| HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Dates of Founding and/or Dissolution:
The Alberta Women's Bureau Act established the Alberta Women's Bureau in 1928 (S.A. 1928, c. 13). In 1935, the positions of director and district worker were abolished and the organization had limited activities until its cancellation in 1938.
Functional Responsibility:
The main function of the Alberta Women's Bureau was to coordinate the activities of women's organizations with the aim of improving social and educational conditions in communities throughout the province. The bureau researched and maintained statistics concerning "women's work." The duties of the bureau are set out in the enabling legislation, the Alberta Women's Bureau Act.
Predecessor and successor bodies:
The Alberta Women's Institute Branch was a predecessor to the Alberta Women's Bureau. When the Women's Institute became independent of government, the bureau assumed the function of coordinating activities for all women's groups. The Alberta Women's Bureau did not continue to administer the Women's Institute Act, 1929 (S.A. 1929, c. 6).
After the Women's Bureau was dissolved, the function of extension education, which included lecture demonstrations and correspondence courses, was transferred to Extension Services within the Department of Agriculture. In 1939, Women's Extension Work became a section within the Extension Branch. This section reflected some of the functions of the Alberta Women's Bureau, although it had no direct functional responsibility. The Women's Extension Work section had numerous name changes over the years: in 1973, it was known as Home Economics Specialists and Laboratory. In 1976, the 4-H was transferred back to Agriculture from the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife. The 4-H was combined with Home Economics to form the Home Economics and 4-H Division. This division included a Home Economics Branch. In 1985, Home Economics became part of the Rural Services Division. It was discontinued in 1996, along with the position of branch home economist.
The Alberta Women's Bureau was resurrected as the Women's Cultural and Information Bureau in 1966, the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Women's Institutes. This bureau did not reflect the previous Women's Bureau in functionality, administration, or mandate. For its first two years, the organization reported to the Minister Without Portfolio, then to the Minister of Social Services and Community Health.
Administrative Relationships:
From 1928 until 1935, the Alberta Women's Bureau was under the direction of the assistant deputy minister, who reported to the deputy minister, who in turn presented the report to the Minister of Agriculture. At this time the bureau was considered a branch of the department.
Administrative Structure:
The positions of branch director and district worker existed from 1928 until 1935; the Supervisor of Women's Institutes oversaw the limited activities of the branch until 1938.
Names of chief officers:
Directors of the Women's Bureau :
Jessie C. McMillan (1928-1930)
Marion E. Storey (Acting) (1930-1933)
J.F. Andrew (1933-1935)
Isabelle Alexander (1935)
Supervisors of Women's Institutes:
Stace Harvey Gandier (1936)
W.J. Elliot (1937-1938)
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