A Woman's Business: Gender, Progressivism, and Anglo-Saxon Superiority in the Early Home Economics Movement

Abstract

My research began in spring of 2006 and continued through December. Conveniently, Cornell University has assembled and digitized a wonderful collection of primary sources on the early Home Economics movement. From this great pool of resources, I examined Home Economics textbooks, books for the general public, and the Journal of Home Economics from about 1890 to 1930. I also looked at an overwhelming mass of conference minutes at Cornell. My research was exhaustive and rewarding, and I am happy to say I have become somewhat of an expert on early twentieth century household decoration and the making of gelatins.