What’s Cookin', Good Lookin'? Becoming a Domestic Goddess at Woman’s College

Student baking during a
Department of Home Economics class, 1947

As the State Normal and Industrial School was founded with the mission of producing teachers and educating women to assist in the recovery of the post Civil War South, classes needed to support the three concentrations of study: teaching, home economics, and business. The early administration of the school did not view these programs as mutually exclusive, insisting, “a model woman, as the mistress of a model home, ought to know something of business, and above all things, ought to be an intelligent teacher.” In the 1930s, what was then the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina, provided the opportunity for students to earn valuable practical experience in household management by working in one of the campus’ Home Management Houses. By the 1940s, the Department of Home Economics offered seven specialized focuses of study, including course concentration in Foods and Nutrition, an invaluable area of knowledge as the United States implemented food rationing initiatives during World War II.

“What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’?: Becoming a Domestic Goddess at the Woman’s College” features photographs and artifacts reflecting the Department of Home Economics curriculum, as well as excerpts from the Special Collections and University Archives’ Home Economics Pamphlets Collection. The exhibit can be viewed from September 25th - November 2nd, 2015.

The 100th Anniversary Time Capsule: What is it and where did it move?

The 100th Anniversary Time Capsule

You may have noticed that the uniquely shaped artifact that has been located next to the Access Service desk for the last several years is no longer there! It has been moved to the second floor lobby next to the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives - an appropriate place as it is part of the University Archives Artifact Collection.

If you have not taken a close look at the item, you may not know that it is actually a time capsule. A time capsule typically contains commemorative material for access at a future date. This particular capsule was created in 1992, the 100th anniversary of the opening of the State Normal and Industrial School (now UNCG), to be opened in October of 2042 during the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the college.

There was a campus-wide competition held to decide who would create the 100th Anniversary Time Capsule – it was won by Robert E. (Trey) Sharp III, a senior form Winston-Salem, North Carolina, majoring in sculpture and religious studies. Sharp created a spherical ceramic container on a branch-like bronze stand that could be sealed with a bead of wax. The capsule is filled with speeches and artifacts associated with the centennial; campus photographs; and university programs and publications. Additionally, it holds material that reflected national and international events such as a piece of the Berlin Wall. After it was completed, it was moved to Jackson Library and it will reside here until it is opened in 2042.

*In January, there will be a three-part blog regarding campus time capsules in Spartan Stories.