Fonds - Moscow Women’s Institute fonds

The Moscow Women’s Institute located in the Town of Moscow, County of Lennox and Addington was founded on June 11, 1923 with Mrs. J.A. (Lucy) Amey as the first President. This branch was a part of the Addington District Women’s Institute. Seventeen members attended the first meeting. The Moscow Women’s Institute disbanded on June 13, 1991 due to declining membership. The Moscow branch was very active in its community, meeting whatever needs they could. They sewed and quilted for needy families, provided layettes for new babies, made monetary donations to families in need, subsidized the salary of a doctor for the District of Tobermory, organized a library for the area, and worked on local landscaping. In 1972, the Moscow branch became affiliated with Lenadco Home Auxiliary in order to more effectively combine their efforts. Moscow branch was involved in fundraising efforts for March of Dimes, Heart Foundation, Mental Health Association, Navy League, Save the Children’s Fund, C.N.I.B., among others. The branch raised funds through taking collections, holding bazaars and tea socials, performing plays, hosting euchre parties, Hallowe’en and Valentine’s events, catering weddings, and having twenty-five cent talent shows. Many resolutions were made and executed within the Moscow branch. Appeals for a village sign and street lamps, and later on for stop signs, showed the branch’s awareness of street safety. Concern for the local children is evident in their advocacy for inoculations against contagious diseases. Moscow Public School was provided with equipment and supplies for hot lunches in two classrooms, as well as a donation of a First Aid kit for the school. Moscow branch raised awareness of the lack of fire escape at the school within the community. Their efforts continued by holding an investigation of the safety of the school, which led to a new building in 1952. The Moscow branch compiled one formal Tweedsmuir History and one informal scrapbook. The formal version contains a variety of information on the Moscow community. More specifically, the Tweedsmuir begins with a detailed overview of meetings and accomplishments of Moscow since the branch was founded in 1923. There is also information on house histories, family histories of members, wedding anniversaries, Church histories, photographs of local sports teams, photographs of select Moscow Public School classes starting in 1901 to the 1960s, and photographs of antique items belonging to members. The formal version is available on microfilm in the Reading Room of the Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives. The informal scrapbook contains mostly newspaper clippings pertaining to Women’s Institutes in the area and news of Moscow. The Tweedsmuir Curator for Moscow was Mrs. Allan Huffman. The past Women’s Institute Presidents of Moscow were: Mrs. J.A. (Lucy) Amey (1923-1928), Mrs. C. (Elsie) King (1928-1930; 1947-1948), Mrs. Percy Asselstine (1930-1932), Mrs. M.I. (Alice) Huffman (1932-1934), Miss Marguerite Patterson (1934), Mrs. Rhoda Jackson (1934-1935), Mrs. J.W. (Olive) Bell (1935-1936), Mrs. Edgar (Verna) Drew (1936-1937), Mrs. C.A. (Florence) Baker (1937-1938), Mrs. W. (Anne) Baker (1938-1940), Mrs. H. (Della) Amey (1940-1942), Mrs. Wilbur (Lois) Patterson (1942-1943), Mrs. Amos Huffman (1943-1944), Mrs. Allan (Ilah) Huffman (1944-1946), Mrs. A. (Geraldine) McQuay (1946-1947), Mrs. W.K. (Marion) Huffman (1948-1950; 1975-1977), Mrs. C.F. (Charlotte) Huffman (1950-1952), Mrs. H. (Doris) Halliday (1952-1954), Mrs. H. (Hattie) Boulton (1954), Mrs. H. (Elizabeth) Keech (1954-1956), Mrs. Victor (Jean) Keech (1956-1958), Mrs. Garnet (Geraldine) Wagar (1958-1960), Mrs. Bryce (Margaret) Drew (1960-1962), Mrs. Don (Dorothy) King (1962-1965), Mrs. Stirling (Anna) Rogers (1965-1966), Mrs. Ross (Janet) Redmond (1966-1968), Mrs. Harry (Jean) Hambrook (1968-1970; 1982-1985), Mrs. James (Vera) Holmes (1970-1973; 1979-1982; 1990-1992), Mrs. Charles (Elizabeth) Robertson (1973-1974; 1978-1980), Mrs. F. (Margaret) Corkey (1974-1975), Mrs. R. (Sandy) Brooks (1977-1978), Mrs. Breece (Millie) Lucas (1985-1987), and Mrs. Rosemary Comier (1987-1990).