This fonds comprises records of four Cortes Island women's service organizations, including minutes, financial records, administrative records, correspondence, photographs, ephemera and artifacts. It is arranged in four sous-fonds according to the creator of the records: Whaletown Women's Institute (2009.001.1); Whaletown Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church (2009.001.2); Cortes Island Women's Institute (2009.001.3); and Island Women's Club (2009.001.3). Related material in CIMAS archives may be found in the Whaletown Women's Institute fonds (1999.002), the Gilean Douglas fonds (1999.001), and the May and Elmer Ellingsen fonds (2007.001).
The Island Women's Club was formed in 2000, when the members of the Cortes Island Women's Institute withdrew from the British Columbia Women's Institute in order to focus their efforts locally. It was the successor to previous women's service organizations on Cortes, local branches of the Women's Institute and the Anglican Church Women's Auxiliary. Activities included awarding bursaries to graduating high school students, contributing to school projects such as printing yearbooks, sponsoring sports teams and building playground equipment, supporting the community halls and organizing memorial teas on behalf of bereaved families. They disbanded in 2016.
Custodial History
After they disbanded, records of the Whaletown Women's Institute and the Whaletown Women's Auxiliary passed into the hands of the Cortes Island Women's Institute and its successor, Island Women's Club, who donated them to CIMAS in 2009. The organizational records created by the Island Women's Club were donated to CIMAS in 2018.
Scope and Content
This fonds comprises records of four Cortes Island women's service organizations, including minutes, financial records, administrative records, correspondence, photographs, ephemera and artifacts. It is arranged in four sous-fonds according to the creator of the records: Whaletown Women's Institute (2009.001.1); Whaletown Women's Auxiliary of the Anglican Church (2009.001.2); Cortes Island Women's Institute (2009.001.3); and Island Women's Club (2009.001.3). Related material in CIMAS archives may be found in the Whaletown Women's Institute fonds (1999.002), the Gilean Douglas fonds (1999.001), and the May and Elmer Ellingsen fonds (2007.001).
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.
Rose (L) in overalls and her cousin Florence standing with a dog standing by trees at the John Manson home, Sunny Brae farm.
Rose was the daughter of John and Margaret Manson; Florence was the daughter of Michael and Jane Manson.
Rose (L) in overalls and her cousin Florence standing with a dog standing by trees at the John Manson home, Sunny Brae farm.
Rose was the daughter of John and Margaret Manson; Florence was the daughter of Michael and Jane Manson.
Feeding the hens. Children, L - R: Etta McKay, Dorothy Manson (smallest), Hazel McKay. Florence McKay is in the shadows on the porch of the small "house on the hill" at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. This is the house originally built by George Freeman ca. 1915.
Feeding the hens. Children, L - R: Etta McKay, Dorothy Manson (smallest), Hazel McKay. Florence McKay is in the shadows on the porch of the small "house on the hill" at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. This is the house originally built by George Freeman ca. 1915.
Donkey logging at Haywire Point, Hernando Island.
Standing on the logs are (L to R): Ervie McKay; Hazel McKay standing beside her mother Florence McKay; Wilfred Freeman beside his mother Robina Freeman.
Buildings on the beach in the background are three individual family cabins and the cookhouse. The steam donkey is on the extreme right of the photo.
Donkey logging at Haywire Point, Hernando Island.
Standing on the logs are (L to R): Ervie McKay; Hazel McKay standing beside her mother Florence McKay; Wilfred Freeman beside his mother Robina Freeman.
Buildings on the beach in the background are three individual family cabins and the cookhouse. The steam donkey is on the extreme right of the photo.
