Fonds - Delaware Women's Institute fonds

The Delaware Women’s Institute held its first meeting on June 8, 1914 with thirty members in attendance and the first President was Mrs. Ruddles. Other officers were: Mrs. F.P. Eichenberger, First Vice-President; Mrs. J. H. Mathews, Second Vice-President and Miss Gertrude Prior, Secretary-Treasurer. Meetings were initially scheduled for the first Tuesday of the month at 3 oclock but that later changed. The meeting place was usually at someones home with four people providing lunch. Earlier in 1914, a group of women met with Rev. Leigh of the Anglican Church to form a Women’s Institute with Mrs. J. G. Bice as President. It was then noted by area WI members that the organization would not be recognized as a Women’s Institute Branch unless it was presided by officials from the Women’s Institute. The group met again on June 8, 1914 with Mrs. Mungar of Mount Brydges presiding. Mrs. Brient of Appin was also present and the branch organized again with Mrs. Ruddle as the president. The meetings began with the singing of “The Maple Leaf Forever” and ended with “God Save the King”. The last meeting was held November 24, 1976 with six members present. The minute book records that member “Mrs. [Kaye] Janes was asked to make arrangements to present Tweedsmuir History Books to Council to be placed in vault. Also to put copy in the Delaware Library on 1st Wed. in Dec. 1976. Mrs. Janes made a motion to disband Delaware Institute. Second by Eva Ferguson. "
Apart from local philanthropy and fundraising, the Womens Institutes were instrumental in lobbying for pasteurization of milk, wrapping bread, the use of white lines on highways and other accomplishments. For more information about the Federated Womens Institute of Ontario visit the website at: http://www.fwio.on.ca/.