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University of Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Homemakers' Clubs and Saskatchewan Women's Institute
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Extension Division - Publications Exhibit

Collection of publications [by Extension Division] are displayed so titles are visble. Topics vary.

Bio/Historical Note: In 1910 the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture turned over to the University the responsibility for the development and delivery of agricultural and women's extension programs throughout the Province. To fulfill this mandate, the Department of Agricultural Extension (1910) and Women's Work (1913) were established within the College of Agriculture. Initially the activities of Agricultural Extension focused on services to the Agricultural Societies--short courses, institutes (meetings and conferences), plowing matches, field crop contests, stock judging, etc. Starting during the war years, a Better Farming Train toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. In 1915 "educational holidays" or camps were initiated for farm boys and girls and in 1918 4-H clubs were formed throughout Saskatchewan. Farm and Home Week, a period of exhibits, lectures, and demonstrations at the University, was introduced in the early 1930s. Special projects and programmes for rural women were offered through Homemakers Clubs, established in 1911. In addition to basic domestic activities, women received advice and instruction in fruit growing, tree planting, home nursing, water supply and purity, libraries, health and welfare services, etc. Adult Education services, begun in 1938 in response to forces for social reconstruction, consisted in part of groups formed to discuss planning, economics, cooperatives, government institutions and policies, international affairs, trade unions, etc. This was a logical expansion of the variety of information (bulletins, leaflets), informal (lectures, demonstrations), public (testing, analyses), professional (training), and cultural (drama, music) services, as well as a variety of services to governments at all levels. In 1949 the work of Agricultural Extension and Women's Work were combined in the Department of Extension. It remained a department in the College of Agriculture until 1963 when administrative responsibility was transferred to the Office of the President and renamed the Extension Division. Since the 1970s non-degree programs were offered in the areas of agriculture and horticulture, women, business, languages, indigenous people, community development, liberal studies, arts, seniors, science and technology, career development, and adult education. The name changed again in 1979 to Division of Extension and Community Relations. It was changed back to Extension Division in 1990. The Extension Department was disestablished on 1 July 2007, and replaced with three new departments.

Homemakers' Clubs - Conventions

Participants of the Homemakers' convention gather in the Bowl in front of the Administration Building.

Bio/Historical Note: The Homemakers' Clubs of Saskatchewan were created at a "special conference for women" initiated by the University of Saskatchewan in 1911. The objectives as stated in the constitution, were "to promote the interests of the home and the community". It was organized virtually as part of the university. The director of Agricultural Extension, F.H. Auld, was the ex officio secretary and managing director until 1913, when these duties fell to the newly appointed director of Women's Work, Abigail DeLury. From that time until reorganization in 1952, women's extension remained as a separate unit, reporting directly to the president of the university. After 1952, its work was still carried on independently, but with a greater degree of integration with agricultural and adult education services. Unique in Canada was the Club's official association with the University, which provided the provincial secretary, secretarial staff, and extension department resources to aid the development of the club and its programs. In 1971, the name was changed to the Saskatchewan Women's Institute and the University reduced its role to supplying free office space on campus.