History of FCS

  • Benjamin Thompson

    Benjamin Thompson

    Thompson is recognized for inventing the first range stove with temperature controls. He was also the first to label nutrition as a science. Lastly, the Rumford kitchen at the 1893 Chicago World Fair was named for him.
  • Treatise on Domestic Economy

    Treatise on Domestic Economy

    Catharine Beecher contributes to domestic science by writing the Treatise on Domestic Economy
  • Mary B. Welch

    Mary B. Welch

    Welch taught home economics to women at Iowa State College, which is believed to be the first person in the United States that taught home economics to college students.
  • Wilbur Olin Atwater

    Wilbur Olin Atwater

    Atwater was an American chemist knew for his studies of human nutrition and metabolism. He invented the Bomb Calorimeter and is considered the “Father of Nutrition."
  • First Morrill Act

    The First Morrill Act is passed, providing federal lands to the states to be sold to support colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts.
  • Justin Smith Morrill

    Justin Smith Morrill

    Morrill was serving in the House of Representatives and set aside federal lands to create colleges with the “benefit of the agricultural and mechanical arts.” This allowed each state with 30,000 acres of western land.
  • Martha Rensselaer

    Martha Rensselaer

    Rensselaer was a founding co-director of the College of Home Economics.
  • Land Grant in Arkansas

    Land Grant in Arkansas

    The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville was established first then the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1890.
  • Lulu C. Graves

    Lulu C. Graves

    Graves was the first president of the Academy of Nutrition
    and Dietetics. She was dedicated to helping the government conserve food and improve the health and nutrition of the public and nutrition during World War I.
  • Clara Belle Williams

    Clara Belle Williams

    Williams was the first African American woman to graduate from New Mexico State University. She became an educator after graduating from college.
  • Rumford Kitchen & Chicago World’s Fair

    Rumford Kitchen & Chicago World’s Fair

    Nutritious lunches sold at the 1894 Chicago World’s Fair that included nutritive value and cost per serving. Richards had scientifically prepared foods for the World’s Fair.
  • Lake Placid Conference

    Lake Placid Conference

    Eleven leaders gathered in New York to begin the profession of
    Home Economics.
  • Smith Lever Act

    Smith Lever Act

    This act was established as a National Cooperative Extension Service that extended outreach programs through land-grant universities to help educate rural Americans about advances in agricultural practices and technology.
  • Smith Hughes Act

    Smith Hughes Act

    This act promoted precollegiate vocational education in agricultural and industrial trades and in home economics.
  • Vocational Education Act

    Vocational Education Act

    The Vocational Education Act provided grants to states to maintain, improve, and develop vocational-technical education programs.
  • Vocational Amendment

    Vocational Amendment

    The Vocational Amendment provided new programs for vocational education. Also provided part-time employment for the youth to receive earnings to continue vocational training.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Act

    Vocational Rehabilitation Act

    The Rehabilitation Act is the federal law that authorizes the formula grant programs for vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance.
  • Vocational Amendment - Part 2

    Vocational Amendment - Part 2

    This amendment required states to receive federal funds for vocational education to develop and carry out activities. Also, programs to eliminate gender bias, stereotyping, and discrimination in vocational education.
  • Carl Perkins Act

    Carl Perkins Act

    This act increases the quality of technical education within the United States in order to help the economy.
  • New Name for the Profession

    New Name for the Profession

    American Home Economics Association voted to change the name of the profession to Family and Consumer Sciences.
  • "Dine In" Day

    "Dine In" Day

    The birthday of AAFCS Founder, Ellen Richards. This day is known as "Dine in Day."