Women's Institutes (British)
Encyclopedia
The Women’s Institute is a British, community-based organisation for women. It was formed in 1915 with two clear aims: to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the organisation's aims have broadened and it is now the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK. The organisation celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2010 and currently has approximately 208,000 members in 7,000 WIs.
The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.
http://www.acww.org.uk/ to other WIs worldwide.
Craft has always played an important role in the WI and thousands of members are involved in a range of different crafts across England and Wales.
The Women's Institute is often associated with food, cooking and healthy eating, and food and cooking form an important part of the WI's history.
addressed a meeting for the wives of members of the Farmers' Institute. The first British WI meeting took place on 11 September 1915 at Llanfairpwll on Anglesey in North Wales. The WI was originally set up in the UK to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.
The WI celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2010 and today plays a unique role in enabling women to gain new skills, take part in wide-ranging activities and campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. The WI is a diverse organisation open to all women, and there are now WIs in towns and cities as well as villages.
Click [here]http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=56 for further information on the organisation's history. Honorary Archivist, Anne Stamper, has provided this information using published materials, copies of the WI magazine Home and Country and other documents deposited in our archives.
The WI's archives are kept at the Women's Library at London Metropolitan University
ref 5FWI and are open to the public. Further information can also be found at the Genesis project's website which develops access to women's history sources. WI and federation records are usually kept at local county record offices, search the National Register of Archives for more details.
Women's Institutes were formed in Scotland and Northern Ireland independently to those in England and Wales. The first Women's Rural Institute started in Scotland on 26 June 1917, and Madge Watt travelled up from London to speak to a meeting at Longniddry. After the end of the Great War, Madge Watt returned to Canada where she continued as an activist for the interests of rural women. In 1930 she founded the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).
After the end of the First World War, the Board of Agriculture withdrew its sponsorship, although the Development Commission financially supported the work of the forming of new WIs and gave core funding to the NFWI until it could become financially independent. By 1926 the Women's Institutes were fully independent and rapidly became an essential part of rural life.
One of their features was an independence from political parties or institutions, or church or chapel, which encouraged activism by non-establishment women, which helps to explain why the WI has been extremely reluctant to support anything that can be construed as war work, despite their wartime formation. In World War II, they limited their contribution to such activities as looking after evacuees, and running the Government-sponsored Preservation Centres where volunteers canned or made jam of excess produce. All this produce was sent to depots to be added to the rations.
The NFWI archives, containing papers relevant to the work of the WI nationally from 1915 to 1991, are deposited at the Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, Old Castle Street, London E1 7NT.
The courses are tutored by specialists with many years of experience and the ability to provide both fun and educational courses in a Cookery School equipped with the latest facilities, all situated within Denman College.
, London. This Women's Institute has been successful and the press attention it has generated has led to new WIs with younger female members opening steadily in its wake. There are now 30 branches of the WI in London and new urban branches of the organisation are opening every week across England and Wales.
In April 2010 Zoe Stroud decided to start a new WI in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Zoe, aged 31 at the time, is believed to be one of the youngest presidents of a WI on the Isle of Wight if not the UK. [The president of Buns & Roses WI in Leeds was 24 when she formed the group.] At the first meeting over 50 ladies attended. Cowes WI acquired 42 members within a few short months of being created. The average age of Cowes WI is around 40 and activities already completed include wine tasting, fashion styling and breast awareness.
and their debut album Voices of the W.I.
was released in October 2010.
In keeping with the organisation's eco-friendly philosophy, the magazine is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper, using vegetable, rather than chemical-based, inks. The magazine wrapping is completely biodegradable.
In 2007, Neal Maidment became the first-ever male Editor in the history of WI magazines (which date back to 1919). He resigned from the role in May 2011.
Mr Leslie held a one-day school for village conductors in London in early 1924. He asked his friend Sir Walford Davies to write an arrangement of Hubert Parry
's setting of Jerusalem
, for WI choirs. This hymn with its association with the fight for women's suffrage
was appropriate for the newly emerging WI movement which was encouraging women to take their part in public life, and to fight to improve the conditions of rural life.
Mr Leslie suggested that Walford Davies' special arrangement for choir and string orchestra should be performed at the Annual General Meeting of NFWI held in the Queen's Hall
, London in 1924. He himself conducted the singing, bringing a choir from local WIs with him to lead.
This was so successful that it has been sung at the opening of NFWI AGMs to this day. Many WIs also open meetings by singing Jerusalem. Although it has never actually been adopted as the WI's official anthem, in practice it holds that position.
On the 18th June 2010 a new `modern` version of Jerusalem was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London. It features the entrants that applied for the `WI Search for a Star` competition. It is due for release on CD later in 2010.
WI fetes, cookery, and judging have frequency been satirised by Little Britain
's "Maggie and Judy" sketches. Maggie Blackamoor is often perceived in the UK as the architypal member of the WI.
The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.
Structure and membership
The national headquarters of the WI, the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI), is in London. There is also an office in Cardiff, NFWI-Wales, and a residential college in Oxfordshire, Denman College. The NFWI produces a membership magazine WI Life. WI Enterprises is the trading arm of the organisation and exists to raise funds and provide benefits for members. In 2010, there are approximately 205,000 members of 6,500 Women's Institutes in England, Wales and the islands, linked through the Associated Country Women of the WorldAssociated Country Women of the World
The Associated Country Women of the World is the largest international organization for rural women, with a membership of nine million in over 70 countries. ACWW holds a triennial conference, most recently in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA in 2010...
http://www.acww.org.uk/ to other WIs worldwide.
Activities
Every individual WI meets at least once a month and there is usually a speaker, demonstration or activity at every meeting for members to learn and develop a range of different skills.Craft has always played an important role in the WI and thousands of members are involved in a range of different crafts across England and Wales.
The Women's Institute is often associated with food, cooking and healthy eating, and food and cooking form an important part of the WI's history.
History
The WI movement began at Stoney Creek in Canada in 1897 when Adelaide HoodlessAdelaide Hoodless
Adelaide Hoodless née Hunter was a Canadian educational reformer who founded the international women’s organization known as the Women's Institute....
addressed a meeting for the wives of members of the Farmers' Institute. The first British WI meeting took place on 11 September 1915 at Llanfairpwll on Anglesey in North Wales. The WI was originally set up in the UK to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.
The WI celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2010 and today plays a unique role in enabling women to gain new skills, take part in wide-ranging activities and campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. The WI is a diverse organisation open to all women, and there are now WIs in towns and cities as well as villages.
Click [here]http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=56 for further information on the organisation's history. Honorary Archivist, Anne Stamper, has provided this information using published materials, copies of the WI magazine Home and Country and other documents deposited in our archives.
The WI's archives are kept at the Women's Library at London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
ref 5FWI and are open to the public. Further information can also be found at the Genesis project's website which develops access to women's history sources. WI and federation records are usually kept at local county record offices, search the National Register of Archives for more details.
Women's Institutes were formed in Scotland and Northern Ireland independently to those in England and Wales. The first Women's Rural Institute started in Scotland on 26 June 1917, and Madge Watt travelled up from London to speak to a meeting at Longniddry. After the end of the Great War, Madge Watt returned to Canada where she continued as an activist for the interests of rural women. In 1930 she founded the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW).
After the end of the First World War, the Board of Agriculture withdrew its sponsorship, although the Development Commission financially supported the work of the forming of new WIs and gave core funding to the NFWI until it could become financially independent. By 1926 the Women's Institutes were fully independent and rapidly became an essential part of rural life.
One of their features was an independence from political parties or institutions, or church or chapel, which encouraged activism by non-establishment women, which helps to explain why the WI has been extremely reluctant to support anything that can be construed as war work, despite their wartime formation. In World War II, they limited their contribution to such activities as looking after evacuees, and running the Government-sponsored Preservation Centres where volunteers canned or made jam of excess produce. All this produce was sent to depots to be added to the rations.
The NFWI archives, containing papers relevant to the work of the WI nationally from 1915 to 1991, are deposited at the Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, Old Castle Street, London E1 7NT.
Denman College
In 1948 NFWI bought Marcham Park in Berkshire and converted it into a short-stay residential adult education college, called [Denman College]http://www.thewi.org.uk/section.aspx?id=10 in honour of Lady Gertrude Denman. The college has grown and developed over the years and is now a well-appointed adult education centre attended by approximately 6,000 students each year. It is now open to non-members as well as members.WI Cookery School
Founded on years of experience and culinary expertise, the WI Cookery School programme combines the teaching of traditional skills with innovative and creative ideas. The WI Cookery School offers a fantastic range of over 100 day schools, residential courses and family courses.The courses are tutored by specialists with many years of experience and the ability to provide both fun and educational courses in a Cookery School equipped with the latest facilities, all situated within Denman College.
New branches of the WI
In 2003, a new-style urban Women's Institute was opened in FulhamFulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London. This Women's Institute has been successful and the press attention it has generated has led to new WIs with younger female members opening steadily in its wake. There are now 30 branches of the WI in London and new urban branches of the organisation are opening every week across England and Wales.
In April 2010 Zoe Stroud decided to start a new WI in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Zoe, aged 31 at the time, is believed to be one of the youngest presidents of a WI on the Isle of Wight if not the UK. [The president of Buns & Roses WI in Leeds was 24 when she formed the group.] At the first meeting over 50 ladies attended. Cowes WI acquired 42 members within a few short months of being created. The average age of Cowes WI is around 40 and activities already completed include wine tasting, fashion styling and breast awareness.
