Intro to Home Economics

A Study in Renaming

While Home Economics only resided in Waldo Hall for a short time, its history at Oregon State University is much longer.  In fact, OSU's program was the first institution to offer Home Economics west of the Rocky Mountains, and the fourth land-grant college to continuously maintain the field.  In 1888, the Board of Regents approved a chair in "Household Economy and Hygiene," open to ladies only, at OAC.  They set aside $400 for maintenance and equipment.  It was not until 1889 that Margaret Comstock Snell, a trained medical doctor, established the department.[1]  

Snell administered this department from 1889 to 1908, and for the first six years, she was the only instructor.  In 1895, Mrs. Mary Avery was added to the faculty, as a sewing instructor.[2]  Female students could earn a three-year Bachelor of Household Eocnomy degree, and a four-year Bachelor of Letters degree.  Each degree included a diverse selection of classes, including mathematics, botany, and zoology (see "Classes" page for early course of study for these degrees).[3]  The first ladies to earn degrees in Household Economy and Hygiene were Lulu Chandler, Nellie Davidson, Helen May Hogue, Rose Horton, Marie Lois Stewart, and Minnie Waggoner.[4]

In 1896, the name was changed to the "Department of Household Science."  Students could earn a four-year Bachelor of Household Science degree, or a Maaster of Household Science.  Carrie A. Lyford, an OAC graduate, was added to the staff in 1897, making it a staff of three.  In 1908, Household Science split into two departments: "Domestic Science" and "Domestic Art."  Juliet Greer from the Pratt Institute became dean, and served from 1908-1911 when she got married.  Greer brought with her four instructors from the Pratt institute, who all left when she did.  The first Master of Science degree awarded to a Domestic Science student went to Bertha Davis for her thesis "Bacterial Problems in the Home."[5]  

Ava Milam joined OAC as head of Domestic Science in 1911.  The Domestic Science laboratories were housed in the basement of Waldo Hall and Domestic Art (headed by Helen Bryce Brooks) was housed in the Agronomy building.  Mrs. Henrietta Calvin served as dean from 1912-1915.  At this time there were nine instructors on staff.  In 1914, the first wing of the Home Economics Building (now Milam Hall) was completed, and the department became the "School of Home Economics."  Also in 1914, the first Master of Science dgree based on experimental work in Home Economics was awarded to Harriet B. Gardner, based on her thesis "Comparative Cooking Qualities of Some of the Common Varieties of Apples Grown in Oregon."[6]

When Mrs. Calvin left, the administration of Home Economics was composed of a committee of deans: Marty Eliza Fawcett (dean of women), Ava B. Milam (head of Domestic Science), and Helen B. Brooks (head of Domestic Art).  This committee led from 1915 to 1917, when Ava Milam became dean.  By this time, more than 500 bachelor degrees had been awarded.  Courses in 1916 were grouped as follows: "Domestic Science, Domestic Art, Home Administration, Institutional Management, Education, and Applied Design."  In 1918, "Domestic Science" and "Domestic Art" were renamed "Household Science" and "Household Art."[7]  

The first "Practice House" was established at Withycombe House in 1916, and was supervised by A. Grace Johnson.  It was eventually torn down in 1966 to make room for the building of Rogers Hall (the Mechanical Engineering Building).  The first practice baby was brought to Withycombe to teach infant care in 1919.[8]  Her real name was Margaret Todd, but everyone called her Patsy.[9]  

By 1923, more than 1000 bachelor degrees had been awarded.  "Practice Housekeeping" was retitled "Home Management House" in 1925.  Also in 1925, Maud Wilson began the first full-time research in Home Economics.  She was funded by the Purnell Act of 1925, and studied housing.  From 1925 to 1949, Wilson srved as the chairman of Home Economics Research, where she pioneered research on housing.[10]

There was another renaming in 1926, when the "Department of Household Science" became the "Department of Foods and Nutrition," "Household Arts" was renamed the "Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Related Arts," and "Institutional Management" was renamed "Institution Economics."  Institution Economics was headed by Melissa Hunter 1926-1944.  Also in 1926, the first nursery school was formed as a laboratory for students in Covell House.  Half of the house was used as the nursery school and half as a home management house.[11]  

By 1931, more than twenty-five master's degrees had been awarded.  This doubled in 1937, and again in 1941.  The Bankhead-Jones Act of 1935 funded research by Margaret L. Fincke's on human nutrition.  Fincke served as head of Foods and Nutrition Department from 1944-1968.  The first "Family Relationships" course was offered in 1936.[12]  The School celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1939, and published their history in the book, "50 Years of Home Economics at Oregon State College."  The first Ph.D. degree in Household Administration was awarded to Suen-I Wu Chang in 1946, with a focus on child development.  The first Ph.D. with a major in Foods and Nutrition was awarded in 1949.  In 1952, "Household Administration" was renamed the "Department of Family Life and Household Administration."  It was again renamed in 1964: "Family Life and Home Management."[14]

In the mid-1950s, educational television was being established in Oregon, and the Home Economics staff actively participated.[15]  On an international scale, by 1957 Home Economics staff members had "served in China, Japan, Korea, The Philippine Republic, Thailand, Syria and Iraq."  Perhaps surprising to some, by 1957 there were 118 men enrolled in Home Economics courses.  Ava Milam Clark said, "Perhaps Margaret Snell in her early dreams for service in her chosen field did or did not envisage that after a time some of these courses would be enrolling men as well as women students -- men who sense the significant part, the health and well-being of the individual, family relations and homemaking play in social welfare as well as the courses in this field which can contribute directly to their professional work."[16]

Dean Emeritus Mrs. Ava Milam Clark said, "By their lives and accomplishments the alumnae bear testimony to the significance and the greatness of a great woman pioneer, a concept expanded, developed and implemented through the faith, devotion, courage and labor of the many able and outstanding staff members of this school who through the years have given it reality and a significant and recognized preeminence."[17] While the school of Home Economics does not exist in the same way it once did (for example, the School of Design and Human Environment is now part of the College of Business), the importance of Clark's statement cannot be underestimated.  Home Economics, with all its different names over the years, has been important to women, to families, to industries, to Oregonians, and to the world.

[1] RG141, College of Home Economics and Education Records, 1913-2000. "CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY."

[2] 50 Years of Home Economics at Oregon State College (1940), page 7.

[3] 1891-1892 Annual Catalogue and Calendar, page 18-19.

[4] 50 Years of Home Economics at Oregon State College (1940), page 2.

[5] RG141, College of Home Economics and Education Records, 1913-2000. "CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY."

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] RG141, College of Home Economics and Education Records, 1913-2000."  "'Patsy' Practice Baby" newspaper clipping from October 11, 1919.

[10] RG141, College of Home Economics and Education Records, 1913-2000. "CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY."

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] 50 Years of Home Economics at Oregon State College (1940)

[14] RG141, College of Home Economics and Education Records, 1913-2000. "CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY."

[15] Ibid.

[16] RG141, College of Home Economics and Education Records, 1913-2000. "HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS OF OREGON STATE COLLEGE by MRS. AVA MILAM CLARK" for the Centennial June 1957.

[17] Ibid.