Grand Forks County Homemakers Records

Homemakers clubs began to be organized in North Dakota in the early 1920s. As more clubs started locally, there was a need for coordination at the county level. For Grand Forks County, their county council was organized in 1929 and consisted of the presidents of individual clubs. Local clubs functioned as important social networks for farm women. Working with county Cooperative Extension offices, members of Homemakers clubs were taught and participated in activities to promote a better lifestyle such as food preparation, health care, hygiene, home management, sewing, handicrafts, and decorating. In addition to programs, clubs exchanged ideas and were involved with local charities and 4-H. While many of the clubs in Grand Forks County were organized in the 1920s and 1930s, others were established as recently as the 1970s. The Grand Forks County Homemakers had an annual achievement day to recognize members of individual clubs and install new officers. For some years, the name was changed from Homemakers clubs to Family and Community Exchange (FCE) clubs to reflect the changing role of the organization.

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