SWI heritage project
Our goal
Preserving the past to inspire the future
The SWI’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming the largest women’s movement in Scotland is significant for our nation, so we are preserving our collections and archive to allow them to shine a light on our place in Scottish history.
In 2024, the SWI received vital funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the SWI Heritage Project. This is allowing us to catalogue, digitise, and preserve items in our care.
Founded by Catherine Blair in the year before women won the right to vote, the SWI quickly grew to become the largest women’s movement in Scotland. Catherine (pictured with farm girl Betty White) had a vision for empowering rural women who were living on isolated farms, offering them a platform for friendship and crafting as a way to make money.
The SWI collections feature many items revealing the changing role of women across the years.
Now, with support from members, academics, historians and a host of volunteers, women’s stories are finally emerging and challenging preconceptions of women’s roles in the past 120 years.
Do you have items in your home or local Institute that you would like to preserve? Download a copy of our archival guidance below.
Project achievements so far…
Members take part
The SWI Heritage Group meets regularly online in a monthly Zoom session to monitor the progress of the SWI Heritage Project and ensure its success.
Volunteers Digitise Materials
Volunteers around Scotland are digitising SWI magazines dating back to the 1920s and cataloguing their contents.
Recordings Gathered by Volunteers
To preserve members’ memories, volunteers are conducting a major oral history project. Trainers have taught them interviewing techniques and provided equipment so they can interview SWI members across the country.
Hosting Workshops
Rural groups have participated in intergenerational skills-sharing events held in Edinburgh and Glasgow.”
Preserving Items
The SWI showcased many beautifully handcrafted items and elements of the important Needlework Development Scheme, which people had thought were lost. Glasgow School of Art and the V&A London now share this vast collection. Members skilled in crafting techniques, and leading academics in the textile world, are assisting with cataloguing items.
Members Participate in Podcasts
The team has produced the SWI History Makers podcasts, a series of 10 engaging conversations with SWI members and supporters hosted by Jennifer Reoch.
The SWI Launches a New Website
This brand-new website, designed by Creatomatic in Lockerbie, was developed with the help of SWI members throughout summer 2025.
Proud to work with
