The Women’s Program Becomes Home Economics

The dawn of the 20th century brought changes for the women of the State Agricultural College. In 1909 the college officially became Michigan Agricultural College, and the Women’s Program was renamed the Home Economics program. By the 1920s, the Home Economics program encompassed coursework in textiles and clothing, food and nutrition, the teaching of home economics, and household sciences and arts. Many of the majors in these departments prepared women for jobs aside from homemaking. The women could become dieticians, clothing designers, teachers, and managers. Through a five year program in conjunction with Sparrow Hospital, women could also become nurses.

Electives for the women students were diverse. Many of the women were greatly interested in teaching as a vocation and a three term pedagogy course was created in 1906. By 1914 there were 190 women taking music courses. Beyond the Home Economics courses, women could take enough electives in their junior and senior years to earn the equivalent of a major in the sciences by 1915.

After WWI, some of the social rules for women loosened, and they were allowed some freedom of movement unchaperoned. In 1920, the college held the first ‘Coed Prom.’ At these Coed Proms, only women were allowed, and they came dressed in matching couples costumes. The end of the 1920s also saw a rise in intramural sports for women with the formation of the Women’s Athletic Association in 1925.

Photo of Women's Field Hockey Game circa 1922.

From University Archives (A000214)

Photograph of 1921 Homecoming Parade.

Photograph features women marchers with signs that say "What 51 Years Have Accomplished," "1895 the First H.E. Girls," and "1870 The First Co-Eds." Photograph taken by D.D. Thorp and Frank Godfrey.

From the University Archives (A000187)

Photograph of 1920 Co-ed Prom.

The first Co-ed prom was started in 1920. No men were allowed and the women dressed in couples costumes.

From the University Archives (A000300)

Spring 1921 Course Receipt.

A Michigan Agricultural College receipt for sophomore year spring term, April 5, 1921. It shows prices paid for tuition and rent by M.A.C. student Eleanor Powers Richey.

From the MSU Museum (Museum Object ID 1997:21. 8.2 )

1920 Wolverine Yearbook.

The yearbook featured photos of individual students as well as the different clubs and societies that students could join. This page of the yearbook shows the members of the Feronian Society. The Feronian Society was a literary society and was the first all-women society when a chapter was formed at M.A.C. in 1891.

MSU Libraries LD3245.M47 W6 1920

Woman's M.A.C. Hat Pin

From MSU Museum (Museum Object ID 2001:24.1)

M.A.C. Brooch, 1907.

Belonged to Emma Mason VanderZalm.

From MSU Museum (Museum Object ID 3445.1)

M.A.C. Pin, circa 1898- 1909.

From MSU Museum (Museum Object ID 6705.1)

Felt M.A.C. Monogram. Won by Lorena Fuller for tennis in 1914.

From MSU Museum (Museum Object ID 7180.1)

Ellen Jean Fry's Scrapbook 1911-1915.

Student scrapbooks were very popular 100 years ago. This scrapbook belonged to Ellen Jean Fry who graduated with a B.S. in Home Economics from M.A.C. in 1915.

From University Archives (Ellen Jean Fry Papers UA.10.3.27 My College Record, Scrapbook #56)

Fannie Beal's Cooking Notebook 1907-1908.

Fannie Beal attended M.A.C.and graduated in 1908. This cooking notebook includes recipes and lecture notes on food and nutrition. Fannie Beal went on to become the Assistant Dean of Women at Eastern Michigan University (then Michigan State Normal College) after earning her graduate degree at Columbia.

From University Archives (Fannie Beal Papers UA.10.3.60 Folder 1 Cooking Notebook 1907-1908)