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“It may seem unlikely, but a famous chemist, and the first woman graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was incremental in establishing the field of home economics. Ellen H. Richards was working in sanitary chemistry and felt that college women learning only skill oriented domestic duties, as part of their training to become housewives, should in fact incorporate the ever-increasing idea that science would benefit all homes. She advocated the use of domestic science to do just this. In 1899 she, along with other men and women, met in Lake Placid New York to define and name this new area of study and provide the leadership to make this happen. For 10 years the group met and in 1909 the American Home Economics Association was founded. For the next 60 years the content areas of textiles and clothing, housing and interior design, home management and consumer sciences, foods and nutrition, and child development and family relations were a part of many school and university courses. It has only been in the last 30 years that changes have happened that may be confusing to the wider community, most notable the name change to family and consumer sciences. This name change was formalized in 1993 after much controversy and discussion. The intent was to recognize the growing emphasis on departmental specialties and the fact that careers, other than homemaking, were being sought by both women and men.
The name has changed but it is my hope to help educate students and their families in this very important field of study that is just as relevant and essential as it was more than 100 years ago." – Jean Scribner
References: Rishards, M.V. (2000). The Postmodern Perspective on Home Economics
History. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences/2000.volume.92.