Jo Ozga SWI article March 2026 

I first came across the Scottish Women’s Institute archive a couple of years ago when I was a student at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. My dissertation was on the National Medicinal Plant Scheme of World War Two and the essential the role of Women’s Institutes in its delivery, which helped to ensure that Britain was kept supplied with essential medicines during the war. 

Visiting the archives at the Ballast Trust in Johnstone was an inspiration as I began to understand the depth and richness of women’s history, and particularly rural women’s social history that the archive contains. When the heritage project started, I was keen to volunteer! 

My involvement as a volunteer has been to research background information for the archives catalogue.  One of my first tasks was to research brief biographies of past Chairmen (the name changed to President in 2019). Up until 1993 Chairmen were referred to by their title, initial and surname and in some cases, as was customary at that time, the initials were those of their husband. Providing each past Chairman with their own individual identity felt like an important step in this process and in recognising the important role that they each played in the organisation. For example, Mrs T.P. D. Murray, M.B.E, was Chairman of the SWRI between 1963 -1969, her own name was Sybil Murray. As well as this role she was also chairman of several committees in Angus, including the Education Committee, Union of Youth Clubs, and Angus General Hospitals Board. She had an honorary LLD from Dundee University, was a Fellow of the Educational Institute for Scotland and had a degree from the Open University which she gained in her 80s. She was awarded an M.B.E. for her contribution to public service.  From my research the SWI archives contain multitudes of women like Sybil Murray whose name, life and work are unknown and unrecognised. As the archives are catalogued it will hopefully make it easier for future researchers to uncover these women’s lives and work.   

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