Fonds 371 Grande Prairie Women’s Institute fonds

57 photographs

Date: 1924-2008 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of the meeting records kept by the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute from 1924 to 2008, a 1958 “Handbook for the Use of Alberta Women’s Institutes,” and a card printed with the Creed, Flag Salute, Grace, and Institutional Ode. The meeting records were recorded into bound books or loose leaf collected in binders. The majority of the records are meeting minutes, but also included are roll call and membership lists, lists of officers and directors, lists of Women’s Institute activities, lists of surprise gifts, annual reports, and some account records which were recorded in the minute books. The series also includes loose records and correspondence inserted into the minute books and a guest register from tea party held in the Golden Age Center, Oct 24, 1984, celebrating the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute’s 60th Anniversary.

Physical description: 25 cm of textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

1936-1941 Minute Book – Transcription

1936-1941 Minute Book – Access Copy

1941-1946 Minute Book – Transcription

1941-1946 Minute Book – Access Copy

1947-1950 Minute Book – Transcription

1947-1950 Minute Book – Access Copy

Date: 1929-1972 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of five Women’s Institute membership and finance books dating from 1929 to 1972. The books contain membership lists, records of receipts and disbursements, bank reconciliations, and annual reports.

Physical description: 5 cm of textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Date: 1945-1999 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of Grande Prairie Women’s Institute program booklets from 1945 to 1999. Each booklet contains lists of that year’s executive, directors, auditors, and conveners of standing committees, as well as giving the meeting dates and programs for each. Attached to three of the booklets are Isabel Campbell’s membership cards for 1966, 1969, and 1970.

Physical description: 8 cm of textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Date: 1934-1942 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of the register used at the maternity waiting room operated by the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute from 1934 to 1942. The register gives the name of the woman and her address, her doctor’s name, and the dates of her entry and departure from the home.

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

Date: 1924-2004 (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of two scrapbooks compiled by the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute about their history and activities and a Pioneer Museum Society Life Member Certificate (1970), an AWI Handicraft List (1985-1986), a loose award certificate (1995) and newspaper clipping (2004). The material in the scrapbook on Women’s Institute activities dates from 1924 to 1987 and includes newspaper clippings, certificates, correspondence, and photographs. The history scrapbook, dating from 1965 contains accounts of the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute’s history by decade as well as extra features on special events and projects, a map of the Grande Prairie area, In Memoriam pages, lists of executive officers up to 1965, membership rolls from 1962 and 1965, and a list of Grande Prairie members who had held provincial office.

Physical description: 10 cm of textual records

57 photographs

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)

•                Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)

Women’s Institute members riding on their Dominion Day Parade float.

Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, joins in singing O Canada during her visit to the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute, September 18, 1943. Princess Alice’s husband, Alexander, Earl of Athlone, was Governor General of Canada from 1940 to 1946, during which time the couple lived in Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Mrs. E. E. Morton, Alberta Women’s Institute President, and Mrs. Patterson, District 1 Director, at the McLennan depot, June 1945.

In March 1947 a St. Patrick’s tea, sale of work and raffle netted $209 of which $200 was set aside for the Community Swimming Pool being promoted by the Kinsmen Club. The pool opened June 20, 1948.

Farewell tea for Mrs. Spicer and Mrs. Phillips held at the D. W. Patterson home 1949. 1st Row – Mrs. J. M. Welter, ___, Mrs. Archie Wilson, Mrs. H. D. McDonald, Mrs. Steve Soldan, Mrs. S. E. Forman, Mrs. A. Stoehr, Mrs. Walter Figgures, Mrs. George Cave. 2nd Row – Mrs. O. Bouchor, Mrs. J. A. Macdonald, Mrs. Clive Ireland, Mrs. Tom Malarchuk. 3rd Row – Mrs. A. M. Flanagan, Mrs. Norman Swallow, Mrs. J. L. Henning, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Frank Spicer, Mrs. A. D. Wishart (President), Mrs. J. Phillips, Mrs. John Lynn, Mrs. McFarlane, Mrs. Cecil Bell.

A. C. W. W. delegates at 1953 Convention, Toronto, attend a ceremony at Stony Creek where the Women’s Institute movement was born.

