Heart of Home
Domestic Arts And Sciences Prove Popular On Campus

As scholars study the turn-of-the-20th century national trend of home economics courses on college campuses, their findings suggest an empowering field for women at the time.

“New schola r ship in American
women’s history suggests that home economics was a progressive field that brought science to the farm home and
women into higher education and leadership positions in public education, academia, government and industry,” reported a recent Cornell University study. “From its inception, collegiate home economics was multidisciplinary and integrative with an emphasis on science applied to the real world of the home, families and communities.”

Known as domestic arts and sciences, the field of study proved a popular one
at Wittenberg. By 1921, an official department was established, bringing with it a range of courses in the university’s curriculum. Housed in the basement of Recitation Hall, according to articles in a 1923 Torch, domestic arts classes included constructing and altering garments, using commercial patterns, hand and machine sewing, the study of textile fibers and fabrics, as well as the different weaves of cloth and problems involved in textile manufacturing.

General art principals were also studied, and by 1928, a new food course, which included all of the allied sciences: chemistry, biology, botany, physics, physiology and psychology, attracted 56 co-eds and required twice the sections planned. Economics, immigration, congested city conditions, health, hygiene and foreign languages were also taught.

Rachel Werstler Smith ’49 remembers the program well.

“We completed clothing projects, tailoring and upholstering, learned the parts of machines and how to measure. We had to wear white dresses and hairnets to cooking class, and strict hours were maintained for the girls,” Smith said.

Drawing house plans with furniture arrangements and learning about child care and hygiene were also required.

“I worked in the men’s cafeteria behind Myers Hall and served meals to help pay my tuition,” she said, adding that she also worked for the sewing instructor. In the end, however, all the sacrifice paid off.

Her education led to a rewarding teaching career in home economics and later in elementary education.

Years later, Janet Schwiebert Wade ’62, was in the last class to graduate from the home economics program. Her academic emphasis was on retailing, which meant that half of her curriculum was business-related.

“We took courses such as the chemistry of foods, tailoring, interior design and food management-type studies, which might include per forming public cooking demonstrations,” Wade said. Hospitality etiquette was also included.

“My pre-childrearing work was as a retail executive at the former F & R Lazarus and Co. department store in Columbus, Ohio, where founder Simon Lazarus’ advice to women in retailing was ‘Think like a man, act like a lady, work like a dog.’” And they did.

– Phyllis Eberts ’00