Home demonstration clubs, one of the primary activities of the home economics extension services, predate the Depression, but proved to be an essential form of community building, resource and knowledge sharing, mutual aid, and supplemental income. Among other regular club activities, members made quilts both individually and collectively, while hosting quilt exhibitions and contests, as well as making quilts to raffle as fundraisers. Home demonstration agents supervised and organized the clubs, including submitting reports to the sponsoring universities and to the government. Agents provided club members with quilt patterns. Most likely, the younger woman standing on the far-right side with black cardigan, belt, and upswept hair is the demonstration agent.

Title: 
Smithfield Home Demonstration Club
Maker: 
Unidentified photographer
Circa
1930
1940
University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, Tarrant County College NE, Heritage Room