History of WI Nationally
A brief history of the Women’s Institute
The WI began in Canada in 1897 and was founded by Adelaide Hoodless in Stoney Creek, Ontario (see our members’ visit to Stoney Creek on our ‘What we’ve been up to’ page, and pictures in the ‘gallery’ page). One of her children had died from drinking contaminated milk and she began educating local women in domestic science. The worldwide Women's Institute organisation followed and in 1913 Mrs Madge Watt, a founder member of British Columbia WI came to live in England. After initial indifference she eventually founded the first institute in the British Isles in Anglesey in September 1915. Today there are around 6,600 WIs in the UK and approximately 212,000 members
The main remit of the WI in its early days was to ensure that all women were equal whatever class they came from (ignoring Joyce Grenfell’s patronising WI monologues). It took time to break down these mental barriers, but it did happen and the WI has gone from strength to strength. The aim has always been to improve and develop the quality of life for women and their families; to offer women the opportunity to increase their awareness of, and participation in, public issues, national and international; to give women the chance to develop their talents and to use their skills in an informal educational environment, and to enable women to work together to sustain and build on the achievements offered by the organisation. This remit still holds true today.
All WIs support the Associated Country Women of the World with donations made annually towards the administration of this vital resource for women struggling in difficult and deprived circumstances to raise their children to healthy and active adulthood.
Each year the WI democratically selects and campaigns for resolutions which regularly prod the Government into action and it has never been afraid to tackle controversial issues, e.g. STIs in 1922. That same year resolutions were passed highlighting the need for adult education and advocating measures for road safety. This work continues to the present day with the 2014 resolution focused on raising the profile and importance of Organ Donation.
It was probably during WWII that the WIs association with jam became cemented in people’s minds, when as part of the war effort throughout the country every soft fruit and edible berry was made into jam with the sugar being distributed to the WIs by the Government.
Denman College opened in 1948 as a residential educational centre just south of Oxford which offers a wide range of educational and leisure courses to members. WI Life magazine is distributed to all members monthly, along with the Hampshire News magazine to WI members in Hampshire, providing information on local WI news and activities.
The WI began in Canada in 1897 and was founded by Adelaide Hoodless in Stoney Creek, Ontario (see our members’ visit to Stoney Creek on our ‘What we’ve been up to’ page, and pictures in the ‘gallery’ page). One of her children had died from drinking contaminated milk and she began educating local women in domestic science. The worldwide Women's Institute organisation followed and in 1913 Mrs Madge Watt, a founder member of British Columbia WI came to live in England. After initial indifference she eventually founded the first institute in the British Isles in Anglesey in September 1915. Today there are around 6,600 WIs in the UK and approximately 212,000 members
The main remit of the WI in its early days was to ensure that all women were equal whatever class they came from (ignoring Joyce Grenfell’s patronising WI monologues). It took time to break down these mental barriers, but it did happen and the WI has gone from strength to strength. The aim has always been to improve and develop the quality of life for women and their families; to offer women the opportunity to increase their awareness of, and participation in, public issues, national and international; to give women the chance to develop their talents and to use their skills in an informal educational environment, and to enable women to work together to sustain and build on the achievements offered by the organisation. This remit still holds true today.
All WIs support the Associated Country Women of the World with donations made annually towards the administration of this vital resource for women struggling in difficult and deprived circumstances to raise their children to healthy and active adulthood.
Each year the WI democratically selects and campaigns for resolutions which regularly prod the Government into action and it has never been afraid to tackle controversial issues, e.g. STIs in 1922. That same year resolutions were passed highlighting the need for adult education and advocating measures for road safety. This work continues to the present day with the 2014 resolution focused on raising the profile and importance of Organ Donation.
It was probably during WWII that the WIs association with jam became cemented in people’s minds, when as part of the war effort throughout the country every soft fruit and edible berry was made into jam with the sugar being distributed to the WIs by the Government.
Denman College opened in 1948 as a residential educational centre just south of Oxford which offers a wide range of educational and leisure courses to members. WI Life magazine is distributed to all members monthly, along with the Hampshire News magazine to WI members in Hampshire, providing information on local WI news and activities.
Articles and videos about the WI on other websites.
In 2015 it was the centenary of the WI in the UK so there were lots of articles about the WI in the press and on websites. Here are links to some of them.
* August 2015 article in Good Housekeeping.
* TV Coverage of WI Centenary on WI site
* Good Housekeeping 100 YEARS OF ICONIC WI CAMPAIGNS IN PICTURES
In 2015 it was the centenary of the WI in the UK so there were lots of articles about the WI in the press and on websites. Here are links to some of them.
* August 2015 article in Good Housekeeping.
* TV Coverage of WI Centenary on WI site
* Good Housekeeping 100 YEARS OF ICONIC WI CAMPAIGNS IN PICTURES