191 



ford, Bloomington, Decatur, Joliet, Olney, Quincy, Peoria, Rockford, Ed- 

 wardsville, Ottawa, Centralia Sterling, Galesburg, Harrisburg Decatur, 

 Streator, Bloomington, Joliet, Carbondale, Danville and Monmouth. Be- 

 sides the annual meetings, Paris, Lincoln and Cairo had institutes one year. 

 These taking the work over all sections of the state. 



DEVELOPMENT. 



We have seen development along many lines and have played no small 

 part in making the housekeepers course at the University of Illinois what 

 it was for years. Broad contests were held in the counties during institute 

 season and a free trip to the short course was given the successful contest- 

 ant. The institute and household science presidents have signed all the 

 applications for the State Pair School of Domestic Science, one of the most 

 popular fair attractons in Illinois and which has been in existance 23 years. 

 This school has inspired many young women to take a higher course in 

 home economics and the profession of nursing. 



The Department has always been interested in putting household science 

 in the schools, both town and rural, it is supported the first canning school 

 in the state and promoted the canning club movement. It co-operated with 

 the better babies' conference being one of the first to put on a conference. 

 It worked for the organization of boys' and girls' clubs and we stand ready 

 to-day to co-operate with every organization existing for a bigger and better 

 work. One aim has been ours attempting larger things for the homes of 

 Illinois, for we realize that the future greatness of the country will be meas- 

 ured by the standard of the homes (and citizens found within them.) 



NUMBER OF CLUBS. 



< 



Today we have 360 clubs to report. During the year 38 new ones were 

 reported while 22 were lost to the home bureau and federation of clubs. 

 Three counties, only, are without county departments, but they have indi- 

 vidual clubs. Menard came in this year with officers and three institutes. 

 Strong county organizations with local clubs as auxiliaries are our hope 

 for the new year. 



MEMBERSHIP. 



That it may always be clear to you I will repeat what has been said 

 about our membership. The membership consists of county household 

 science clubs affiliated with the county farmers' institutes and other local 

 clubs which are actively engaged in household science study and work. 

 Membership is limited to those clubs which are in actual affiliation with the 

 farmers' institute and whose activities include at least six meetings during 

 the year in which the greater part of the program consists of household 

 science topics. All clubs to be affiliated must express a desire to affiliate 

 with the State Farmers' Institute and report to the Secretary of the Depart- 

 ment of Household Science the name of the club officers' names and other 

 information as required. Household Science work is holding meeting, 

 forming classes for girls in household science, forming canning clubs or in 

 furthering such other activities as are recommended by the Executive Com- 

 mittee of the Department of Household Science. We have no fees, or dues, 

 for affiliation. The inquiry comes to us from clubs about becoming a part 

 of the federation of women's clubs. Must we affiliate? Our answer is we 

 cannot see the need of household science clubs and departments paying dues 

 to become a part of the federation. But also we do not direct that part of 

 local organizations. Our Department accepts every woman in the state, 

 in the county work and provides every help without money return. Let 

 the household science clubs be free to keep the meetings throughout the 

 year and let individual members become members of the woman's club when 

 it is her desire. 



It is the same with household science members joining other organ- 

 izations and being asked to disband on account of too many meetings to 



