History National Household Economic Association

laura s. wilkinson

the women s congress of chicago exposition of 1893, awakened public fact matters pertaining household had not kept procession of progress. therefore, day appointed in investigate neglected science , result organization of association aimed benefit home makers of country , national in scope. organization took name national household economic association, , laura starr ware wilkinson of chicago, elected first president, , ellen martin henrotin, honorary president. mrs. wilkinson proved efficient executive leader, , assistance of henrotin , many other known women, able induce women s clubs of country, take active interest in education pertaining betterment of home. association planned work through women s clubs.

wilkinson followed president, ellen harbart, of illinois, , dr. mary e. green, of michigan, succeeded harbart president. time, organization had become recognized through efforts of state vice-presidents in turn presented subject , supplied literature clubs , educational institutions of representative states. during green s presidency, household economics given place on program of conventions of general federation of women s clubs, , @ many of meetings of state federations. green called upon speak @ these meetings many other workers in field. subject met enthusiastic reception @ denver biennial of general federation, , women throughout west ready enlist in new, yet old, enterprise. linda hull larned, of new york state, succeeded green , under regime, subject found favor @ biennial conventions during 4 years in office, 35 states, canada, represented vice-presidents. larned not presented subject @ these national , state meetings, invited mr. peck, paris exposition, take part in series of congresses held in palais de congress during summer , given prominent place on program of women s works , institutions @ congress.

the association held annual meetings during ten years of existence, in different states, , @ invitation of local organizations, last meeting held in toledo, ohio, october, 1903. time objects , aims of association had become thoroughly incorporated in work of general , state federations of women s clubs, , lake placid conference doing better work along same lines, decided @ toledo meeting merge work of association of committee of household economics of general federation of women s clubs. following year first report of committee on household economics made @ general federation convention, @ meeting in st. louis in 1904.

the national household economic association published , circulated annual reports containing summaries of work , progress in states, , time time, published outlines of study, , addresses of importance given @ annual conventions. association entertained 2 or 3 times in chicago, , once in atlanta, in toronto, in buffalo, in milwaukee , toledo.

by 1903, there many schools of domestic science in flourishing existence owed inspiration efforts of workers in national household economic association, , in many towns , cities, more or less instrumental in introducing manual training , domestic science girls in public schools.

the organization disbanded in 1903.