A. C. W. W. delegates on grounds of the Agricultural College, Guelph. August 1953.

Mrs. A. M. Berry, O. B. E., of Brisbane, Australia, President of the Associated Country Women of the World, speaking at Fairview School of Agriculture and Home Economics June 4, 1956. Accompanying the distinguished visitor were Mrs. D. W. Patterson of the Grande Prairie Branch and a former director of Alberta Women’s Institute, and Mrs. T. H. Howes of Millet, President of Alberta Women’s Institute.

A happy occasion in October 1956 was the turkey dinner meeting at the home of Mrs. N. Hnatiuk when Mrs. D. W. Patterson received Life Membership in Alberta Women’s Institute.

May 10, 1957 Women’s Institute meeting at the N. Hnatiuk home.

Women’s Institute Quilting Committee with a project.

In November 1958 Mrs. W. C. McMillen, Women’s Institute Secretary, introduced the matter of providing a clothes dryer for the Grace Children’s Home at Dimsdale. A committee composed of Mrs. McMillen, Mrs. O. L. Boucher and Mrs. Grace Mensinger was empowered to set up a Trust Fund in the Canadian Imperial Bank. Women’s groups in the city were approached with the result that 17 groups gave donations sufficient to buy a propane dryer and supply of gas. The Institute contributed $25 to the Fund. In December four members of the W. I. and three representatives of other contributing groups drove to Dimsdale to see the dryer installed.

A most successful money-raising event was the tea arranged by the Grande Prairie Branch at the opening in March 1959 of the new Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce when over 800 people were served.

The April 1959 meeting, held at the Patterson home as a supper meeting, also honored Mrs. Gordon Kerr on the eve of her departure for Red Deer when Mrs. G. V. Carveth, vice-president, presented her with an Alberta Women’s Institute cup and saucer.

Women’s Institute luncheon during the 1959 Constituency Conference.

Mrs. G. V. Carveth, Grande Prairie Women’s Institute President, Mrs. W. R. Ford, Alberta Women’s Institute President, Mrs. J. Welter, provincial handicraft convener, Mrs. Gordon Bishop, constituency convener, Mrs. Rowe Thompson, Grande Prairie Women’s Institute treasurer, and Mrs. Nick Hnatiuk, district director, with the Grande Prairie Women’s Institute’s prize winning group quilt “For Home and Country.”

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute December 1962 supper and meeting at the D. W. Patterson home.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute reporter at the CFGP radio station.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute quilters at work.

Unitarian Services Committee box being filled for shipment.

Mrs. H. N. Paul (left), Grande Prairie Women’s Institute President, accepts the branch’s Alberta Women’s Institutes Golden Anniversary certificate from Mrs. William Plaizier, Director of District 1.

Mrs. D. W. Patterson (left), last remaining charter member, was presented with a gift by Mrs. H. N. Paul on behalf of the Branch, in token of esteem and in appreciation for her 50 years of W. I. activity.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute Golden Anniversary. Front row: Mrs. N. Hnatiuk, Mrs. S. E. Forman. Back row: Mrs. H. N. Paul, Mrs. Jennie McDonald, Mrs. G. H. Bishop, Mrs. A. H. Flanagan, Mrs. J. M. Welter and Mrs. D. W. Patterson.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute Golden Anniversary. Front row: Mrs. B. J. M. Tieman, Mrs. Grace Mensinger. Back row: Mrs. William Plaizier, Mrs. J. L. Henning, Mrs. D. O. Carroll, Mrs. J. A. Macdonald, Mrs. B. P. Grumbly, Mrs. S. Bloom, Mrs. Vince Forster and Mrs. G. V. Carveth.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute sale, perhaps annual Market Day.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute Christmas meeting at Patterson’s.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute rose quilt.

Grande Prairie Women’s Institute members.

Date: [1937, 1955] (date of creation)

Scope and content:

The series consists of two history booklets, “A Story of the Alberta Women’s Institutes 1909-1937” and “The Story of the Alberta Women’s Institute 1909-1955”, and a greeting card showing a picture of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless’ birthplace. The material relates to Women’s Institute History outside of the Grande Prairie area.

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Access points:

•                Textual record (documentary form)