North Carolina Extension and Community Association

The first women's home demonstration clubs were formed in North Carolina in 1913, in the fourteen counties that employed home demonstration agents. As the number of clubs and counties involved grew steadily thereafter, it was decided that a statewide organization was needed to coordinate agents activities and to act as a voice for their concerns. Thus, at the 1920 Farm Women's Convention in Raleigh (held in connection with the annual Farmer's Convention which began in 1903), the Federation of Home Bureaus was created and charged with directing the efforts of the home demonstration agents. In 1924 the name of the organization changed to the North Carolina Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs.

The Federation held its first separate business meeting in 1928, called the State Council meeting. During this period the local clubs were organized into sixteen districts that held their own meetings beginning in 1929. The number of districts grew to 27 by the 1950s, and the numerical districts were abolished in the following decade. In 1958, the group's name was changed to the North Carolina Organization of Home Demonstration Clubs.

Negro home demonstration work was organized in 1917, and the first clubs formed by 1922. A statewide organization was not created, however, until 1940, as the State Federation of Negro Home Demonstration Clubs. By 1945, the name had changed to the State Council of Negro Home Demonstration Clubs of North Carolina.

The two organizations were integrated in 1966, and the group's name changed to the North Carolina Extension Homemakers Association. This name remained until the current designation was assumed by 1995. In 2005 the Extension and Community Association (NCECA) had over 5359 members in 434 Clubs.

From the guide to the North Carolina Extension and Community Association Records, 1916-2003, (Special Collections Research Center)