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).
Fonds consists of ten diaries kept by James Layton, covering the years 1948-1981, and a Time Book. (Years 1967-1971 are missing.) Layton made brief daily entries in the diaries, noting the weather, activities, social interactions and, occasionally, notable external events. Typical activities included logging, fishing, working on an oyster lease, digging clams, gardening, visiting, reading and writing letters. Times of planting and harvesting the garden, sightings of wildlife, and names of people living nearby or visiting on boats are recorded.
James (Jimmy) George Layton (1897-1990) was born in Camberwell, England. He fought in World War I, was severely wounded when he flung himself on a grenade which had landed in his foxhole, and received a medal for his bravery. In 1920, Layton emigrated to Canada, where he found work in coastal logging camps. Other members of the family, including his parents and seven of his ten siblings, also moved to Canada. At the time of his father's death in 1939, Layton, his parents and three of his brothers were living on Thurlow Island. In the 1940s he moved to the head of Von Donop Inlet on Cortes Island. His float house was drawn up on the beach next to a little islet that was joined to the shore at low tide, where he cultivated a garden and orchard. Layton found work logging and caretaking for local camps active in Von Donop, and helping his brother on his oyster lease. He moved to Lund in 1972, where he passed away at the age of 92.
Custodial History
Diaries were given to Joan Bevington by her cousin Capt. Harrison Layton, the nephew of James Layton, for donation to CIMAS.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of ten diaries kept by James Layton, covering the years 1948-1981, and a Time Book. (Years 1967-1971 are missing.) Layton made brief daily entries in the diaries, noting the weather, activities, social interactions and, occasionally, notable external events. Typical activities included logging, fishing, working on an oyster lease, digging clams, gardening, visiting, reading and writing letters. Times of planting and harvesting the garden, sightings of wildlife, and names of people living nearby or visiting on boats are recorded.
File consists of a green leather-bound locking diary, 4.5 x 6 x 1 inches in size. The entry for each day contains a brief description of the weather and the day's activities, which typically include logging, fishing, harvesting clams and oysters, gardening and visiting.
File consists of a green leather-bound locking diary, 4.5 x 6 x 1 inches in size. The entry for each day contains a brief description of the weather and the day's activities, which typically include logging, fishing, harvesting clams and oysters, gardening and visiting.
File consists of a volume 3.5 x 5.5 x .75 inches in size, titled "Webster's Foresters Diary and Pocketbook" and published by the Timber Trades Journal, London, England. The first 106 pages contain advertising and information relating to forestry in Great Britain. The remainder of the book is a diary with space for two entries per page, where Layton has recorded brief descriptions of the weather and his daily activities.
File consists of a volume 3.5 x 5.5 x .75 inches in size, titled "Webster's Foresters Diary and Pocketbook" and published by the Timber Trades Journal, London, England. The first 106 pages contain advertising and information relating to forestry in Great Britain. The remainder of the book is a diary with space for two entries per page, where Layton has recorded brief descriptions of the weather and his daily activities.
File consists of a small volume with brown vinyl covers, 3 x 5.5 x .5 inches in size, for the year 1959. It is titled "Collins Electrical Engineers Diary", published by Collins in London, England. The first 160 pages contains a variety of technical information and tables. The remainder of the book is a diary, seven day view for each two pages, where Layton has recorded brief descriptions of the weather and his daily activities.
File consists of a small volume with brown vinyl covers, 3 x 5.5 x .5 inches in size, for the year 1959. It is titled "Collins Electrical Engineers Diary", published by Collins in London, England. The first 160 pages contains a variety of technical information and tables. The remainder of the book is a diary, seven day view for each two pages, where Layton has recorded brief descriptions of the weather and his daily activities.
File consists of a diary with green covers, "Collins Pocket Diary", published in London & Glasgow. The entry for each day contains a description of the weather and the day's activities, which typically include logging, fishing, harvesting clams and oysters, gardening and visiting.
File consists of a diary with green covers, "Collins Pocket Diary", published in London & Glasgow. The entry for each day contains a description of the weather and the day's activities, which typically include logging, fishing, harvesting clams and oysters, gardening and visiting.
File contains a green five year leather-bound locking diary, 5 x 6 x 1 inch in size, covering the years 1961-1962 and 1964-1966 (1963 is in another journal). The inside cover has an inscription from his sister and addresses for family members. Entries, five days per page, are brief descriptions of the weather and daily activities.
File contains a green five year leather-bound locking diary, 5 x 6 x 1 inch in size, covering the years 1961-1962 and 1964-1966 (1963 is in another journal). The inside cover has an inscription from his sister and addresses for family members. Entries, five days per page, are brief descriptions of the weather and daily activities.
File contains a black cerlox-bound diary, "Compliments of Black Top Cabs", 5.5 x 8.5 x .5 inches in size. Daily entries, two per page, contain brief descriptions of the weather, daily activities, and visitors. A few loose pieces of paper with addresses on them are found inside.
File contains a black cerlox-bound diary, "Compliments of Black Top Cabs", 5.5 x 8.5 x .5 inches in size. Daily entries, two per page, contain brief descriptions of the weather, daily activities, and visitors. A few loose pieces of paper with addresses on them are found inside.
File consists of a 64 page Time Book published by the International Woodworkers of America, BC District Council No. 1. The booklet contains ads, information and a fold-out map with the locations of BC mills and logging camps. Layton, a member of Local Union 1-71, has entered a record of his income on page 62.
File consists of a 64 page Time Book published by the International Woodworkers of America, BC District Council No. 1. The booklet contains ads, information and a fold-out map with the locations of BC mills and logging camps. Layton, a member of Local Union 1-71, has entered a record of his income on page 62.
File contains one cream coloured diary, 4 x 4.5 x 1 inches in size, with entries for three years, 1972-1974. The address "Squirrel Cove" is crossed out, replaced by "Bliss Landing, Lund". During these years, Layton moved away from Von Donop. The cover has broken away from the spine, and the hasp is missing.
File contains one cream coloured diary, 4 x 4.5 x 1 inches in size, with entries for three years, 1972-1974. The address "Squirrel Cove" is crossed out, replaced by "Bliss Landing, Lund". During these years, Layton moved away from Von Donop. The cover has broken away from the spine, and the hasp is missing.
File contains a tan leather-bound locking diary, 6 x 4 x 1.5 inches in size, covering the years 1978 and 1979. Layton's address is given as 6328 Poplar St., Powell River, BC V8A 4L4.
File contains a tan leather-bound locking diary, 6 x 4 x 1.5 inches in size, covering the years 1978 and 1979. Layton's address is given as 6328 Poplar St., Powell River, BC V8A 4L4.
File contains a brown locking diary, 5 x 4 x .75 inches in size, with entries for two years 1980 and 1981. Layton was living in Powell River during these years.
File contains a brown locking diary, 5 x 4 x .75 inches in size, with entries for two years 1980 and 1981. Layton was living in Powell River during these years.
File consists of two binders, "North Vancouver Island Women's Institute History up to 1992", compiled in 1992, and containing chapters on the Cortes Island Women's Institute and the Whaletown Women's Institute. (One binder is kept on the informational shelves of the museum.)
File consists of two binders, "North Vancouver Island Women's Institute History up to 1992", compiled in 1992, and containing chapters on the Cortes Island Women's Institute and the Whaletown Women's Institute. (One binder is kept on the informational shelves of the museum.)
