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Birth of Ellen Swallow Richards
Ellen was born as an only child and grew up on a farm in Dunstable, Massachusetts. Her parents emphasized a good education despite growing up on a farm. -
Morrill Act of 1862
With an abundance of land, the US government granted land to open universities that focus on the study of agriculture, industrial technologies, and domestic economics. -
Ellen Swallow Accepted to Vassar College
Ellen was accepted to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York as a "special student", which was nod to the fact that she was a woman. She graduated in 1870. -
Ellen Swallow Attends MIT
Ellen was accepted into MIT. The school did not charge her tuition because, as the first woman to be accepted, they didn't was to be "indebted" to her if she didn't work out. -
University of Arkansas Opened
The University of Arkansas was opened. This was the first land grant university opened in Arkansas. Its main focus is still business and agricultural advancements. -
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Opened
UAPB was opened as the Branch Normal College. It is the second oldest higher education institution in Arkansas. It opened in 1873 and was designated as a Land-Grant University in 1890. -
The First Lake Placid Conference
Ellen Richards organized the first Lake Placid conference in Lake Placid, New York. This was a place where people who were also paving the way for home economics to come together and share ideas and spearhead new policies. -
American Home Economics Association Established
Ellen Richards founded the American Home Economics Association (AHEA) at the tenth Lake Placid Conference -
Smith-Lever Act of 1914
This act outlined the parameters for agricultural extention. This includes developtment of practical applications, exhibition of existing and improved practice, and use of solar energy in relation to agriculture and homeconomics. -
Smith-Hughes Act
Started the Federal Board of Vocational education. This also includes home economics as a facet of vocational education as well as financial parameters for students and teachers in the field. -
Adoption of the Betty Lamp
The Home Economics Association adopted the Betty Lamp as their official symbol. This represents enlightenment for family and consumer sciences professionals through leadership and action. -
Shift from Homemakers to Professionals
In the 1950s following the war, women were forced to join the workforce while the men were off to war. As husbands, brothers, and sons were returning from the war, women were unwilling to return to their norm and demanded to proper status after taking to the workplace. -
Vocational Education Act
Split home economics employment into two different categories; useful employment (consumer) and gainful employment (occupational). Household became more consumer based than producer based. No specific funds were allocated for home economics. -
Head Start Program
Provides health and nutrition services as well as comprehensive early childhood education. Designed to help enhance underprivileged children's emotional and physical well being as well as facilitate stable family environments. -
Vocational Amendment 1
Funds were set aside for consumer homemaking and set aside a third of those funds specifically for economically depressed areas. Emphasized the importance of both roles of homemaker and consumer. -
AHEA Annual Meeting 1973
Feminist leader Robin Morgan addressed the AHEA at the annual meeting claiming that the association was influencing women to be more consumeristic than career driven. This marks the shift to a more career centered role in home economics -
Vocational Amendment 2
Categorized funding and developed national priorities for spending. Involved state administrations and attempted to breakdown stereotypes that were involved with vocational education. -
Rise of Consumerism
The 80s not only brought big hair, but big spending. Rich became richer and the poor became poorer. With new advancement and technologies, baby boomers, who were coming into adulthood, would spend large sums of money on expensive clothes, new technology (Atari and computers), and lavish homes. -
Carl Perkins Act
Provides federal funds for vocational programs for youth and adults. Aids in providing funds for postsecondary education programs that prepare students for a job in a vocational field. -
Change In Name, Change In Goals
In the 90s, the term "home economics" was old and tired; associated with "stitching and stirring". In order to breathe new life into the discipline, the American Home Economics Association became the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
