Women's Clubs

Canadian Women's Historical Association

Women's Canadian Club

Red Cross society

HSO No. 50. Historical Society of Ottawa: [1918-1921], City of Ottawa Archives, p. 65

Origins

Connie Gunn wrote her thesis on the origins and analysis of the Women’s Canadian Historical society. In her work, she states that it was created in 27 May 1898 and announced in the Ottawa Journal (p.1). They were a women-run operation that worked on the preservation of historical artifacts in Ottawa and tracked the work of “patriotic women,” which was seen throughout many of these scrapbooks along with the preservation of news article clippings where their annual meetings are announced along with some artifacts that were donated to them for conservation and collections, which they circulated to other historical societies and museums. “The objects of the Women’s Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa (the WCHSO or the Society) were three-fold: to encourage the study of Canadian history and literature; to collect and preserve Canadian historical records and relics; and to foster Canadian loyalty and patriotism.” (p.2) These women were passionate about collecting articles and artifacts that could represent women’s fight for their rights and their contributions to society, which was largely done throughout their work in organizations.(p.4) Most of the women who were members were apart of the middle-upper class when women didn’t have as many opportunities in the public sphere. (p.8) In 1917, they were able to get their own building where they could display these artifacts, which they called the Bytowne Museum (p.2) In 1955, they opened the doors of their organization to male members and it became known as the Historical Society of Ottawa (p.2)

Scrapbook #2 1918-1921

The Women's Historical Society received many donations, such as Borden photographs, rare engravings, pamphlets, and historical articles (p.95). They had their twentieth annual meeting and election. Mrs. Lorne McDougall was written about in the paper for her valued contributions to the Women's Hostel, charity work at her church and the Belgian Relief Committee. She also received high praise for being the first woman to be offered a job in a public post. (146)

HSO No. A1. Scrapbook : [1934-1935], City of Ottawa Archives p. 14

Origins

The Canadian Women’s Club began in 1932 by women, who were seeking to make a club for British, more elite women. By the end of that year, the CWC had 340 members. Many of their members had been volunteers for the Red Cross Society, which is reflected in the focus of their activities, these women did a lot for returning soldiers. Their activities definitely reflect the 30s, through balls, banquets, and tea times for these women to get together and organize events or work with other organizations such as the Girl Guides or male clubs. This is reflected throughout many of the scrapbooks from the 1930s.

HSO No. 55. Scrapbook : [1937], City of Ottawa Archives, p. 98.

Origins of women in the Red Cross Society

Women played a crucial role in the founding of the Canadian Red Cross in 1896. This organization allowed women to participate in the war effort. In World War I, women who found themselves in Canada in collaboration with the Red Cross managed to organize many fundraising efforts for men overseas and also sent them knitted goods to stay warm. In World War II, they played an even bigger role with the Canadian Red Cross Corp where women found themselves overseas aiding soldiers and civilians through nursing, auxilarry, and food and administation administrations.

Women and the Canadian Red Cross Society in World War I and World War II comparison

As you can see, the women that volunteered for red cross in world war I were really only able to do fundraising for the soldiers overseas. While in World War II, these women found themselves overseas as well actively participating in the war effort. The Canadian Red Cross Corp had 15,000 members and many other women's groups especially religious ones also found themselves seeking women who'd want to volunteer overseas.

Documented Women's Clubs Activities

Reactions to Women's clubs

Reactions to the women's clubs and activities were not uncommon. In Scrapbook #1, there is an opinion piece that says that a wife's joining of a women's club would take away their attention from traditional roles such as being a homemaker and mother (no page number, but the article can be found in the September, Thursday 1884, 2 section which can be found in the index). In Scrapbook #3: 1934-35, there's an article titled "It's a Man's World, Still, Woman M.P. Regretfully Says" when Miss Agnes McPhail delivered a speech to the Professional Women's Club where they discuss that they have been granted the right to be recognized as people but it not being fair that they cannot have equal pay to men. Women and work are consistent themes that these women's organizations are facing. In Scrapbook #2, 1918-1921, there was an article titled "Hon G. D. Robertson addresses Women" where they address "a peculiar situation" wondering why women wanted to keep working and why there were high rates [of] female employment in Quebec and Ontario (p.31). The language used for discussing working women or business plans in the media couldn't even acknowledge their work without using language such as "business-like" when they were making real business plans and discussing their work at meetings. However, these clubs would be very positive for women, as they allowed women to form communities, be elected into positions, and contribute to Canadian society

This was also present in Connie Gunn's analysis of the Canadian Women's Historical Association with the mention of George Wrong and the Review of Historical Publications Relating to Canada (The Review) where he and other scholars heavily criticized the work of these women, judging them for their historical practices, their sources, and archival work (p.119). These men who masculinized the field of history only valued some of their efforts and limited their positions within the field. However, these scrapbooks have been preserved and offer an enormous scope of materials that depict Canadian Society.

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