-
Ellen H. Richards (1842-1911)
Founded AAFCS, first female graduate and professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An activist for consumer education, nutrition, child protection, and the application of scientific and management principles to the family. In 1909, she and a small group of women and men met in Lake Placid, NY, and created what became known as the American Home Economics Association. In 1994, the organization changed its name to the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences. -
Morrill Act of 1862
An act that provided grants of land to states to finance the establishment of colleges specializing in "agriculture and mechanical arts." Named for its sponsor, Vermont Congressman Justin Smith Morrill, it granted each state 30,000 acres for each of its congressional seats. -
Smith Lever Act 1914
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 of 1917
formally National Vocational Education Act, US legislation, adopted in 1917, that provided federal aid to the states for the purpose of promoting precollegiate vocational education in agricultural and industrial trades and in home economics -
Betty Lamp
The Betty Lamp was chosen for the logo of the American Home Economics Association as the result of a contest in 1926. -
Vocational Act of 1963
provided grants to states to maintain, improve, and develop vocational-technical educational programs. The funds were earmarked for occupations in demand -
Vocational Act of 1976
Required states receiving federal funding for vocational education to develop and carry out activities and programs to eliminate gender bias, stereotyping, and discrimination in vocational education. -
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
The Association changed its name in 1995. During the business meeting of the 1995 annual session in Dallas, Texas the voting delegates approved a change to the By-Laws to change the name. The National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science (NEAFCS) name was adopted and Donna Donald was the first president under the new name and structure.