History of FCS

  • Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford)

    Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford)

    The first person to see nutrition as a science and subject that could be further explored. Also created the first range oven that could change and control temperatures.
  • Catharine Beecher

    Catharine Beecher

    Wrote the first FACS textbook to be accepted by the Department of Education in 1841. She ended up writing 33 total textbooks over the course of her life.
  • Morril Act of 1862

    Morril Act of 1862

    Allotted land to states for the purpose of building colleges with a focus on agriculture and mechanics. Created by Congressman Justin Smith Morrill.
  • Land Grant University

    Colleges or universities that have been chosen by the state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Act of 1862. These schools aim to focus on agriculture and mechanical sciences.
  • Land Grant Universities in Arkansas

    Land Grant Universities in Arkansas

    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville;
    University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
  • W.O. Atwater

    W.O. Atwater

    Father of Nutrition. Created the first bomb calorimeter to measure calories. Also wrote nutrition bulletins for Ellen Swallow Richards.
  • Ellen Swallow Richards

    Ellen Swallow Richards

    Used her rare science degree to start the field of home economics. Worked to get policies passed to help people succeed in life and in the home.
  • Rumford Kitchen

    Rumford Kitchen

    Stared by Ellen Swallow Richards. Located in the Chicago World's Fair, Richards sold nutritious foods with nutrition information provided for each meal. Named after Count Rumford.
  • School Lunch Program

    School Lunch Program

    Originally started by Ellen Swallow Richards to provide school lunches to children who either brought food from home or didn't eat. Officially became an Act in 1946.
  • Lake Placid Conference

    Lake Placid Conference

    The first Lake Placid Conference in 1899 featured 11 leaders meeting to discuss the latest advancements and future goals of the field. Leaders labeled this new field of study as "home economics."
  • Smith Lever Act of 1914

    Works alongside the Morrill Act. Helped to create the Cooperative Extension Service including FACS.
  • Smith Hughes Act of 1917

    Adopted FACS into vocational education. Provided federal aid to states to promote and prepare students in home economics.
  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

    Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

    World's largest organization for nutrition professionals. Works to promote dietetics and help the health of the United States. Originally formed as the American Dietetics Association.
  • Lulu C. Graves

    Lulu C. Graves

    Became the first president of the American Dietetics Association (now Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics).
  • Clara Belle Drisdale Williams

    Clara Belle Drisdale Williams

    Graduated from New Mexico State University as the first African American to receive a degree. Taught African American students home economics during the day, and taught their parents home economics at night.
  • Vocational Education Acts of 1963

    Increased funding for vocational education. Replaced the Smith-Hughes Act. Expanded the information that home economics included and could be applied to.
  • Vocational Amendment of 1968 and 1973

    Increased the availability of vocational education to those experiencing social or economic problems. Worked to give funding to at risk students or those with disabilities.
  • Vocational Amendment of 1976

    Required states who were receiving vocational education funding to remove gender bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
  • Carl Perkins Act

    Helped to fund states through grants to improve secondary CTE programs. Aimed to provide students academic and technical skills.
  • Name Change to FACS

    Home economics became Family and Consumer Sciences. This decision was made by the American Home Economics Associates, whose name became the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

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