Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred Citation

Dept. of Home Economics Records, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Custodial History

A portion of this collection was previously part of the University Archives Publications Collection.

Processing Information

A box and folder list was created by Patricia Sanabria, SCRC Staff, in August 2009.

Historical Note

The Department of Home Economics at the College of William and Mary was organized in 1918 when the university began accepting women students. On August 24, 1918, future President of the College, Julian Alvin Carroll Chandler, wrote to President Lyon G. Tyler to express that his committee had "decided favorably on home economics for William and Mary." Chandler also expressed his hope that it would be a "real satisfactory college department."According to the 1918-1919 Course Catalog, the department was "intended primarily for the training of teachers of Home Economics," but "open to all women of the college, and to others who may desire to elect them."The Home Economics major included classes in the more "traditional" women's work, such as sewing and cooking, but it also included Math, English, and even Organic Chemistry. This department prepared women to become not only educated in the liberal arts, but also prepared them for a career.Edith Baer served as Professor of Home Economics from 1918 to 1920. The department had a Practice House for students. The department was housed in Science Hall from 1922 through 1929 when it moved to Ewell Hall (which was then known as Phi Beta Kappa Hall). The Science Hall held classes for Home Economics and Music as well as classes for shorthand and typing during 1930 and 1931.For additional information and links to further resources, see <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Home_Economics">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Home_Economics</a>. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Dept. of Home Economics">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Dept. of Home Economics</a>.

Scope and Contents

This collection includes the annual report, course list, and invitations for the Department of Home Economics at the College of William and Mary.

Index Terms

Corporate Name:

• College of William and Mary. Dept. of Home Economics

Genre/Form of Material:

• Reports

Topical Term:

• College of William and Mary--History--20th century.
• Invitations.
• Students--Women--Admission in 1918
• Women college students

Additional Information