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.
In 1926 during Harrison's tenure Purnell Act work began at W.S.C. This act established Agricultural Experiment Stations that used federal funds for agricultural and home economics research. In 1928, the new Home Economics Building (White Hall) was opened with all the latest in equipment. Further history of the College of Home Economics can be found in the report "History of Home Economics-State of Washington" in WSU 92, box 1.
The material in this record group is that of Florence Harrison's successor, Velma E. Phillips (1894-1977) who was Dean from 1938 to 1960. During her years as dean of the college, work was carried on in home economics under the divisions of Child Development, Foods and Nutrition, Home Administration, Home Economics Education, Hospital Dietitians Training, Hotel Administration, Institution Economics, Interior Decoration, and Textiles and Clothing. Home economics work was also carried out at the Agricultural Experiment Station (many nutrition studies), and through the Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics. During the period from 1938-1952 Dean Phillips was also active in numerous groups and committees, including the International Congress of Home Economics, the American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, the American Home Economics Association, Omicron Nu, the Washington State Civil Defense Council, and was Chairman of the Washington State Nutrition Committee. In 1947 she wrote a book, Clothing (with Mildred Graves Ryan), that became a standard home economics textbook for many schools and colleges. She remained Dean of Home Economics at W.S.C. until her retirement in 1960.
From the guide to the College of Home Economics: Dean Records, 1938-1952, (Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections)
