College of Education Records on Home Economics Education

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA 31

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The College of Education records on Home Economics Education (1931-1981; 2 cubic feet) document the development of a pedagogy of home economics education. The collection reflects the specific means by which prospective educators in home economics were evaluated and how the evaluation rubrics were developed. The records are complementary to other home economics records that focus more specifically on the topical areas of home economics (i.e. foods, home management, sewing, etc). The bulk of the collection is comprised of materials documenting the annual Supervising Student Teachers in Home Economics Conference, and the evaluations of and recommendations for individual students. Most of the materials relate to the institutional or professor perspective, rather than the perspectives of the women who were being evaluated. This collection would be useful to researchers interested in home economics education, women in higher education, pedagogy, and the means by which women students and professionals were evaluated in the mid-twentieth century. Types of materials include: programs, evaluation rubrics, notes, presentations, and correspondence. The records are organized into two series.

Dates

Creation: 1931-1981
Other: Majority of material found in 1950-1979
Other: Date acquired: 08/07/2016

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

All copyrights belong to Purdue University per deed of gift. Please see an archivist for further details.

Historical Information

After the introduction of home economics classes in primary and secondary schools, the classes were often taught by women with little (if any) formal training in education. Although they were often recruited from college-level home economics cohorts and were thus well-versed in the subject matter they taught, they were unaware of pedagogy that could be used to improve their efficacy as instructors. As the need for this type of instruction became clear, the home economics department began to offer special courses that were tailored to the needs of prospective home economics instructors. Eventually, women who desired to teach home economics in primary or secondary schools, received formalized training and evaluation in the two departments: home economics and education. This shift was a reflection of changes in the twentieth century which brought a more formalized process to the training and licensing of educators.

UA 31 College of Education records on Home Economics Education UA 15 College of Health and Human Sciences records Kerckhoff, Richard K.

Extent

2.00 Cubic Feet

2 boxes other_unmapped

1.00 cubic_foot_boxes

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

1. Supervising Student Teachers Conference, 1950-1981 (1 cubic foot). The series documents the Supervising Student Teachers in Home Economics Conference held annually at Purdue University. The records include conference programs and proceedings, participant materials, and documentation of conference planning. The proceedings and programs include transcriptions of keynote presentations and are reflective of the development of home economics education in the twentieth century. Of particular note in the series is a keynote by Helen Schleman titled “The Educational Needs of Women” and addressed the recently published Feminine Mystique and the newly appointed Council on the Status of Women by President Kennedy. Materials in the series are primarily arranged chronologically by type. One notable exception to this is the grouping of folders on conference planning. In an effort to maintain original order of materials, the materials in these folders have been left in the multi-year groupings in which they were found. It appears as though previous year materials were used in the planning of current years. 2. Student Teacher Evaluation, 1931-1971 (1 cubic foot). The series documents the evaluation and placement of home economics student teachers. The records are primarily comprised of evaluation forms and correspondence. The materials are useful in identifying the changing pedagogy of home economics education and the indicators by which prospective women educators were evaluated. It is interesting to note the frequency with which appearance and personality were used as an indicator for efficacy of teaching. Materials in the series are arranged chronologically by type.

Acquisition Information

Transfer from the College of Educatoin Department of Curriculum Instruction, via Kim Deardorff (secretary) and Carol Werhan (clinical assistant)on August 07, 2016.

Related Materials

TX165 .A1 P87, Purdue Home Economics News, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Processing Information

Whenever possible, original order of the materials has been retained as has the original labeling of folders. All materials have been placed in archival housing. Metal clips have been removed for preservation purposes.