Founded in 1906 as a merger of the McGill Women’s Club (1905) and the McGill Women’s Union (circa 1900) the Women’s Associates of McGill University was an organization primarily for the wives and daughters of McGill University administrators, faculty and leadership. The official mandate of the McGill Women’s Associates was to “to furnish… the interests and activities of social life of McGill University…”.
Many of the social events and activities mentioned were reflective of their times, during the war years the organization raised funds by buying war bonds as well as knitting projects and correspondence to frontline forces in the world wars. Peacetime activities included book sales, tea soirees and philanthropic endeavours such as providing scholarships. The fonds extends well past the first half of the twentieth century and up to 2007 reflecting the activities of the organization. The organization has changed its name several times (McGill Women’s Club, McGill Women’s Union, Women’s Associates of McGill University) and has remained an important part of McGill’s history.