A History in Family and Consumer Sciences

  • Count Rumford creates the first temperature control range

    Count Rumford creates the first temperature control range
    Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) created the first range with temperature controls. Also the first to label nutrition as a science
  • Catherine Beecher coined the term "domestic science"

    Catherine Beecher coined the term "domestic science"
    Catherine Beecher, who wrote multiple text books on FCS history wrote, "A Treatise on Domestic Economy" in which she coins the term "domestic sciences" to explain Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)
  • First Morrill Act

    First Morrill Act
    First Morrill Act passed which provided land grants to establish colleges
  • Kansas State established as the first land-grant university

    Kansas State established as the first land-grant university
    K-state became the first land grant university under the Cooperative Extension Services
  • University of Arkansas at Fayetteville becomes Arkansas' first land grant university

    University of Arkansas at Fayetteville becomes Arkansas' first land grant university
    Originally named Arkansas Industrial University before changing to the present name in 1899, the university became Arkansas' first land grant university
  • Ellen Swallow Richards Graduates MIT

    Ellen Swallow Richards Graduates MIT
    Ellen Swallow Richards was the first woman to graduate MIT with a Bachelors of Science
  • W.O. Atwater reports to the Department of Agriculture

    W.O. Atwater reports to the Department of Agriculture
    W.O. Atwater, also known as the father of nutrition who practiced chemistry as a professor at Wesleyan between 1873 to 1907, wrote a report to the department of Agriculture asking for funding for agriculture experiment stations.
  • Hatch Act

    Hatch Act
    Hatch Act passed which provided $15,000 a year for state establish agriculture education and included research on multiple areas relating to FCS
  • 2nd Morrill Act passed

    2nd Morrill Act passed
    Morrill act was expanded to provided land grants to African Americans and forbade racial discrimination for provisions
  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff becomes Arkansas' second land grant university

    University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff becomes Arkansas' second land grant university
    Originally established in 1873 as a black college named Branch Normal College, the second Morrill Act made expansions for this school possible to include FCS education.
  • Rumford Kitchen

    Rumford Kitchen
    Ellen Swallow Richards opens the Rumford Kitchen (named after Benjamin Thomas) at the Chicago World's Fair which promoted sanitation and nutritive and cost value of foods
  • Ellen Swallow Richards begins School Lunch Program

    Ellen Swallow Richards begins School Lunch Program
    Her goal was to improve science of food and nutrition and show its impact on the body. Aimed to give every child the same lunch opportunities
  • First Lake Placid Conference

    First Lake Placid Conference
    At this historical conference that was held yearly between 1899 to 1909, 11 leaders in FCS history, including Ellen Swallow Richards, met to set the framework for FCS as a science. It was also here that nutrition was first discussed as a domestic science
  • Education Beyond 8th grade

    Education Beyond 8th grade
    States began to back education beyond the 8th grade which began secondary education programs including vocational training.
  • W.O. Atwater Dies

    W.O. Atwater Dies
    W.O. Atwater the father of nutrition passes away
  • American Home Economics Association (AHEA) emerged

    American Home Economics Association (AHEA) emerged
    The AHEA organization emerged as a result of the Lake Placid Conference
  • CF Langworthy begins the Journal of Home Economics

    CF Langworthy begins the Journal of Home Economics
    CF Langworthy begins the first journal in the field of economics entitled the Journal of Home Economics
  • Smith-Lever Act

    Smith-Lever Act
    It expanded Cooperative Extension Services to include Family and Consumer Sciences
  • Smith-Hughes Act

    Smith-Hughes Act
    Formerly known as the National Vocational Education Act, it established Family and Consumer Sciences as CTE vocational education
  • Lulu graves becomes the first president of the American Dietetics Association

    Lulu graves becomes the first president of the American Dietetics Association
    The association was founded in 1917 and the first president was Lulu Graves, who studied nutrition during WWI
  • Land Grant Universities

    Land Grant Universities
    Home Economics sections are added to land grant universities
  • Betty Lamp adopted as the symbol for American Home Economics Association

    Betty Lamp adopted as the symbol for American Home Economics Association
    The Betty Lamp became the symbol for the AHEA, and continues as the symbol for the AAFCS today
  • Clara Belle Drisdale Williams graduates New Mexico State Univ.

    Clara Belle Drisdale Williams graduates New Mexico State Univ.
    She was the first African American woman to graduate the college of agriculture and mechanic arts.
  • Carl D. Perkins Act/ Vocational Education Act

    Carl D. Perkins Act/ Vocational Education Act
    provided federal funds for vocational training (CTE) schools. Renamed the Carl Perkins Act in 1984
  • Vocational Education Act of 1963

    Vocational Education Act of 1963
    authorizes funds for the establishment of vocational education activities at the Federal, State and local educational levels. It essentially replaced the Smith-Hughes Act
  • Vocational Amendments of 1968

    Vocational Amendments of 1968
    Mandated vocational programs for the disabled and handicapped. Provided consumer homemaking by contract
  • Vocational Amendment of 1973

    Vocational Amendment of 1973
    Focused aid to those with any type of disability to be included in vocational training
  • Food Guide Pyramid introduced

    Food Guide Pyramid introduced
    First American Food Guide Pyramid was established as a visual for global nutrition recommendations by the USDA
  • American Home Economics Association becomes American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences

    American Home Economics Association becomes American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
    The AHEA becomes AAFCS to expand and update what home economic sciences include
  • UCA changes name of home economics to FCS

    UCA changes name of home economics to FCS
    University of Central Arkansas changes the name of home economics classes to FCS classes
  • Food Guide Pyramid changes to MyPyramid

    Food Guide Pyramid changes to MyPyramid
    USDA changes the food guide pyramid to MyPyramid to include a more balanced diet
  • Betty Lamp Updated

    Betty Lamp Updated
    The AAFCS Betty Lamp symbol was updated
  • MyPyramid changes to MyPlate

    MyPyramid changes to MyPlate
    the USDA changes MyPyramid visual to MyPlate visual to promote better nutrition from an initiative by First Lady Michelle Obama