Dean of the College of Home Economics

Domestic Economy classes, as home economics was then called, began at the State College of Washington in 1903. These were the first home economics classes taught in Washington. By 1905 a Department of Domestic Economy was established and degrees in Domestic Economy were granted. Cooking and Sewing were the major divisions in courses and were taught at Morrill Hall. In 1908 the classes were moved to the new Domestic Science Building (Van Doren Hall). In 1912 Miss Josephine Berry was appointed head of the department and changed the name from Domestic Economy to Home Economics. In that same year nutrition and domestic art courses were added as was the Foods and Cookery division.

The year 1914 brought the addition of consumer economics courses, a Textiles and Clothing division, and the use of a Home Management house. It also saw the development, with federal funds, of Co-operative Extension work (Extension Service) to improve rural family living practices. Extension work was divided into Clothing, Home Demonstration Agents, Home Management, Nutrition, and Radio divisions. To avoid becoming a branch of the Department of Agriculture there was a push to become the College of Home Economics during reorganization of the State College of Washington. This was achieved and, in June of 1916, the first College of Home Economics in America was established. In 1919 Miss Florence Harrison became the first Dean of Home Economics.

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