Iowa State College. Home Management Dept.

The Home Management houses at Iowa State College (now University) developed from a proposal in 1916 by Home Economics Department Dean, Catharine MacKay. She proposed that a laboratory be established where students could experience life as a homemaker. The Board of Education accepted her proposal and in 1916, the first house (Prentice House) was rented by the university. Senior students lived in the house for two-week intervals paying $8.00 for room and board. The students rotated jobs at the house so all would be provided experiences in the tasks of running a household. Increased enrollment, the distance of the house from campus, and the requirements of the Smith-Hughes Act necessitated more and better facilities. In 1919, the Knapp House on campus was purchased, remodeled and opened as a home management house in 1920. Child care was added to the home management houses program in 1924 through 1958. Children were secured through child welfare agencies and cared for by students in the home management houses.