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.Tweedsmuir Histo By MRS. P. CAMERON DAYTON--To actually see and examine the Tweedsmuir History Book which won sec- ond prize in the Dominion competition in 1951. and first prize in the Provincial in 1953, was the good fortune of about 20 representatives or the var- ious branches of East Algome Women's Institutes. ' Sowerby Community Hall was the setting for a "Tweeds- muir History Workshop" cap- any conducted by Mrs. Rob- ert C. Walker, RR. No. 1, St. George, who is Provincial Cur- ator of these history books. The meeting got underway at 10 21.11:. Wednesday, May l3, and lasted until 3.30 pm. With a break for a "pot luck" lunch at the noon hour. Mrs. Walker, who is exceed- ingly interested in her sub- ject, is not long in creating en- thusiasm among- her listeners. The result was that before the day was over every person pre- sent, with newly awakened in- terest, was determined to help make their own Village His- tory something special. On the first page of every history is a picture of Lord and Lady Tweedsmuit and a "Foreword" written by Lady Tweedsmuir in which she stated she was proud to have the Women's Institute of On- tario name their village his- tories "The Tweedsmuir Vil- lage Histories." These his-- tories were started in 1945 and since that time competi- tions at different levels, have been held. The data, secured by the Women's Institutes in compil- ing their histories, is being re- cognized by the various schools, libraries and other groups interested in their com< munity history. The aim is to have each Institute compile an authentic history in a distinc- tive way, going a little beyond the boundaries of the com- munity until a history or the whole province is written. 0! course each Institute will write up only its own com- munity in detail. This is an almost over- whelming task but with each Historical Research Convener having at least two on her committee, and with the co- operation of the whole com- munity, each branch is en- deavoring to compile a book, well-illustrated with pictures of all types (even to tin~type) of pioneer life, buildings of the past and present,- town- ship maps, both ancient and up to date, and many inter- esting things about the past and present. Mrs. Walker used the Prize Winning History Book (which incidentally was compiled by her own branch and which had data on events of their community dating back to 1828) to illustrate how a his- tory may be compiled. This particular book had a beauti- ful cover of hand-tooled leath- er. The speaker stressed or- iginality in covers and told us about some unusual and clever ones she had seen in her trav- els over Ontario. The New Canadians with great artistic talent should be encouraged to help in this en- deavor, she stressed. Such materials as metals, wood and felt may be used as covers. Valuable information on how to properly arrange the history into various sections and how to index same was given. Histories must have accurate information and therefore dif- ferent groups and organiza- tions are asked to provide in- formation so that churches, schools, libraries, township ot- fices and various societies will all. have their places in the community story. Mrs. Walker said, that in her opinion, young people 0! today should be gaining all the information they can about the past from the older people in their communities while they are still with us. stories are vital and much more real than those which These ' ries on View are portrayed on television. (At. this point we were won- dering why more of the local pioneers are not featured on television and radio). "So many changes are being made these days," the speaker continued, "that many things which were quite common- place even 25 years ago, are becoming lost arts." _Other interesting topics con- tained in the Tweedsmuir his- tories (and here the pictures are especially important) are items about: those taking part in the Boer and the two Great Wars; Century Farms (or Pioneer Farms); Family Trees; Industries, old and new (in- cluding blacksmith shops, now fast disappearing). Each branch was urged to get everyone in the commun- ity interested in hunting up old documents (of which photostatic copies can be made) samples of old "Funeral Cards" which can be shown with those of the modern day, "Before and After" pictures of every phase of community life, and of course old pictures of every description -- especially old "group pictures" of school- days. In this way the Tweeds- muir History becomes import- ant to everyone who lives in or comes back to visit in the community. Everyone who contributes items or pictures is credited for doing so (in the book). Books of the various Insti- tutes represented were re- viewed by the speaker who commended the women on their efforts thus far and told them where improvements could be made. She expressed the wish that each branch would benefit from the "Work- shop" and that all would find pleasure in compiling their books. Mrs. Hartwick of Wal- rford on behalf of those pre- sent, thanked Mrs. Walker for her help and inspiration in bringing such a wealth of ideas and information. "Hp.