-
School lunches begin
The first school lunch program in the US was launched in vocational schools in 1853 by The Children's Aid Society of New York. It ran off the labor and dedication of mothers who volunteered to plan, create, and serve meals to children in need. -
Morrill Act of 1862
This act made it possible for new western states to establish colleges for their citizens. It opened opportunities to thousands of farmers and working people who were previously excluded from higher education. -
Land Grant University
A United States institute of higher education that was given federal land by the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890. It started in the early 1800's by advocates of agricultural education who were lobbying the government to create colleges and universities specifically for agriculture and mechanical learning. -
Catharine Beecher
Known as the founder of modern home economics. She operated schools for women in Western territories, as well her Treatise being the first complete guide to housekeeping that was published in America. -
The Hatch Act
The Hatch Act's purpose is to conduct agriculture research programs at State Agricultural Experiment Stations in the 50 states, DC, and U.S. insular areas through funding. -
Justin Morrill
Justin Morrill is a man from Strafford, Vermont. He wanted to attend college, but his family could not afford it, so he educated himself. Once becoming a politician in 1854, he created the 1862 Land-Grant Act, which allocated the funds from the sale of federal lands to support new Land-Grant colleges and universities that taught agriculture, business, engineering, mechanics, and home economics. -
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
Formerly known as home economics, family and consumer sciences gave birth to consumer education in 1909 with the founding of the American Home Economics Association, now known as AAFCS. Fields include personal finance, nutrition, parenting and childcare, interpersonal relationships, interior design, family systems, and more. -
Ellen Swallow Richards
Ellen Swallow Richards is cited as the founder of family consumer sciences. She was a chemist and applied its concepts to the needs of the family and individuals and to improve nutrition and food science. -
Smith Lever Act of 1914
The Smith-Lever Act established a national Cooperative Extension Service that extended outreach programs through land-grant universities to educate rural Americans about advances in agriculture practices and technology, which helped increase American agricultural productivity dramatically in the 20th century. -
Smith Hughes Act of 1917
This act provided federal aid to the states for the purpose of promoting pre-collegiate vocational education in agricultural and industrial trades and in home economics. -
Mary B. Welch
Mary B. Welch taught home economics to women at Iowa State College. As far as we know, this is believed to be the first effort in the United States to teach home economics to college students. -
Martha Rensselaer
A founding co-director of the College of Home Economics. -
Federal Involvement with school lunches
The great depression showed that school lunch programs could not survive off of the work from volunteers and governments, so the federal government stepped in to fill funding gaps. The Reconstruction Finance Committee gave loans to school systems to pay employees to prepare and serve school lunches. -
Bureau of Home Nutrition and Home Economics
Beginning in 1953, the Bureau of Home Nutrition & Home economics puts science to work for better everyday living is the assignment of a small research bureau in the US Department of Ag. It does its work in the interest of consumers (homemakers) to branch aid to farmers, manufacturers, merchants, & wage earners. Its tasks are to develop through research new knowledge about efficient household management & ways to make best consumer use of food, fiber, & other products of the country's farms. -
Vocational Education Acts of 1963
This act provided grants to states to maintain, improve, and develop vocational-technical education programs. -
Vocational Amendment of 1968
This Amendment addressed the nation's social and economic problems and continued funding for students who were at risk or with disabilities. -
Vocational Education Acts of 1973
This is a federal law that approves grants to states for vocational rehabilitation services, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance. It also includes a set of rules focused on rights, advocacy, and protections for people with disabilities. It helps eligible people with disabilities pursue post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. (counseling, medical and psychological services, job training, etc.) -
Vocational Amendment of 1976
This amendment refers back to the Vocational Equity Act of 1963, which requires states receiving federal funding for vocational education to develop and carry out activities and programs to eliminate gender bias, stereotyping, and discrimination in vocational education. It also permits the allocation of federal funds to programs for single heads of households, homemakers, part-time workers seeking full-time jobs, and persons seeking jobs in areas nontraditional for their sex. -
Carl Perkins Act
The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act's purpose is to provide individuals with the academic and technical skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-and skills-based economy. It prepares its students for postsecondary education and the careers of their choice. It was originally authorized in 1984 but has been reauthorized in 2006. -
Land Grant Universities in Arkansas
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff