Fonds - Tamworth Women’s Institute fonds

The Tamworth Women’s Institute located in Sheffield Township, Lennox and Addington County, was founded on September 12, 1921 with Mrs. S.D. Whaley as the first President. This branch was a part of the Addington District Women’s Institute. Nineteen members attended the first meeting. The Tamworth branch disbanded in June of 2004 due to an increase in dues and a lack of interest in the Executive positions by its members. Some of the early traditions of the Tamworth branch were annual picnics for their July meeting at the cottage of Mrs. Lockridge or Mrs. Richardson, a Hallowe’en Frolic for the community, a gift exchange in December, and a “Driving Party” every January with a programme and refreshments. Good education was valued by the members of Tamworth branch. This is evident in the efforts they made towards improving the local school. These efforts included: aid for the school fairs, prizes for the sewing classes, First Aid kits purchased and replenished, sponsoring public speaking and poster contests, and a moving-picture machine was purchased for the school. The branch also brought attention to the need for a School Nurse. The branch made donations to the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. A piano, cupboards, and dishes were donated to the Town Hall. Tamworth branch supported local sports teams, namely the baseball and hockey teams. They also made some larger contributions, such as two fire engines, as well as pails, ladders, and suits for volunteers handling acidic substances. They paid the heating for the fire hall, which Council eventually agreed to take over. The branch provided conveniences for the community at reasonable prices, such as a vacuum for rent at fifty cents per day, and catering banquets at fifty cents per plate. During World War II, Tamworth branch contributed by giving assistance to the Red Cross, sending parcels to local boys overseas, hosting Tag-Days, and donating to U.N.I.C.E.F. and the Central War Charities Fund. The Tamworth branch continued to be invested in community interests in its latter years, giving donations to the Lennox and Addington Hospital, Cancer Society, Christmas basket fund for Lions Club, catering the Lions Club dinner, quilts for those in need, and sewn bears for the Fire Department and Alzheimer’s Society. Some of the fundraising efforts of the Tamworth branch included crocus sales for C.N.I.B., sale of a cookbook, and plant exchanges. Tamworth celebrates Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department’s annual jamboree on the first Monday in August, which is a highly regarded event in Tamworth; as a result, the Tamworth branch contributes donations to the local Fire Department as this reflects the interests of the community. The Tweedsmuirs of Tamworth are held at the Tamworth branch of the public library. However, some of the later minutes housed at Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives contain newspaper clippings of relevant events to the Tamworth Women’s Institute in the same fashion as a Tweedsmuir. Tweedsmuir History, Volume I (1950-1986) and Volume IV (1992-1996), are available on microfilm in the Reading Room of the Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives. The curator for the first Tweedsmuir was Marion Easterbrook. Some of the past Women’s Institute Presidents of Tamworth were: Mrs. S.D. Whaley (1921), Mrs. Ida Lockridge (1921, 1923-1925, 1928-1929), Mrs. H. Piper (1922-1923), Mrs. McCallum (1925-1928), Miss H.E. Reid (1928-1929), Mrs. W.W. Redden (1930-1932), Mrs. Jennie Scanlin (1932-1937), Mrs. Adam (Jennie) Milligan (1937-1940), Mrs. Clarence (Annie) Milligan (1940-1942), Mrs. Harry (Marion) Easterbrook (1942-1948; 1973-1978), Mrs. John (Helen) Nicholson (1948-1954; 1957-1958; 1968-1970), Mrs. Don (Vera) McLaughlin (1954-1957), Mrs. Connie Cox (1958-1959; 1961-1962), Mrs. Hannah Jamieson (1959-1960; 1966-1968), Mrs. Marguerite Richmond (1960-1961), Mrs. Mae Prue (1962-1966; 1970-1973), Mrs. Isma Milligan (1978-1982), Mrs. Eleanor Kingsbury (1982-1983), Mrs. Joy Lloyd (1983-1985), Mrs. Jean Bradshaw (1985-1987), Mrs. Helen Craig (1987-1988), and Mrs. Marion Coulter (1996-2004).