The Housewife’s Diploma
In preparation for our 150th anniversary celebrations, our Development and Alumni team scoured the QMU archives for interesting finds which provide a fascinating insight into our institution’s history. This ‘Housewife’s Diploma’ is one such find, providing a glimpse into a world so very different to our own.
This Housewife’s Diploma was awarded to a Euphemia Mary Gowan, who resided in George Street, Edinburgh. Not only does the document demonstrate the topics of study in certain courses during the early years of our institution (then known as the Edinburgh School of Cookery), but it also highlights the transformational journey that it has undergone since its inception and reminds us of the huge changes in the lives of women since the early Twentieth Century.
Euphemia, who was awarded the certificate in 1902, must have indeed been a top student, having been awarded a first-class diploma, gaining 3280 marks out of a possible 4000.
We can tell from this quite detailed certificate that Euphemia studied subjects including plain, high class and artisan cookery; had lessons in plain and fancy breadmaking; learned how to clean silver plate, crystal, copper and other pans; and took courses in laundry and millinery. Euphemia also had to prove her competency in dressmaking, cutting and fitting; patching and mending bed and table linen, as well as knitting, darning and resoling, and cutting out underclothing. As part of her Housewife’s Diploma, she also learned house bookkeeping; food and household hygiene; home sick nursing; and took written examinations in housekeeping.
The certificate was also signed by two of our founders, Louisa Stevenson (chairwoman) and C Guthrie Wright (honorary secretary), as well as the director J. L. Melvin.
