Fonds - Camden East Women’s Institute fonds

The Camden East Women’s Institute, located in Camden East Township, Lennox and Addington County, was founded on June 2, 1927 with Mrs. E.A. Salsbury as the first President. Twenty-one members attended the first meeting. As of 2009, Camden East branch had amalgamated with Reidville branch recently to form Reidville-Camden East Women’s Institute. From the beginning, Camden East demonstrated their commitment to the betterment of their community by making fundraising a priority and making many contributions to local people in need. An annual masquerade dance was held as a fundraiser in the early years. Monetary gestures and other donations were made to public institutes, such as the library and the school. The members of the branch often acted as a concerned voice for the community to the local Council. For instance, the need for street lighting was passed as a Resolution by the members and they approached Council about the need for lit streets. The branch also paid for some general community maintenance. It is apparent that the Camden East branch always prioritized the needs of its community first. Demonstrations were given on rug-making, artificial flowers, knitting, home canning, and garment-making in the early years. Each of these activities was well received by members. Many “Short Courses” were held, such as Home Nursing and Sewing, which reinforced the values of the Women’s Institute. The holiday spirit made the members of the Camden East branch especially generous. They donated toys annually to the children of the Children’s Aid Society each Christmas, later making food or monetary contributions instead. A community Christmas tree was erected in the village and baskets were given to the needy. The Tweedsmuirs of Camden East are not held within the fonds. However, the Reading Room of the Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives has a copy of Tweedsmuir Volume I (1963-1988) on microfilm. This Tweedsmuir contains information on the history of Camden East Women’s Institute and its prominent members, programmes, histories of local Churches and ministers, histories of schools and the public library, village and house histories, business histories, biographies on the local men who served in the armed services, as well as social events and golden weddings. The majority of this Tweedsmuir was compiled by the curator, Mrs. Allan Carroll. Some of the past Women’s Institute Presidents of Camden East were: Mrs. E.A. Salsbury (1927-1929), Mrs. Acton Robinson (1929-1932; 1933-1934), Mrs. G. Smedley (1932-1933), Mrs. W. Dunn (1935-1939), Mrs. H. (Edith) Walsworth (1939-1941), Mrs. Carmen (May) Hyland (1941-1951), Mrs. Floyd (Margaret) Moore (1951-1953), Mrs. M. Dunn (1953-1956), Mrs. S. Allore (1956-1957), Mrs. Allan Carroll (1957-1959), Mrs. F. Hannighan (1959-1960), Mrs. Glenn Lawlor (1960-1962; 1976-1978), Mrs. Howard Parcher (1962-1964), Mrs. Duane Williams (1964-1966), and Mrs. Tom Good (1966-1967), Mrs. Ronald Lakins (1968-1970), Mrs. E. Pennell (1970-1972), Mrs. Gordon Quirt (1972-1976), Mrs. Myra Gulley (1978-1980), and Mrs. June Lakind (1980-1981).