Series GR-0506 - British Columbia Women’s Institutes records

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

British Columbia Women’s Institutes records

General material designation

  • textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the series

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Series

Reference code

GR-0506

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1913-1990 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

Originals, 40 cm of textual records

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1916-1976)

Biographical history

The Ministry of Agriculture was established in 1894 under its first name, Dept. of Agriculture, with the enactment of the Department of Agriculture Act (SBC 1894, c. 1). Prior to 1894, all agricultural functions were placed within the jurisdiction of a single minister, who was responsible for both finance and agriculture. With the 1894 establishment of the department, the statistician became the first deputy minister. One of the main functions of the department at this time was to collect and analyze statistics relating to agriculture in the province for the purpose of planning further agricultural progress.

Although legislation established separate departments for agriculture and finance, a single minister continued to act as both the minister of finance and agriculture until 1916 when separate ministers were appointed. At this time, the BC Government enacted a new Department of Agriculture Act (SBC 1916, c. 53). The minister of agriculture was responsible for the administration of the laws relating to agriculture, horticulture, and the pastoral industries. The functions of the department included the supervision of model and experimental farms, and of all agricultural, horticulture, livestock, poultry, and dairying associations and institutes receiving government aid. Marketing, and the collection and publication of statistics continued to be an important function.

The work of the department was divided among the following branches in 1947: agricultural development and extension; field crops and seed improvement; horticultural; live stock; markets; plant pathology, entomology, and apiary inspection; and soil surveys. As well, the deputy minister was responsible for farmers’ and women’s institutes, agricultural associations, exhibitions, fall fairs, and agricultural statistics and publications. In 1976, the department was renamed the Ministry of Agriculture (OIC 3199/76).

Custodial history

Scope and content

The series consists of records which document the function of the B.C. Registrar of Companies and subsequently the B.C. Dept. of Agriculture in their responsibility for B.C. Women's Institutes. The records document how each local institute registered as a society, carried out its annual reporting, and was dissolved.

Arranged alphabetically by the name of each local Women's Institute, a file typically includes: a declaration of desire to form a society under the Societies Act, the certificate of incorporation as a society, the annual reports which include the institute's annual financial statement, a list of first directors, constitution and by-laws, and a memo to file regarding the local institute being struck off the corporate register and dissolved. Some files include a letter from the Registrar of Companies indicating a failure by the institute to file their annual reports.

The annual reports include: names of places where meetings were held during the year, the number of attendees, remarks about the business of meetings, a list of officers and directors, a list of members, and a financial statement listing receipts and expenditures, balance, and names of auditors.

For 1962 annual reports, the reports for multiple institute locations are collected together into one file (divided into three folders) and arranged alphabetically (rather than having separate files for each location).

Where file codes exist on the files, these codes were created based on the number assigned to that institute at the declaration of association.

Prior to 1956, the Farmers’ and Women’s Institutes were administered under the Institutes Act and Societies Act, and they reported to the Registrar of Companies (the Corporate Registry). Registry files created by the Registrar of Companies documented the registration, corporate history and dissolution of all companies, societies and co-operatives that operated in British Columbia, and were dissolved between 1860 and 1993. Companies, societies and co-operatives that carried on business in British Columbia were required to register with the Registrar of Companies and regularly submit reports and other records to the registry office. For this reason, prior to 1956, these Women's Institute records were held by and in the provenance of the office of the Registrar of Companies. In 1956 the B.C. legislature passed a new “Farmers’ and Women’s Institutes Act” (an act initially dating from 1936). The 1956 act placed the institutes entirely under this act instead of being administered under the Institutes Act and Societies Act, and the institutes were now the responsibility of, and reported to, the Dept. of Agriculture.

Many records of the institutes initially held by the Registrar of Companies were transferred to the Dept. of Agriculture, and the Dept. of Agriculture continued to create records after 1956. Those records transferred to B.C. Archives from the Dept. of Agriculture and its successor, the Ministry of Agriculture, make up the records of GR-0506. Some Women's Institute records remained with the Registrar of Companies and were transferred directly from that office to B.C. Archives. These records are located in series GR-1526 - Corporate registry files.

Series GR-0505 (container GR0505-0007) also contains Women's Institute records, for the following locations:

Aberdeen Women’s Institute
Bonnington and South Slocan Women’s Institute
Carmi Women’s Institute
Christian Valley Women’s Institute
Deer Park Women’s Institute
Lasqueti Women’s Institute
Monte Lake Women’s Institute
North Fraser Lake Women’s Institute
Nukko Lake Women’s Institute
Peace Arch Women’s Institute
Pitt Meadows Women’s Institute
Tatalrose Women’s Institute
Telkwa and District Women’s Institute
Terrace Women’s Institute
West Langley Women’s Institute
Woss Lake Women’s Institute

The series also includes a visitors book dating from 1953-1956; where it was created and its purpose are unknown.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Accession GR-0506 transferred from Heather Street storage, 1978.

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Script of material

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Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Associated materials

Related records:

  • GR-1526 - Corporate registry files : see Scope and content, above
  • GR-0505 : see Scope and content, above.
  • GR-3755 - Rural Organizations Branch records
  • PR-1129 : Provincial Board of Women's Institutes of British Columbia fonds.
  • BC Archives holds many private records fonds created by local women's institutes.

Related materials

Accruals

General note

Accession number(s): GR-0506; 92-1447

General note

The series GR-0506 was previously described by BC Archives under the title "Womens' Institutes annual reports and visitors book" : dates 1953-1956, creator, British Columbia. Dept. of Agriculture. Secretary of Women's Institutes.

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Physical storage

  • Box: GR0506-0001