Identifier
MA 7
Dates
1913-2008
Extent
4.42 linear feet (3 record boxes, 1 document case, 1 oversize flat box)
Abstract
The South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, founded in 1913 as the South Dakota Home Economics Association, unites professionals in family and consumer sciences to advance education, research, and standards in the field. It organizes seminars, conferences, and policy guidance, and advocates for legislation to improve family life. The Association also collaborates with related professional groups to address societal issues impacting the field. The materials in this collection, including newsletters, meeting minutes, and correspondence, offer valuable historical insight into the organization's development, leadership, and impact on family and consumer sciences in South Dakota.
Historical Note
The South Dakota Home Economics Association was founded in November 1913 when Eva Dawes, the first home economics instructor at the University of South Dakota, was tasked by Dean Parish of the South Dakota Education Association to organize state home economics teachers. The inaugural meeting in Sioux Falls was attended by 16 teachers, with Dawes serving as the first president for three years.
In 1994, the organization was renamed the South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences following a nationwide survey by the American Home Economics Association recommending a shift in terminology.
The association aims to advance education, science, and research in family and consumer sciences, setting professional standards and providing guidance on social, economic, and psychological issues. It organizes seminars, conferences, and promotes legislation to improve home and family life, while fostering cooperation with related professional groups.
Content Notes
The South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (SDAFCS) collection documents the history and development of home economics and family and consumer sciences organizations. Focusing on the National Association of Extension Home Economists, the South Dakota Home Economics Association, and the SDAFCS, the collection includes newsletters (1941–1999), meeting minutes, conference programs, awards documentation, scrapbooks, financial reports, and correspondence.
The newsletters cover events, scholarships, officer elections, honorary memberships, and sponsored programs. Meeting minutes and program materials document the associations' activities, including updates on by-law revisions and organizational changes. Notably, the collection contains correspondence from Eva Dawes, the first president of the South Dakota Home Economics Association, offering insight into the organization's early history. Additionally, it includes lists of officers, council and charter members, honorary members, and award recipients.
The collection also features policy revisions from 1971 to 1996 and a strategic plan for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (1995–2000). This highlights the growth, governance, and influential figures within these associations, offering a comprehensive view of the evolution of family and consumer sciences in South Dakota and nationally.
The organization underwent several name changes over the years, and materials were arranged according to the organization's name at the time. As a result, the collection is organized into the following categories:
- National Association of Extension Home Economists
- National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
- South Dakota Cooperative Extension Association
- South Dakota Home Demonstration Agents Association
- South Dakota Home Economics Association
- South Dakota Association of Extension Home Economists
- South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
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Language
English
Publisher
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.
Rights
In Copyright: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Recommended Citation
SDSU Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, "South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Records" (2025). Archives Finding Aids. 6.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/archives_finding_aids/6
