Collection Timeline

1878 to 1953

1878
Topics include subjects taught in domestic economy courses, measuring the work of women in the home, plea for the higher education of cooks, and the legitimacy of teaching domestic economy.
Lecture notes on rhetoric and grammar. Dated March 1878.

1883
Written for a midwestern audience, the booklet contains recipes for cooking common types of food. These are interspersed with descriptions of common ailments and how Chamberlain & Company's products can help.

1889
Topics include subjects taught in domestic economy courses, measuring the work of women in the home, plea for the higher education of cooks, and the legitimacy of teaching domestic economy.

1900
Lecture read before women's clubs in Los Angeles, California. Discusses the importance of a woman's role in the home, how a woman's education prepares her for life, how education has helped the women's suffrage movement, and the importance of hospitality.

1901
Discusses a young woman's role in society, her social responsibility, and how she should conduct herself at gatherings. Lecture give to the YWCA in Los Angeles.

1902
Welch discusses definitions of politeness, people's perceptions of American society, examples of civility towards women, the genuineness of American politeness, and compares American courtesy to that in other countries.

1920
Letters written by Mary Welch to friends at Iowa State. Includes a description of the early years of the Department of Domestic Economy and letters written to Edgar and Margaret Stanton when the Welches were in Europe and after they returned.

1923
Describes how Mary Welch was selected as the head of the department, the search for teachers, the first courses, and responses from students.

1940
Contains information on the Welch and Shaw families including Anna Shaw (daughter of Mary Welch), Anna Shaw's husband A. B. Shaw, and Lily Beaumont Graham (Mary Welch's sister).

1953
Contains biographical information including an article from the Alumnus, radio address by Ralph K. Bliss, and memorials given by various individuals including O. H. Cessna, President Raymond A. Pearson, and Herman Knapp.