DISPLAY CASE
BFWI History
Here we see the first Executive Committee minutes of the BFWI showing Mrs Morrell as Chairman.
Whilst the BFWI began in 1919, the first Women’s Institute (WI) in Berkshire was started in Hurst in 1916. This was just one year after the first WI meeting in Britain which was held in Llanfairpwll in Anglesey, Wales. In 2015, the National Federation of WIs celebrated its own centenary.
The origins of the Women’s Institute (WI) began in Ontario, Canada in 1897 as a branch of the Farmer’s Institute. The WI brought together women from isolated areas, offering training and advice in home economics, child care and farming activities.
From the outset, the Federation and its WIs aimed to educate rural women, to help the war effort and to share and learn new skills.
First Annual Report of the BFWI
Reference:
This is the first annual report of the BFWI from the end of 1920. The spirit of enhancing skills is shown in the statement: “It is hoped that the joy of good craftsmanship will thus spread in our villages and inspire many to become skilled Home Workers”.
Displayed with kind permission of the Berkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes.
Radstock WI Banner
Reference: D/EX2419/5/1
Each WI is encouraged to have its own identity through a banner which they design themselves. Here we have one for Radstock WI from 1984.
Map of WIs in Berkshire
Reference: D/EX2007/17/5/1/10
Annual reports of the BFWI provide a useful summary of their activities in any given year and highlight their achievements.
The report for 1963 includes a map of Berkshire showing all the WIs in that year. It gives us a pictorial view of the spread of the WI movement in the county of Berkshire at the time.
BFWI Centenary Certificate
Reference:
This certificate is from the National Federation of Women’s Institutes congratulating the Berkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes on reaching their centenary in 2019.
Displayed with kind permission of the Berkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes.