Lella Gaddis (circa
1918) was the first state leader of home demonstration
work in Indiana.
By 1910, attendance in the department was
rapidly increasing and Ladies Hall could no longer contain the home
economics department and house women students and faculty, too. In
his plea for a new building for the department, President Winthrop
Stone said, "It is neither wise nor desirable to allow women students
to be quartered… in scattered homes without supervision." Thus
began the philosophy to "get the girls in by 10:30 p.m. and the boys
will take care of themselves." It was at this time that Mary L. Matthews
came to Purdue, later to be named head of the department in 1912.
The Cooperative Extension Service was established in 1911 in Indiana.
By 1918, Ladies Hall and the Science Annex housed five home economics
laboratories, and the first home management house provided further
instructional space. A master’s program in home economics debuted
in 1919.
Timeline
1911
First aeroplane demonstration at Purdue during
Gala Week
1912
Titanic sinks, killing 1,595
Purdue Alumni Association formed
1913
"Hail Purdue" copyrighted and dedicated to
the Varsity Glee Club
Indiana Home Economics Association established
1914
Smith-Lever Act expands extension program
at land-grant colleges
