Iowa State College. Domestic Economy Dept.

The first instructional course in domestic economy was Domestic Chemistry, offered in 1871. The Department of Domestic Economy formed in 1875 to instruct "young ladies of the Junior Class by lectures on the following topics: home furnishing, ventilation, water supply, cooking, sewing, management of help, care of the sick, training of children, dress, etc." A School of Domestic Economy with a two-year course of study was established in 1884-85, but was abandoned when the instructor, Emma Ewing, left in 1887. The work of the department was then incorporated into the General Course for Ladies. In 1900, the name was changed to General and Domestic Science. From 1909 to 1911, it was called the Department of Domestic Economy. The name changed to Home Economics in 1911 and two curricula were offered: Domestic Science and Domestic Art.