Preliminary Guide to the Washington State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics Subject Files, circa 1951-1982

On May 22, 1891, the Board of Regents took possession of the 200-acre farm donated by the citizens of Pullman for the site of the Washington State Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Sciences. In the early years, program offerings were listed only as “Agriculture.” It was not until the arrival of President Holland in 1916 that the institution was restructured into colleges, departments, and schools. Also in 1916, there was pressure to make the Department of Home Economics part of the Department of Agriculture. After surveying the work of other institutions, Agnes Craig, Department Head, wrote, “Since homemaking is a universal need, would it not be desirable to create as part of the newly organized State College of Washington, a separate organization, the first College of Home Economics, thus recognizing the importance of education in that field and giving the work the dignified position that it deserves?” When the reorganization was announced in June 1917, it was confirmed that the College of Home Economics would be one of the five colleges. The College of Agriculture and Home Economics has undergone many changes over the years – the merging of the Colleges of Agriculture and Home Economics in October 1982, programs moving from other colleges to CAHE, departmental name changes and mergers, joint programs with other colleges.