History of Family and Consumer Sciences

Benjamin Thompson

Mar 26, 1753

Benjamin Thompson was a scientist, and an inventor who was the first to label nutrition as science. One of his famous inventions was the first range with temperature controls. In addition, he found ways to improve living and working conditions.

Catherine Beecher

1800

Catherine was a teacher and writer who campaigned for women to have a higher education. Her vision was for women to access education and advocate for their roles as teachers and mothers. She wrote "A Treatise on Domestic Economy" in 1841 which was the first Family and Consumer Science textbook recognized by the education department.

Wilbur Atwater

1844

Wilbur was known for inventing the bomb calorimeter alongside with the help of E.B. Rose. The bomb helped prove the law of conservation of energy in humans, and made it possible to figure out the amount of calories in food. Also, in 1869 he received a PHD from the the University of Yale.

Booker T. Washington

1856

Booker T. Washington was best known for his significance in vocational study. His belief was that the way to equality was through vocational education and economic success. The Booker T. Vocational School was the first vocational school for the black population of St. Louis from its inception as a part of the St. Louis Public Schools policy of segregation.

Land Grant Universities

1862

Land Grant Universities was an American institution of higher learning established under the Morrill Act. Under the provisions of the act, each state was granted 30,000 acres of federal land for each member of Congress representing that state. The lands were sold and the resulting funds were used to finance the establishment of one or more schools to teach “agriculture and the mechanic arts.”

Morrill Act

1862

Provided grants of land to states to finance the establishments of colleges which means each state got 30,000 acres for each of its congressional seat. This act allowed new western states to establish colleges for their citizens specialized in agriculture and mechanic arts. There was a second Morrill Act introduced in the year of 1890.

Land Grant Universities in Arkansas

1871

The significance of these institutions were to teach agriculture, military tactics, and the mechanic arts as well as classical studies so members of the working classes could obtain a practical education.
Land Grant Universities in Arkansas:
- University of Arkansas
- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

LuLu Graves

1874

LuLu attended college at the University of Chicago where she earned a degree in home economics in 1909. In 1917, Graves founded the American Dietetic Association, what is now known as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This program served as the foundation for hospital dietitians to meet and discuss the public health and food conservation needs during World War I.

Rumford Kitchen

1893

Rumford kitchen was considered of a brick range, enclosing and separating a series of fires. The intention of the exhibit was to illustrate the present state of knowledge in materials for human food. Also, they were used for making materials available for nutrition and the quantity of each necessary for a working rotation.

Headquarters for Family and Consumer Sciences

1909

This specific organization was founded by Ellen Richards one of the most influential people in consumer sciences. The goal of creating this organization was too elevate the profession by inspiring research, leadership, and service to empower individuals, families and communities.

Smith Lever Act

1914

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 was a federal law that provided vocational education in the areas of agriculture and home economics for individuals not attending college. Also, the Smith-Lever Act established a national Cooperative Extension Service that extended outreach programs through land-grant universities to educate rural Americans about advances in agricultural practices and technology.

Smith Hughes Act

1917

Provided federal aid to the states for the purpose of promoting pre collegiate vocational education in home economics. In addition, it allowed students to get hands on educational materials focused on preparing them for vocations. FFA was then able to be formed which consist of activities, competitions, and coursework that grow young people to be confident contributors to society.

Vocational Educational Act

1963

The vocational education movement began in the early twentieth century which created support for work study programs and research. This act was passed to help replace the Smith Hughes Act. Also, the vocational act expanded the scope of agricultural education to include all areas of agriculture, not just farming.

Vocational Amendment

1968

The purpose of this amendment was to extend the work of the vocational act in 1963 but more emphasis was put on the people. The funding for vocational education increased even more.

Vocational Amendment

1976

The Vocational Amendment of 1976 authorized more money to make it even broader. Purpose of the act was to extend, improve and maintain programs, overcome come discrimination/bias, and develop new programs; attention to improving math, reading, sciences, etc.

Carl Perkins Act

1984

The Carl Perkins Act was the main federal law supporting the development of career and technical skills among students in secondary and postsecondary education. As of 2006 it was referred to as the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. This reauthorization is projected to decrease state and local requirements, increase flexibility, support education and training for careers in in-demand jobs, and build partnerships while addressing local needs.