American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is an American professional association that networks professionals in the area of

family and consumer science Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences, is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and food preparation, as well as texti ...

. It was founded in 1908 as the American Home Economics Association by Ellen H. Richards. In 1994 it changed its name to the current one.Ballard, Patricia Tsune (ed.) (2001) "Home Economics, *10956*, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences" ''Encyclopedia of Associations'' (37th ed.) Gale, Detroit, vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 1272, The association started with about 800 membersFrey, Colleen (1995) "American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)" pp. 16-20 in Slavin, Sarah (1995) ''U.S. Women's Interest Groups: Institutional Profiles'' Greenwood, p. 18 and grew to over 50,000 by the mid-1960s. In the early 20th century, the association did not often mention Black universities in its journal and it also practiced segregation. It encouraged African American home economics leaders to form their own groups. Many already had formed such groups, which included the National Association of Teachers in Colored Schools. By the mid-1990s membership had fallen below 25,000 and by 2001, it was just over 13,000. Membership continued to decline, and by 2008 was just over 7,000,"A Brief History of AAFCS" AAFCS website, archived a
https://web.archive.org/web/20080515111912/http://www.aafcs.org/about/history.html
by

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

on May 15, 2008 and where by early 2012, the numbers fell to approximately 5,000 members. The association currently acts as a

professional network A professional network service (or, in an Internet context, simply professional network) is a type of social network service that focuses on interactions and relationships for business opportunities and career growth, with less emphasis on activiti ...

primarily for professors and teachers of home economics and related courses, but also includes large numbers from government, business and

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

organizations. AAFCS is one of the five organizations that form the Consortium of Family Organizations.Frey, Colleen (1995) "American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)" pp. 16-20 in Slavin, Sarah (1995) ''U.S. Women's Interest Groups: Institutional Profiles'' Greenwood, p. 20 While not having its own political action committee, it recommends the "Vocational Political Action Committee"; and in 1985, the AAFCS joined the Home Economics Public Policy Council (HEPPC), which does engage in legislative action. The field originated from home economics to what it is today. Family and Consumer Sciences is an interdisciplinary field that combines social sciences (emphasizing on the well-being of individuals, families, and communities) and natural sciences (emphasizing on nutrition, development, and textile science). Aspects included: nutrition, cooking, parenting and human development, interior design, textiles, economics, housing, apparel merchandising, resource management, ad other related specialties.

Awards

* National Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year Award, annually for outstanding educational programs * Borden Award, annually for research in nutrition * Ruth O'Brien Project Grants, periodically for development of research in family and consumer science * AAFCS fellowships awarded to graduate students in family and consumer science * Atwater International fellowship to non-American graduate students in family and consumer science, established in 1947 and named after Helen W. Atwater

Publications

* ''Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences'', a quarterly refereed professional publication, formerly the ''Journal of Home Economics'' renamed in 1994 * ''

Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal The ''Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences. The journal was established in 1972 and publishe ...

'', a quarterly refereed technical publication, published on behalf of the association, (print), (web), by Sage Publications through 2009, then by

Wiley-Blackwell Wiley-Blackwell is an international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons. It was formed by the merger of John Wiley & Sons Global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business with Blackwell Publish ...

* ''AAFCS Action'', a five times per year newsletter detailing association and member activities, established in 1974 discontinued as a paper publication in 2002 * ''Yearbook (American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Education and Technology Division)'' from 1981 to 2001 the Education and Technology Division of AAFCS published a yearbook for home economics teachers. Beginning in 2002 it was available only in CD-ROM format. This yearbook provided valuable information to prospective housewives.

Notable members

* Sarah Louise Arnold, president, American Home Economics Association; first dean,

Simmons College Institutions of learning called Simmons College or Simmons University include: * Simmons University, a women's liberal arts college in Boston, Massachusetts * Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville, Kentucky * Ha ...

; national president, Girl Scouts of the USA *

Anna Barrows Anna Barrows (1861 – February 11, 1948) was an American educator and author, known for being a pioneering woman in the field of home economics. She contributed to the foundation of the Home Economics Movement through her unique demonstrations, ...

, cooking lecturer, early 20th century *

Josephine Thorndike Berry Josephine Thorndike Berry (February 25, 1871 – July 21, 1945) was an American educator and home economist. She held several roles as an educator including that of Superintendent of schools at Waterville, Kansas and Professor of Domestic Scien ...

(1871-1945), educator, home economist *

Florence Fallgatter Florence Alberta Fallgatter (1891 – April 8, 1973) was an American educator and home economist. She was head of the home economics department at Iowa State University from 1938 to 1958, the first woman president of the American Vocational Ass ...

, president of AHEA from 1950 to 1952 *

Agnes Ellen Harris Agnes Ellen Harris (July 17, 1883 – December 18, 1952) was an American educator. She worked in education in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Alabama, establishing Home Economics programs throughout the area. She was instrumental i ...

, pioneer in women's education programs, charter member *

Una B. Herrick Una Brasfield Herrick (August 24, 1863 – August 10, 1950) was an American educator. A pioneer in higher education for women, she was the first Dean of Women at Montana State College (now Montana State University). Early life Una Olive Brasfie ...

, Dean of College of Household and Industrial Arts and later the first Dean of Women,

Montana State College Montana State University (MSU) is a public land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's largest university. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 68 fields, and doctoral degrees in 35 fiel ...

, from 1911 to 1932. In 1926 Montana State College built Herrick Hall to house the Home Economics Department; the building was named after Dean Herrick.

Notes

External links

Official homepage of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
* Archive of entire run of journal. Renamed ''Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences'' in 1993. * Archive of journal from 1994 to 1997. Originally named ''Journal of home economics'' from 1909 to 1993. {{Authority control Professional associations based in the United States Organizations established in 1909