19th February: The Women's Institute

On this date in 1897 The Women’s Institute was founded in Ontario, Canada by Mrs Adelaide Hoodless. A Mrs Watt introduced the WI to Britain during the First World War.

1. Despite its reputation as an organisation in Britain, the WI was founded in Canada. The very first members were the wives of members of the Farmer's Institute, hence the name, "Women's Institute."
2. The idea spread to the UK in 1915. The location of the first meeting was a borrowed building in the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Anglesey, Wales. Also famous for having the longest place name in the UK.
3. Membership is only open to women, although there were two males who were members of the first group in Anglesey - Colonel Richard Stapleton-Cotton and his dog Tinker. The Colonel was the husband of the first President and played an important role in the setting up of the first branch. He was, according to local historian Gerwyn James, somewhat eccentric, but passionate about anything that would help rejuvenate the rural economy. He paid membership fees for both himself and Tinker.
4. Although men cannot become members, they can serve on the committee - in 2010, Peter Bryant was appointed the new secretary of the Gloucestershire Branch of the WI after officials checked that there was no rule against a man having the job. He was not allowed to actually join. From 2007 to 2011, the editor of the WI's magazine, WI LIfe, was also a man, Neal Maidment.
5. In the beginning, the movement's purpose was to encourage women to become more involved in food production during the first world war, and it was funded by the Board of Agriculture.
6. Eventually, though, the movement became self-supporting, and in spite of its early history, today it is completely independent from any political party, religion or institution.
7. The movement's association with the hymn Jerusalem began in 1924. The activities of many branches included choirs by then, and the institute organised a training day for the conductors. Sir Walford Davies was asked to write an arrangement of the hymn especially for the choirs, and after the training day, W.H. Leslie, their music advisor, suggested that the choirs perform the new arrangement at the WI AGM. It was so well-received that it became a permanent feature, and local branches began singing it at the start of their meetings as well. However, Jerusalem has never officially been adopted as the movement's anthem.
8. If you're interested in the history of the WI, their archives are open to the public. They can be found at the Women's Library at the Library of the London School of Economics ref 5FWI.
9. Think the WI is for somewhat straight-laced, middle-aged women? Not necessarily. The youngest president of a WI branch was Georgiana Mannion, who founded a branch in Leeds when she was just 24.
10. There is an "alternative" branch in Merseyside called the Iron Maidens WI, founded in 2012 as an option for women interested in rock music, burlesque, goth culture, steampunk, retro, etc. It is not at all unusual for members of this group to have tattoos, piercings and unusual coloured hair.