The Woman’s Institute Anniversary

As most of you know, I recently released a new book, Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Sewing, Cooking, Fashion, & Fun.  My inspiration for this was The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences and its founder, Mary Brooks Picken.

The Institute was founded in 1914 for the purpose of making a practical knowledge of the domestic arts and science available to every woman or girl, wherever she may live. The courses offered by the Institute truly changed the lives of countless women and the course of history for women during this era. Many of their stories are shared in the Vintage Notions book.

February is the anniversary of the Institutes founding. I want to celebrate their forgotten heritage today more out of a love for the craft than back then when necessity was the impetus.

The excerpt below is from a 1920s letter written by Gustave Weinss  regarding the anniversary of the Institute. In the letter, you will see her heartfelt respect and adoration of the Director of Instruction and founder, Mary Brooks Picken:

It seems like only a few short months instead of years that Mrs. Picken came to Scranton from her native state Kansas. There, nurtured among people who have a reputation for doing things not for themselves alone but for the good of all, she saw the need of educating women to be industrious and independent, she recognized the importance of teaching women in and out of the home the domestic arts and sciences, and, greater yet, she had a vision of the way in which these things could be made to come to pass and thus benefit all women wherever they may chance to dwell.

Often, when I have heard of the success of persons who have had visions of great things, I have wondered how it must feel to have won. But my almost daily association with Mrs. Picken, has taught me how I should behave. I should try to cultivate the modesty she possesses and to become saturated with the spirit of service for my fellow beings which -she constantly displays by word and deed, for I know that genuine greatness consists in modesty and service. Then, as she does, I should try to instill these same qualities into my associates, for I now know that ” ‘Tis the spirit of greatness which builds institutions that deal with humanities.”

Click here to read the entire article (PDF).

I truly strive to provide the same type of education for today’s women through Indygo Junction and The Vintage Workshop.  As we reach out even further during 2011, look for some new ways we are hoping to connect with you  our valued customer. Here are just a few of the new adventures we will share together in the upcoming year:

We will introduce an Indygo Junction blog, video instructions and demos, new products on indygojunction.com, new products including handmade goods on thevintageworkshop.com, an updated look for our Web sites and more connections through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.

If you have any suggestions or ideas you’d like to share, please post us a comment! We’d love to hear from you.

Until next time¦

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