95th Anniversary Celebration
In 2010 it was announced that five members of the WI signed a record deal with Universal Music and would record an album to celebrate the 95th anniversary since the first ever WI meeting. This band was named The HarmoniesThe Harmonies
The Harmonies are a five-piece girlband formed in 2010, with the finalists of a competition with over 200,000 contestants organised by the Women's Institute and announced in February 2010, to create an album in celebration of the 95th anniversary of the WI....
and their debut album Voices of the W.I.
Voices of the W.I.
-Charts:...
was released in October 2010.
WI Life
Published eight times a year, WI Life is delivered directly to more than 205,000 WI members. WI Life features articles and news stories showcasing the diversity and wide-ranging interests of members.In keeping with the organisation's eco-friendly philosophy, the magazine is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper, using vegetable, rather than chemical-based, inks. The magazine wrapping is completely biodegradable.
In 2007, Neal Maidment became the first-ever male Editor in the history of WI magazines (which date back to 1919). He resigned from the role in May 2011.
"Jerusalem"
During the 1920s, many WIs started choirs and NFWI set up a music committee and appointed a Mr Leslie as an advisor.Mr Leslie held a one-day school for village conductors in London in early 1924. He asked his friend Sir Walford Davies to write an arrangement of Hubert Parry
Hubert Parry
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet was an English composer, teacher and historian of music.Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. As a composer he is best known for the choral song "Jerusalem", the coronation anthem "I was glad" and the hymn tune "Repton", which sets the words...
's setting of Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time
"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...
, for WI choirs. This hymn with its association with the fight for women's suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
was appropriate for the newly emerging WI movement which was encouraging women to take their part in public life, and to fight to improve the conditions of rural life.
Mr Leslie suggested that Walford Davies' special arrangement for choir and string orchestra should be performed at the Annual General Meeting of NFWI held in the Queen's Hall
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect T.E. Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. From 1895 until 1941, it was the home of the promenade concerts founded by Robert...
, London in 1924. He himself conducted the singing, bringing a choir from local WIs with him to lead.
This was so successful that it has been sung at the opening of NFWI AGMs to this day. Many WIs also open meetings by singing Jerusalem. Although it has never actually been adopted as the WI's official anthem, in practice it holds that position.
On the 18th June 2010 a new `modern` version of Jerusalem was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London. It features the entrants that applied for the `WI Search for a Star` competition. It is due for release on CD later in 2010.
Jam
The importance of home prepared foods is of perpetual importance and the institute runs its own markets, WI markets, where home based produce is sold. Modern hygiene regulations have often made this 'offensive' activity perilous, but so entwined are the ideals of the hymn and ongoing self-sufficiency that the ideology of the organisation is often called "Jam and Jerusalem"WI fetes, cookery, and judging have frequency been satirised by Little Britain
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
's "Maggie and Judy" sketches. Maggie Blackamoor is often perceived in the UK as the architypal member of the WI.
See also
- Calendar GirlsCalendar GirlsCalendar Girls is a 2003 comedy film directed by Nigel Cole. Produced by Buena Vista International and Touchstone Pictures, it features a screenplay by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi based on a true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia...
— 2003 film based on the nude calendar produced by the RylstoneRylstoneRylstone is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated very near to Cracoe and about 6 miles south west of Grassington....
WI. - Country Women's AssociationCountry Women's AssociationThe Country Women’s Association of Australia is the largest women's organisation in Australia. It has 44,000 members across 1855 branches. Its aims are to improve the conditions for country women and children and to try to make life better for women and their families, especially those women...
(Australia) - Irish Countrywomen's AssociationIrish Countrywomen's AssociationThe Irish Countrywomen's Association is the largest women's organisation in Ireland, with over 15,000 members. Founded in 1910, it exists to prove social and educational opportunities for women and to improve the standard of rural and urban life in Ireland...
, Ireland - Merched y WawrMerched y WawrMerched y Wawr is a national, voluntary, non-political, organisation for women in Wales. It is similar to the Women's Institute but its activities are conducted through the medium of Welsh...
— Welsh languageWelsh languageWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
women's movement similar to the Women's Institute. - Mothers' UnionMothers' UnionMothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. Its members are not all mothers or even all women, as there are many parents, men, widows, singles and grandparents involved in its work...
- Jam & Jerusalem — a British television sitcom centered around a local WI - though referenced as a Women's Guild. It is known as Clatterford in the US, the fictional West Country town where it takes place.
- National Memorial ArboretumNational Memorial ArboretumThe National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
- home to a drystone wall, incorporating two seating areas, dedicated to the Women's Institute. - The HarmoniesThe HarmoniesThe Harmonies are a five-piece girlband formed in 2010, with the finalists of a competition with over 200,000 contestants organised by the Women's Institute and announced in February 2010, to create an album in celebration of the 95th anniversary of the WI....
- the band formed to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the WI, set to release their debut album Voices of the W.I.Voices of the W.I.-Charts:...
on October 25, 2010.