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1912 – 2001 (Creation)
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Physical description
22 v. of textual records and graphic material 50 cm of textual records and graphic material plus artefacts
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Administrative history
The Sebringville Women's Institute was founded in 1907. It was created and based in the village of Sebringville Ontario, west of Stratford on Highway 8. The group was first organized through the efforts of Mrs. Valentine Stock. The initial meeting was held at the International Organization of Foresters Hall in Sebringville; with future meetings held at the homes of various members. At the first meeting 50 women from the Sebringville area were enrolled as members. At that time Mrs. Ben Kastner was elected the first President of the Sebringville Women's Institute, and Marie Kastner became the Institute's first Secretary/Treasurer. The Sebringville W.I. became deeply involved in the creation and promotion of USS #2 Sebringville School (on Highway 8 in Sebringville) as well as other nearby schools in the Townships of Downie and Ellice. In 1930's they provided Sebringville School with a piano. The Sebringville Women's Institute also worked to promote public speaking competitions at USS#2 Sebringville and other local schools. They also helped to organized school fairs in Ellice and Downie townships. In co-operation with the Stratford Agricultural Society the Sebringville Women's Institute regularly created exhibits for the Stratford Fall Fair. In 1914 the Sebringville W.I. purchased and maintained a community wheel chair, to be freely used by any in the community in need. During both World Wars care boxes were sent by the Sebringville W.I. to soldiers overseas. In 1918 the first 10 street lights in Sebringville were purchased by the Sebringville Women's Institute which then maintained them until 1924. Programs at the Versa Care Centre (formally known as Hillside Nursing Home) at Seebach's Hill and at the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario were created and ran by the Sebringville Women's Institute. The tennis courts in Sebringville were also constructed through the efforts of this Women's Institute. In 2007 the Sebringville Women's Institute celebrated its 100th anniversary. Its current President is Olive Riehl and the current Secretary/Treasurer is Edith Schneider. The first Women's Institute in Ontario was established in 1897 by Adelaide Hunter Hoodless in Stoney Creek. Farmers' Institutes had been established in Ontario in the 1890s to educate men about agricultural practices. The Women's Institutes focussed on home economics and cultural activities. In 1919, the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada was formed at a meeting of provincial representatives as a co-ordinating body. The Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario was founded the same year. The Ontario government created an Institutes Branch in the Department of Agriculture in 1894 to supervise and regulate the Farmers Institutes. By 1920, the Farmers' Institutes had disbanded and the branch concerned itself with directing Women's Institutes. It was called the Women's Institute branch, the Home Economics Branch and the Rural Organizations and Services Branch at different periods in its history. The Branch offered course in home economics in partnership with the institutes. It also supported the activities of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario. In 1925, the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario established a standing committee for historical research and current events. In the mid-1930s, the wife of Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada from 1935-1940, suggested that all Women's Institutes create local history books. These became known as the Tweedsmuir histories.
Custodial history
The records of the Sebringville Women's Institute were generally in the possession of the secretary of the Institute until they were donated to the Stratford-Perth Archives.
Scope and content
The fonds consist of records of the Sebringville Women's Institute including minute books and scrapbooks. Material in the scrapbooks includes meeting programmes, course calendars' and newspaper clippings. The fonds also includes the Sebringville Institute's Tweedsmuir History. Fonds is comprised of the following series: 1. Minutes 2. Tweedsmuir History 3. Ledger 4. Miscellaneous Items
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Immediate source of acquisition
Records were donated to the Stratford-Perth Archives by Sebringville Women's Institute President Olive Riehl.
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Availability of other formats
The following microfilms of the Sebringville Women's Institute Tweedsmuir history are available at the Stratford-Perth Archives. Microfilm #206-208 (Tweedsmuir 1949-1987); Microfilm #980 & 981 (Tweedsmuir 1989-1997 & 1998-1999); Microfilm #1305 (Tweedsmuir 2002-2003)
Restrictions on access
Open
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copies may be made for private research and study. Other uses may require permission of copyright holder and a statement crediting the Stratford-Perth Archives as the source.
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General note
Records may be accessed at the Stratford branch of the Stratford-Perth Archives.