Did You Know?

Catherine E. Beecher, 1800-1878, was the author of the first home economics text, A Treatise on Domestic Economy (1841).

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Wilbur O. Atwater, was the organizer and first director of the Office of Experiment Stations in the Department of Agriculture and founder of its nutrition investigations in 1894.

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AAFCS Founder Ellen Richards’ last paper was titled, “The Elevation of Applied Science to the Rank of a Professional Calling.”

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In February 1909, the first issue of the Journal of Home Economics was published.

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The first national honorary society for home economics was established in 1912—Omicron Nu.

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In 1914, the term “home economics” was first used in legislation.

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In 1919, the first African-American woman was hired for home demonstration work.

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In 1921, state associations of AAFCS began forming—Illinois, Montana, and North Dakota were first.

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AAFCS began having an Expo with the Annual Conference in 1926. It was the same year the Betty Lamp was chosen as the emblem for AAFCS.

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In 1930, AAFCS had its first theme for the Annual Conference: “The Modern Family and Its Home.”

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From 1930-2007, AHEA/AAFCS awarded more than 375 fellowships to international students representing more than 65 countries. These students enrolled in more than 80 US institutions of higher education.

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In 1936, AHEA published Terminology Used in Food Preparation.

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In 1940, AHEA planned a national directory of home economists, listing their subject matter and professional section by state, to support the National Defense Program.

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In 1946, Future Homemakers of America (FHA) was founded.

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AAFCS divisions and departments, representing areas of expertise and employment settings, were established in 1946.

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In 1952, AHEA opened its first permanent headquarters building in Washington, DC.

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In 1964, home economics began serving two purposes: education for homemaking and wage earning.

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In 1972, the AAFCS Accreditation Program awarded accredited status to the first institutions:

• University of Tennessee• University of North Carolina – Greensboro• Eastern Illinois University• Drexel University• University of Missouri – Columbia• California State University – Los Angeles

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In 1973, home economists participated in the Eleventh Lake Placid Conference.

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In 1974, AHEA published “Home Economist Image Study: A Qualitative Investigation.”

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In 1979, Marjorie Brown and Beatrice Paolucci discussed “Home Economics: A Definition” in an attempt to clarify the profession’s mission and philosophy.

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In 1980, the Coalition for Black Development in Home Economics was established.

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In 1987, AHEA members were allowed to grandparent into the Certification Program on the basis of their membership rather than testing. The initial competency exam was developed, pilot tested, and marketed for use.

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In 1994, the American Home Economics Association became the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences.

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In 2004, AAFCS launched one new broad field and two new concentration professional competency exams, which correspond to three Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences credentials.

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In 2007, the AAFCS Board of Directors approved a proposal from the Council for Certification to launch the Pre-Professional Assessment and Certification (Pre-PAC) Program.