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.
Sous-fonds consists of records of the Island Women's Club. It is arranged in six series: Financial, Administrative, Correspondence, Projects, Ephemera and Artifact.
he Island Women's Club was founded 2000, when the members of the Cortes Island Women's Institute withdrew from the British Columbia Women's Institute; it disbanded in 2016.
Custodial History
Records of the Island Women's Club were donated to CIMAS in 2018 by the last secretary of the organization, Callie Waddell.
Scope and Content
Sous-fonds consists of records of the Island Women's Club. It is arranged in six series: Financial, Administrative, Correspondence, Projects, Ephemera and Artifact.
Mrs. Margaret Nixon posing with her husband's rifle and a dead buck. "This is a pose only. Her husband shot the deer. They lived alone on Twin Islands and picture taking was a pleasant pastime. She was two years older than her husband's mother. They were very happy and a very fine couple. She was an English-trained nurse for missionary work. Married a missionary doctor. They went to India where the doctor died of fever so she left. Eventually came to Canada where she met and married Capt. James Nixon. Note the scar on her left cheek. While in India an insect went up her nose. It burrowed into the bone and the doctors were never able to effect a cure- it eventually reached the area of the brain. She had to undergo an operation and did not survive the operation. Her husband was desolated." (May Ellingsen).
Mrs. Margaret Nixon posing with her husband's rifle and a dead buck. "This is a pose only. Her husband shot the deer. They lived alone on Twin Islands and picture taking was a pleasant pastime. She was two years older than her husband's mother. They were very happy and a very fine couple. She was an English-trained nurse for missionary work. Married a missionary doctor. They went to India where the doctor died of fever so she left. Eventually came to Canada where she met and married Capt. James Nixon. Note the scar on her left cheek. While in India an insect went up her nose. It burrowed into the bone and the doctors were never able to effect a cure- it eventually reached the area of the brain. She had to undergo an operation and did not survive the operation. Her husband was desolated." (May Ellingsen).