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Canadian Adelaide Hoodléss founded Women's Institute In 1857 Adelaide Hunter was born in Brant county. Her father died before she was born, leaving her mother with 13 children and the farm to manage. The hardships of rural life formed the, foundation of Adelaide's strong character. Wed to John Hoodless in 1881, she moved to a luxurious home in Hamilton, but she was not to escape suffering. When her fourth child John died at the age of 18 months, as a result of drinking contaminated milk, Adelaide was stirred to a cause, to which she remained dedicated the rest of her life. In those days one child in five died, a situation which Mrs. Hoodless refused to accept. In her pursuit of ways to lessen family sorrow and hardship she headed a campaign for clean milk, crusaded for domestic science education in schools and began concerning herself with the needs of farm women. The Birth of the WI Mrs. Hoodless was invited to speak at a meeting of the Saltfleet Twp. Farmers' Insti-tute, at which she put forth the idea that the women, like their men, should organize with a view to bettering their lot. The farm wives in attendance responded enthusiastically and a second meeting was arranged. On Feb. 19, 1897, 101 women gathered in Squire's Hall, Stoney Creek, and a Women's Institute was i formed. It has become known as the "Mother Institute" J Mrs. Hoodless, as honorary president, coined the motto "For Home and Country." The Institute spread rapidly. In 1919 the national organization known as "Federated Women's Institute of Canada" or FW1C was formed. Total membership now is 54,080 with 2,680 branches of which 1,268 branches and 29,861 members are in Ontario. Adelaide Hoodless' influence radiated. The Institute strengthened as it met vast needs. Its power to affect social change enriched the lives of families throughout the world as it advanced into the U.S., then across continents to the British Isles, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Asia and African nations. In 1933 an international association was formed -- The Associated Country Women of the World -- which now includes Institutes in 108 countries. Today, to meet the changing demands, the WI movement organizes classes in such fields as handicrafts, arts, cooking and gardening. Some examples of its concerns today are citizenship, conservation, heritage, consumerism, women and the law, family and community life and Canadian industry. Various branches are meticulously compiling Tweedsmuir Histories, written and pictorial accounts of the history of the locality. The Institute also; sponsors 4-H homemaking clubs for girls 12-26 years of age and embraces the Junior Institutes for young women ages 16-29. Social activities also play a large part in our programs. Mrs. Adelaide HOodless, founder of the