American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is an Americanprofessional association that networks professionals in the area of family and consumer science. It was founded in 1908 as the American Home Economics Association by Ellen H. Richards. In 1994 it changed its name to the current one. The association started with about 800 members and grew to over 50,000 by the mid-1960s. By the mid-1990s membership had fallen below 25,000 and by 2001, it was just over 13,000. Membership continued to decline, and by 2008 was just over 7,000, and where by early 2012, the numbers fell to approximately 5,000 members. The association currently acts as a professional network primarily for professors and teachers of home economics and related courses, but also includes large numbers from government, business and non-profit organizations. AAFCS is one of the five organizations that form the Consortium of Family Organizations. While not having its own political action committee, it recommends the "Vocational Political Action Committee"; and in 1985, the AAFCS joined the Home Economics Public Policy Council, which does engage in legislative action.
Ruth O'Brien Project Grants, periodically for development of research in family and consumer science
AAFCS fellowships awarded to graduate students in family and consumer science
Atwater International fellowship to non-American graduate students in family and consumer science, established in 1947 and named after Helen W. Atwater
Publications
Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, a quarterly refereed professional publication, formerly the Journal of Home Economics renamed in 1994
Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, a quarterly refereed technical publication, published on behalf of the association, , , by Sage Publications through 2009, then by Wiley-Blackwell
AAFCS Action, a five times per year newsletter detailing association and member activities, established in 1974 discontinued as a paper publication in 2002
Yearbook from 1981 to 2001 the Education and Technology Division of AAFCS published a yearbook for home economics teachers. Beginning in 2002 it was available only in CD-ROM format. This yearbook provided valuable information to prospective housewives.
Una B. Herrick, Dean of College of Household and Industrial Arts and later the first Dean of Women, Montana State College, from 1911 to 1932. In 1926 Montana State College built Herrick Hall to house the Home Economics Department; the building was named after Dean Herrick.
