Adelaide Hoodless’ pivotal part in the formation of the WI
I have a copy of 'ADELAIDE HOODLESS Woman With a Vision" as prepared by Ruth Howes, a member of the Alberta Women's Institute. Printed in 1965 it is considered to be one of the best sources of information on Mrs. Hoodless, if not indeed, the very best. The booklet contains 9 pages of information on Adelaide's life before the WI was formed, but I will overlook that for this time and focus on what Mrs. Howes wrote about the formation of the WI. The following is a direct quote:
"Great as her work was with the women of the Young Women's Christian Association and the National Council of Women, the influence of Mrs. Hoodless was destined to affect women in a far wider field, even in many countries.
When Mrs. Hoodless spoke at the Agricultural College at Guelph concerning the introduction of manual training (domestic science and sewing) for girls into the public schools, she said: "Girls should be educated to fit them for the sphere of life for which they were destined -- that of homemaker and this should be done by teaching Domestic Science in the public schools." This statement attracted the attention of Mr. Erland Lee, a young farmer and secretary of the Farmer's Institute of Saltfleet Township. He invited her to speak at the Farmer's Institute meeting in that Township. The ladies attending this meeting were greatly impressed with the idea which she out forth that the women, like the men, should have an Institute. A second meeting was arranged for the women and on February 19, 1897, one hundred and one women attended. Mr. Lee was the chairman of this memorable meeting held in Squire's Hall, Stoney Creek, Ontario. Mrs. Hoodless" son said of this occasion " It was my privilege as a boy, to hitch up her favourite horse "Scotty" and drive her down to Stoney Creek in that stormy night of February 19, 1897. I can still remember that meeting in the old hall, up a rickety flight of outside stairs, and my sliding into a seat at the back and wondering what it was all about." Previous to that evening she had attacked one of the Professors of Bacteriology (who had given an address at the Experimental Union meeting at Guelph), asking him why they failed to do anything for the women and children, while great efforts were being made to disseminate information on the care and breeding of live stock. The address Mrs. Hoodless gave that night was practical as well as inspirational. She pointed out that if men needed an organization and it enabled them to grow better crops of hay, grain and fruit, and produce better livestock, then an Institute for the women would be equally helpful in their work. Indeed, she declared, it was much more important since women's work -- homecraft and motherhood -- was much more important then that of the men, as it concerned the home and care of the loved ones who dwelt therein.
The women decided to organise a group affiliated with the Farmer's Institute. Thus, February 19, 1897 saw the organization of the Stoney Creek Women's Institute - the first Women's Institute in the world. Through this new organisation, the members helped to improve the home from the physical, intellectual and cultural standpoints. The real object was to raise the standard of Homemaking. Mrs. Hoodless was made Honorary President of this Institute and attended its meetings entering into discussions and giving the members timely advice. At her suggestion, the motto "For Home and Country" was adopted in Ontario and is used today by thousands of Women's Institutes in many countries.
From this beginning in Stoney Creek, the Institute idea spread rapidly from coast to coast in Canada and was formed into a National organization, the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada in 1919."
Written by Ruth Fenner, BCWI Provincial Historian
