Fonds 1915 - University of Toronto. Women's War Service Committee fonds

The first steps to organize "a central organization as a working depot of the Faculty wives of the University" in assisting the war effort were taken immediately after the outbreak of hostilities in September, 1939 and reported on in a meeting of the executive of the Faculty Wives Association on 13 September. The first meeting of the University of Toronto Central Committee on Women's Service was held on 13 November. Several committees, including a Workroom Committee and a refugees sub-committee were immediately established. The setting up of the Committee for British Overseas Children, the purpose of which was to provide homes for evacuated children of faculty members from British universities, had to wait until approval from Ottawa in the summer of 1940. By the time the WWSC disbanded in May, 1946, 384,739 articles of clothing, etc. had been distributed. and about 150 children had been assisted by the BOC. Of the 14 who remained in Canada, 8 were students at the University of Toronto. These children necessitated the continuance of the BOC in a reduced format until 1949.