File consists of papers about the start of the local Women's Institutes, including a letter by May Ellingsen outlining the history of the women's service groups in Manson's Landing.
File consists of papers about the start of the local Women's Institutes, including a letter by May Ellingsen outlining the history of the women's service groups in Manson's Landing.
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.
File consists of histories of the past and present Women's Institutes on Cortes Island, including handwritten histories by May Elliingsen; notes for the histories; material regarding a luncheon of past members held to collect WI recollections.
File consists of histories of the past and present Women's Institutes on Cortes Island, including handwritten histories by May Elliingsen; notes for the histories; material regarding a luncheon of past members held to collect WI recollections.
"Cortes Island Workbook: A guide to Business and Employment Opportunities in Rural and Remote Communities" is a 130 page resource manual. Researched and written in 1984 by a group of eight island women, it contains a description of the the community, economy and rural lifestyle on Cortes, and ideas for finding or creating a business. Each chapter divider page has an illustration by Brigid Weiler.
Binder #2 also contains a letter announcing the end of the project with list of contributors.
This Resource Manual is the result of a Canada Works project grant, and was researched and written by a group of eight Cortes Island women over a five month period.
Custodial History
This binder is one of two copies of the Workbook kept at the Louisa Tooker Library in Whaletown. It was donated to CIMAS by Brigid Weiler, librarian and president of the Whaletown Community Club.
The second binder was donated to CIMAS in 2023 by Bernice McGowan, librarian of the Louisa Tooker Library for the Whaletown Community Club.
Scope and Content
"Cortes Island Workbook: A guide to Business and Employment Opportunities in Rural and Remote Communities" is a 130 page resource manual. Researched and written in 1984 by a group of eight island women, it contains a description of the the community, economy and rural lifestyle on Cortes, and ideas for finding or creating a business. Each chapter divider page has an illustration by Brigid Weiler.
Binder #2 also contains a letter announcing the end of the project with list of contributors.
