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The History of
FCCLA
In
February 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the first
national vocational education act into law This act
created federally supported, state-run programs of
vocational education that included home economics (known
today as family and consumer sciences education). The
establishment of vocational home economics education
laid the foundation for the development of Future
Homemakers of America as an integral part of the
program.
As early as 1920, high school home economics students
belonged to home economics clubs. The clubs were
sponsored by adult groups interested in home economics
education, such as home economics education, supervisory
staffs of state departments of education, the American
Home Economics Association and home economics
departments in colleges and universities.
The clubs had many different names and structures, and
there was no organized cooperation between state groups.
Only those clubs who worked under the sponsorship of the
American Home Economics Association had any affiliation
with a national group.
Interest in one overall program for high school home
economics students grew. In 1943, the American Home
Economics Association, in cooperation with the Home
Economics Branch of the U.S. Office of Education,
Division of Vocational and Technical Education,
appointed a committee to study high school home
economics club programs. The committee concluded that
all existing programs could be strengthened by a united
effort.
In March 1944, home economics leaders from 29 states met
in Chicago, Ill., and discussed plans for developing one
national organization. In June 1944, an interim
committee, selected from participants at the March
meeting and student and adult adviser, representatives
of home economics clubs, started plans for the
development of a national organization.
In Chicago, on June 11, 1945, a group of national
officer candidates from several sub-regions and a group
of advisers drew up a temporary constitution. They also
selected the name for the proposed national youth
organization for students of home economics education:
Future Homemakers of America.
The American Home Economics Association (now the
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences)
and U.S. Office (now Department) of Education, under the
direction of its home economics staff in the Division of
Vocational and Technical Education, became cosponsors of
the organization.
The National Education Association, through its
department of home economics, and the American
Vocational Association, through its home economics
division, became cooperating groups.
Edna P. Amidon is considered one of the most influential
leaders in the founding of Future Homemakers of America.
She was a futuristic educator and strong promoter of
junior and senior high school home economics education
for more than 50 years. She served as chief of the Home
Economics Education Service, Division of Vocational
Education in the U.S. Office of Education and as the
organization's first board chair.
Dr. Hazel Frost was the first national adviser for both
Future Homemakers of America and New Homemakers of
America.
FCCLA started with 42 affiliated state associations,
2,487 chapters, 92,516 members and a $7,200 loan from
AHEA. Within the first year the loan was repaid, and
Future Homemakers of America was incorporated in the
District of Columbia as a self -supporting, private,
nonprofit organization. Operating funds came from the
national dues of 10 cents per member per year. |
