56 British Columbia Women’s Institutes

Home Economics

by ETHEL R. WHITE, Convener

In this year, British Columbia’s Centenary, it is fitting that we review
the part Home Economics has played in our march of progress, especially
that played by our Women’s Institutes.

Home Economics is the art of living together in the home and the
community. Projects in Home Economics include foods, nutrition, clothing,
textiles, housing, home management, account keeping and budgeting.

In the early years of our Province, Demonstrators were sent out by
the Department of Agriculture to demonstrate cooking, sewing and dratft-
ing of patterns, and during war years, ways of conserving and preserving
foods—prominent among these women were Mrs. Laura Rose of Ontario
and our own Mrs. R. W. Chalmers of Thrums. During war years women
were busy, much jam was made and sent to Britain. Knitting and Red
Cross sewing was done in large quantities. After the First World War
we began to have our Agricultural Fairs and Flower Shows, where Women’s
Institute work took a prominent place—today Fairs are widely sponsored
by Women’s Institutes.

For many years Women’s Institutes were in the forefront of the cam-
paign to have a Chair of Home Economics established at the University
of British Columbia. In 1915 Miss Alice Ravenhill headed a deputation
on behalf of the Women’s Institutes. Many years later a Chair was finally
established and continued interest was shown by the women, so that in
1946 they started a scholarship fund after the completion of the Othoa
Scott Trust fund. This was called the Women’s Institute Memorial Fund,
a tribute to departed W.I. members. ‘The first scholarship was awarded
in 1949, and in 1956 Home Management House at the University was
opened—where students in Home Economics can take practical training.

The pioneer home was made of logs chinked with clay reinforced
with a little straw. Cedar shakes fastened with wooden pins covered the
roof and when these were not available, poles were placed on an angle
close together, covered with a matting of rye grass which was thickly spread
with “Varved clay”. Doors were hung on wooden or leather hinges and
windows were often of thinly scraped hides, instead of glass—precious
window glass came in by pack train. Cooking was done over fireplaces or
sheet metal stoves. Dutch ovens or cast iron cooking pots were used—stone
crockery-ware and some tin dishes—broad-bladed knives and three-tined
forks were used while rawhide chairs and rope-laced beds and a refectory
table made up the furniture. Sometimes a sewing machine and a rocking
chair made their appearance and, in rare instances, a piano. Floors were
of clay or whip-sawed boards, or paved blocks made of straw and clay and
pounded hard, then washed with ox blood to give them a smooth polished
surface. ‘Tanned hides were used as rugs, mounted deer and elk and
sheep heads made splendid wall decorations and gun racks.