Loudoun County Extension Homemaker's Club Records

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195

Summary

Extent:
2.5 cubic ft.
Creator:
Carolyn Grubb, Purcellville VA and Dorothy Martel, Middleburg, VA
Abstract:
This collection contains the records of the Loudoun County Extension Homemakers Club. It includes minutes, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, newsletters, correspondence, agendas, event pamphlets, recipes, attendance, speeches, information on club activities, as well as information on the history of the club.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the records of the Loudoun County Extension Homemakers Club. It includes minutes, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, newsletters, correspondence, agendas, event pamphlets, recipes, attendance, speeches, information on club activities, as well as information on the history of the club.

The earliest records of the club's activities are in the form of minutes beginning in 1926 and ending in 1947. The minutes preserved by the Club are photocopies; the whereabouts of the original minutes are unknown. Minutes are arranged which each new year beginning in December and concluding in November. After 1985, only scattered minutes are available. Scrapbooks dating between 1961 and 1994 are included in this collection, and include photographs and ephemera as well as "Achievement Day" materials and yearbooks. "Achievement Day" was an annual event where club members celebrated their accomplishments and activities from the previous year. Loose items were removed from each scrapbook and foldered for better preservation of the materials.

A few abbreviations are used over the course of this collection. Loudoun County is abbreviated to "LoCo" and Extension Homemakers is has been abbreviated to "E.H." This is an open collection and additional material may be received.

Biographical / historical:

The Loudoun County Extension Homemakers Club developed as an arm of the United States Department of Agriculture Extension Services [USDA]. Funded and overseen by a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, Extension Services were first established as a nationwide system in 1914 by the Smith-Lever Act. The Extension Services were designed to aid farmers by providing educational classes in homemaking to white farm women. The program quickly took off and by 1915, 335 home economics schools were held for 21,000 farm women all over the country. In 1936, a group of Extension homemakers met with the USDA in order to form the National Extension Homemakers Council to further promote educational efforts. Extension Homemakers clubs were segregated, leading many black communities to form their own clubs, such as the Housekeeper's Club formed in Aldie, Virgina in 1914.

Loudoun County home demonstrations were first organized by Grace Heyl (1901-1991), the county's Home Demonstration Agent, in 1923. By 1926, ten Extension Homemakers clubs were established in the county. In that same year, representatives of the existing Extension Clubs, a county agent, and a district representative all came together in order to create a Loudoun County Extension Homemakers Council. The council was composed of ten members and grew as the number of clubs in the county grew. By 1975 there were fifteen clubs and approximately 300 homemakers.

The Homemakers Club served as a place where women came together to learn sewing, quilting, cooking, housekeeping techniques, and various other homemaking skills; later the Club evolved. It became a source of discussion of gender roles, volunteer work, and of leadership among women. In 1994, every Loudoun County Extension Homemaker Club member was invited to attend a meeting to discuss the future of the club and voted to disband.

Acquisition information:
Carolyn Grubb, Purcellville VA and Dorothy Martel, Middleburg, VA
Physical description:
.