Erland Lee
Encyclopedia
Erland Lee 1864 – 1926 was a notable Canadian farmer, teacher, and government employee from Stoney Creek, Ontario
who is most well known for his role in the founding of the Women’s Institutes, an international organization originally formed to promote the education of isolated rural women.
Born on May 3, 1864, Erland was a prominent member of the Lee family, who came to the Niagara Peninsula
in Canada
(then British North America
) as United Empire Loyalists
in 1792, after the American Revolutionary War
. They settled on top of the Niagara Escarpment
, and cultivated a prosperous farm. The Lee Homestead, also known as “Edgemont,” is currently the site of the Erland Lee Museum.
Erland Lee is best recognized as the co-founder of the first Women's Institute in the world, along with Janet (Chisholm) Lee
, his wife, and Adelaide Hoodless
, an advocate of domestic science and women’s education.
In February of 1897, after hearing her give a lecture at the Ontario Agricultural College
in Guelph
- Erland invited Hoodless to deliver a speech at the annual “Ladies Night” held by the Farmer’s Institute of Stoney Creek
of which he was an influential member. Hoodless suggested during this speech that education in domestic science might best be achieved through an organization for women similar to the existing Farmer’s Institutes for men. Erland Lee then suggested that women interested in discussing the formation of such a group might meet again the following week.
Erland and his wife Janet
spent that week inviting and encouraging the women of Stoney Creek
to attend this second meeting. On February 19, 1897, 101 rural Canadian homemakers agreed to create a Women’s Institute, which would become the largest international rural women’s movement ever established. Erland Lee was the only man in attendance, and acted as chairman of the first meeting.
The original Women's Institute constitution was written on February 25, 1897, on the Lee’s dining room table. Erland Lee’s political and financial support of the women’s group was crucial to its expansion and success, and may be the only reason why the organization was recognized by the Canadian government during a time when women were not considered citizens.
Erland Lee was also a member of the Saltfleet Masonic Lodge
, Treasurer-Clerk of Saltfleet Township, and a teacher educated at the Hamilton Normal School. He jointly owned and operated the Vinemount Creamery with his friend and local member of provincial parliament, Ernest D’Israeli (E.D.) Smith, and maintained a mixed farm atop the Niagara escarpment
.
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
who is most well known for his role in the founding of the Women’s Institutes, an international organization originally formed to promote the education of isolated rural women.
Born on May 3, 1864, Erland was a prominent member of the Lee family, who came to the Niagara Peninsula
Niagara Peninsula
The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. It stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario in the west. The population of the peninsula is roughly 1,000,000 people...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(then British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
) as United Empire Loyalists
United Empire Loyalists
The name United Empire Loyalists is an honorific given after the fact to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War and prior to the Treaty of Paris...
in 1792, after the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. They settled on top of the Niagara Escarpment
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
, and cultivated a prosperous farm. The Lee Homestead, also known as “Edgemont,” is currently the site of the Erland Lee Museum.
Erland Lee is best recognized as the co-founder of the first Women's Institute in the world, along with Janet (Chisholm) Lee
Janet (Chisholm) Lee
Janet Robertson Lee was an important figure in the Niagara Region of Canada, best known for her role in the formation of the Women's Institutes in 1897, and for pioneering the Kindergarten program in Hamilton, Ontario....
, his wife, and Adelaide Hoodless
Adelaide Hoodless
Adelaide Hoodless née Hunter was a Canadian educational reformer who founded the international women’s organization known as the Women's Institute....
, an advocate of domestic science and women’s education.
In February of 1897, after hearing her give a lecture at the Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
in Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it...
- Erland invited Hoodless to deliver a speech at the annual “Ladies Night” held by the Farmer’s Institute of Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
of which he was an influential member. Hoodless suggested during this speech that education in domestic science might best be achieved through an organization for women similar to the existing Farmer’s Institutes for men. Erland Lee then suggested that women interested in discussing the formation of such a group might meet again the following week.
Erland and his wife Janet
Janet (Chisholm) Lee
Janet Robertson Lee was an important figure in the Niagara Region of Canada, best known for her role in the formation of the Women's Institutes in 1897, and for pioneering the Kindergarten program in Hamilton, Ontario....
spent that week inviting and encouraging the women of Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek, Ontario
Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:...
to attend this second meeting. On February 19, 1897, 101 rural Canadian homemakers agreed to create a Women’s Institute, which would become the largest international rural women’s movement ever established. Erland Lee was the only man in attendance, and acted as chairman of the first meeting.
The original Women's Institute constitution was written on February 25, 1897, on the Lee’s dining room table. Erland Lee’s political and financial support of the women’s group was crucial to its expansion and success, and may be the only reason why the organization was recognized by the Canadian government during a time when women were not considered citizens.
Erland Lee was also a member of the Saltfleet Masonic Lodge
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, Treasurer-Clerk of Saltfleet Township, and a teacher educated at the Hamilton Normal School. He jointly owned and operated the Vinemount Creamery with his friend and local member of provincial parliament, Ernest D’Israeli (E.D.) Smith, and maintained a mixed farm atop the Niagara escarpment
Niagara Escarpment
The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment, or cuesta, in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State, through Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois...
.
External links
- Erland Lee Museum Website business site
- Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Website website of organization
- Associated Country Women of the World Website website of organization