History of Family & Consumer Sciences

Catharine Beecher

1841

An American educator who promoted female education and advocated for their roles as mothers and homemakers. She envisioned home economics being taught in colleges. In 1841, she published "A Treatise on Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at School".

Morrill Act of 1862

1862

Justin Smith Morrill was a representative and a senator from Vermont who put in place the Morrill Act of 1862. This act provided grants of land to states to finance the establishment of colleges specializing in agriculture and the mechanic arts. A land grant university is an institution that has been designated to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts. The two land grant universities in the state of Arkansas are the University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.

New England Kitchen of Boston

1890

This was a collaboration between Ellen Swallow Richards and Mary Hinman Abel. They experimented with ways to prepare delicious, nutritious food at a lower cost.

The Rumford Kitchen

1893

This year, Ellen Swallow Richards was in charge of the kitchen at the Chicago World's Fair. Her mission was to cook nutritious foods at a lower cost.

Lake Placid Conference

1899

The first meeting of leaders in the field of home economics. They all believed that home economics courses would provide students with the opportunity to learn practical skills and how to manage their homes. At the conference, they settled on the name "home economics".

American Home Economics Association

1908

The American Home Economics Association was established as a national organization in 1908. Ellen Swallow Richards was president of the organization for two years. The organization is now recognized as the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Ellen Swallow Richards

1908

Known as the founder of the home economics movement. She was the first to apply science to the home. She also applied chemistry to nutrition. In 1908, she was elected as the first president of the American Home Economics Association.

Journal of Home Economics

1909

Was founded and funded by Ellen Swallow Richards. Began publication in 1909. It was renamed to the Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1994.

Smith Lever Act of 1914

1914

This act created a system of extension services. Its purpose was to serve as an agricultural, home economics, and nutrition resource for people in rural areas.

Smith Hughes Act

1917

Established home economics as part of vocational education. Also provided federal funds for education revolving around agriculture, trades and industry, and homemaking.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

1917

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics was founded this year. Its first purpose was to help the government conserve food and improve public health during World War I.

Lulu Grace Graves

1917

The first president of the American Dietetic Association. She was also a professor of home economics at Cornell University.

Martha Van Rensselaer

1919

Founding co-director at the College of Home Economics. She was also an educator and believed in the importance of applying knowledge to improve the quality of life in the home.

Vocational Education Act of 1963

1963

Replaced the Smith-Hughes Act. Reduced federal control, introduced work study programs, and increased funding.

Vocational Amendment of 1968

1968

Extended the 1963 amendments. Required institutions to submit administrative policies and procedures and a five-year program plan. Funds were also increased and dispersed.

Vocational Amendment of 1973

1973

Also known as the Rehabilitation Act. Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by the federal agency.

Vocational Amendment of 1976

1976

Required that states receiving federal funding for vocational education to take necessary action to eliminate gender bias, stereotyping, and discrimination.

Martha Stewart

1980

Created television shows, books, magazines, and websites about all areas in homemaking. She kept the area of homemaking relevant and interesting during her career.

Carl Perkins Act

1984

Aimed to increase the quality of career and technical education within the United States in order to help the economy.

Family and Consumer Sciences

1994

The American Home Economic Association updated its organization to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The name "Family and Consumer Sciences" was chosen to reflect the complexity of the profession.