Call Number: Mss 23

Title: Consumers' Association of Canada (Manitoba Branch) fonds.

Dates: 1947-1979.

Extent: 2.5 m of textual records.

Biographical sketch: The Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC), the only nationally organized consumers association in Canada, is a direct outgrowth of the Women's Section of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. This organization was formed during the Second World War to assist in the monitoring of price ceilings, rationing, and in assisting Canadians to achieve maximum use and value from scarce consumer goods. Women from across Canada turned their post-war time experience to a practical purpose - the establishment of a peacetime organization, which provided women with opportunities to continue serving their country. The effectiveness of this massive corps of volunteers led to the permanent establishment of a consumer organization. In September 1947, sixteen major women's organizations met in Ottawa and organized the Canadian Association of Consumers. Within its first year of operation, branches were formed in every province and later in Newfoundland. In Manitoba, Mrs. R.W. Queen-Hughes, the wife of the Lieutenant Governor, called together the provincial representatives of the founding groups and gave them the responsibility of setting up CAC in the province. Mrs. C.K. Newcombe was the first interim chairperson of the Winnipeg Branch until its official establishment in April 1948.

Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by Isabel Auld for the Consumers' Association of Canada (Manitoba Branch), 1982.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of working files of the Manitoba Branch, the Winnipeg Branch, and the Fort Garry Branch of the Consumers' Association. The highlights of the collection include executive minutes from 1947-79, correspondence, membership lists, annual reports, financial records and annual meetings. Besides company files, many special investigations of consumer concerns are documented, including studies of food prices, fishing, drug costs, loan charges, consumer credit and a wide range of other matters. The fonds also contains material on the national association, its concerns and activities.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.

Accruals: Further accruals to this fonds may be expected.

Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 23.