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.
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"
Fonds consists of photographs and records of the Cortes Walking Group. Photographs depict walks and social activities and are arranged in two albums and one printed photo book. Textual records include two small notebooks with notes of walk routes, times and participants; membership lists; and accounts of activities with associated photographs, including a history of the Walking Group. A copy of the cerlox-bound "Listings of the Cortes Island Cemeteries" contains annotations up to 2020, mostly concerning the Mansons Landing cemetery.
The Cortes Walking Group was started in September of 2000 when Ann Dewar and Gail Ringwood decided to meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 AM to walk and put up a sign announcing their intention. The days were changed to Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and soon incorporated a visit to a coffee shop following the outings.
Walking Group activities are ongoing (2024). Walks leave from the parking lot at Manson's Hall at 9 AM sharp and are open to everyone. The route is decided just before the walks, which last anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours, but are usually 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Custodial History
The photo albums were mostly assembled by Gail Ringwood using photographs taken by Richard Trueman, Jurek and Gina Trzesicka and other group members. They were kept in the Pioneer Room at Manson's Hall and then at the Co-op Cafe. They were donated to the Museum by Sue Ellingsen and Myrna Kerr, members of the Walking Group, in 2022.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs and records of the Cortes Walking Group. Photographs depict walks and social activities and are arranged in two albums and one printed photo book. Textual records include two small notebooks with notes of walk routes, times and participants; membership lists; and accounts of activities with associated photographs, including a history of the Walking Group. A copy of the cerlox-bound "Listings of the Cortes Island Cemeteries" contains annotations up to 2020, mostly concerning the Mansons Landing cemetery.
Series consists of photographs depicting the members and activities of the Walking Group. The photos were originally kept in two photo albums with two photos per page. They have been rehoused in new albums with the same format as the originals; the written captions from the original albums are behind the photos.
Series consists of photographs depicting the members and activities of the Walking Group. The photos were originally kept in two photo albums with two photos per page. They have been rehoused in new albums with the same format as the originals; the written captions from the original albums are behind the photos.
