Home Economics 1951-1976

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSU Archives Collection 031

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Home Economics Collection contains meeting minutes, correspondences, program reviews, annual reports, and Home Economics Club materials. All of these are important to understanding where the program came from and where it is today. Some of the most valued resources in the collection are the meeting minutes and the annual reports. Both of these give an inside look at what was happening in the department during this time. The meeting minutes discuss classes, dress code, budgets, texts used in the classes, and admission into the program. The annual reports discuss the purposes of the curriculum, students in the program, descriptions of classes, home economics club, and program goals. Between the meeting minutes and annual reports one can gain a very good understanding of the Home Economics department, but it is also important to look at the other materials to have a complete picture of the Home Economics program.

Dates

1951-1976

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply.

Biographical / Historical

Since its start in 1948 the Home Economics Department has been in four different schools. In the begging it was part of the Fine and Applied Arts Department, then moved into the School of Education in 1965, in 1978 it moved to the College of Natural Science, Mathematics, and Home Economics, and in 1994 the program moved to its current department of Allied Health and Nursing. The Home Economics program was initially intended for women to leam skills for keeping a good home. One part of the course was to live in a home that was run by the school. Today the department is known as Family and Consumer Science (FACS) and their focus includes: child development, family studies, foods and nutrition, consumerism, housing, textiles, and education. Family and Consumer Science: http://ahn.mnsu.edu/fcs/

Extent

3.00 hollinger_box (2 Hollinger boxes, 1 Half Hollinger Boxes, 1.25 cubic feet)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

The Home Economics program officially began at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1948, and continues to this day as Family Consumer Science (FCS). Since then the program has changed several different divisions/departments in the school, and has continued to educate students about the importance of Home Economics. The collection contains meeting minutes, program reviews, annual reports, and correspondences from the department.