Hickling WI Archives – the Black Suitcase.

(October 2023)

The Hickling Women’s Institute was first formed in February 1935 but it took a break in 1940 during WWII and, sadly, no records survive from these first years.

Since the WI was reformed in 1947 meticulous records have been kept – their repository until recently, a rather battered old suitcase.

In summary:

• Minute Books 1947 to 2016
• Record and Meeting books 1947 to 2016
• Programmes 1956 to 2020
• Account Books 1957-1978 and financial statements
• Recent photograph albums
• Extensive correspondence, competition results, suggestions and loose papers; including Jerusalem and contacts with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. These also include correspondence about more local concerns such as objections to the closure of the village school and concerns about the Smite flooding.
• Annual Reviews, including for national anniversary years: 50 years, 60 years, 100 years
• WI publications such as: Time to be Social (1957), Programme Making (1958), Keeping Yourselves Informed (1974), International Countrywomen (1967), Procedures at Meetings (1974).
• Hickling WI Collection of Member’s Recipes (1987)
• A copy of Home and Country, the Women’s Institutes Journal from March 1919 – vol 1 no. 1. (see gallery below)

The contents of the suitcase have now been scanned and archived and the originals returned to the WI. It is hoped that a member of the WI will take on the challenge of assembling the story of the Hickling WI from these fascinating documents; in the meantime a selection can be found in the galleries (below) and access to the collection is possible with the consent of the WI.

Many of these records are very candid and contain a treasure trove of anecdotes, detail and records – if this is a project that you would be interested in, please contact us!

Galleries:

Black Suitcase – general:

Home and Country Journal of the Women’s Institutes Vol.1 No. 1 March 1919:

Hickling WI: Minutes Book 1947:

(sample pages) First entries (including references to all the practicalities of beginning a new group, including rationing when planning refreshments and making sure there are enough copies of Jerusalem).

First Annual Report 1947:

Jerusalem:

Hickling WI: Meeting record Book 1947:

(sample pages) First entries and surprise ice cream

Cash Book 1953 (sample pages):

Suggestions book – undated (sample pages):

Programmes – including 1956 (sample pages):

School Closure – objection letter (1966):

Jubilee 1965: Jubilee Book and Hickling bench:

Competition Results 1965-6 (sample pages):

Centenary Review 2014-15 (sample pages):

It’s in the Bag (sample pages):

Hickling WI Collection of Member’s Recipes 1987 (sample pages):