Institute (1989) luncheon with invited guests--members of former institutes on Cortes Island -- (Whaletown and Cortez Island)
People in picture: L-R: Nellie Jeffery -- Leona Meuller -- Mary Munro -- Jessie Mould -- Lorena Teames -- Mary Bernard -- Eva Freeman (seated) -- Penny Hansen
Picture taken: June 1989"
2009.001.008
"Picture taken at Meuller home, Cortes Bay
Shelagh Baillie, Mary Brown, Flo. Dickson, Nesta Stackhouse, Eve Rickenbacker, May Ellingsen, Henrietta Barnard, Leona Mueller"