Historic Betty Crocker - More Betty Crocker Scholarship History

Don't you just love it? Empowered young women winning scholarships from Betty Crocker and they didn't even need to be Home Economics majors nor take a home ec class. In fact, seasoned homemakers often struggled with the qualifying test. What I love about the unmatched history of Betty Crocker is how much it still draws people in. I mean, you're here, right? 😉 Betty's people keep sharing their stories and photos with me and I'm still here, preserving and keeping the history alive and relevant. Take note, marketing people, there's magic in this legacy brand, especially because it empowered more than not.

Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship Archive

 

 Unice Bisbee from Marshall Minnesota 

I ran across this today and I absolutely love that Unice Bisbee made it in the newspaper for winning the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Award. I wonder how she did at the state and national level?

Yay Unice yay! 

Betty Crocker Search for Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship Scrapbook

I am collecting your Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship photos and memorabilia! 

Send them to me at doll dot documentary at gmail dot com and I will post to this online scrapbook post. If you want to read winners/participant stories go here.

(Recently a gentleman sent me his photos and story and his email has mysteriously disappeared. If you read this, do you mind re-sending? I'm terribly sorry that I can't find it and would love to include your photos.)

Test questions from the Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow  - 1956

Test questions from the Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow  - 1956

Betty Crocker Vintage Baked Alaska Recipe

 

Betty Crocker's Baked Alaska recipe has a special place in my heart because it is the only thing I remember baking in  my 6th grade  Home Ec class. At the time, Home Ec was mandatory for all 6th graders at my school. I was in a "pod" of 4 students in Kitchen Station #1. My pod mates were Brenda Bliss, Kyle Holen and one other male student that I can't seem to remember. (A lovely side note: I'm still great friends with Brenda and Kyle!) 

The Baked Alaska mystified me. How could we put ice cream in the oven without it melting all over? It particular, I remember whipping up the meringue. It took forever. And the Baked Alaska turned out beautifully. 

Years later, while writing Finding Betty Crocker, I reflected on my one Home Ec memory quite frequently. And I was surprised to hear a former Betty Crocker home economist tell me about serving Baked Alaska at the Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship banquet the year Alaska became a state. (I know what year that was, do you know? Without googling it? )

It was no easy feat to whip up hundreds of Baked Alaska for the banquet, but, of course, Betty's staff pulled it off without a hitch.

Collecting Munsingwear Stories!

It's official, I'm writing another history book, Don't Say Underwear, Say Munsingwear! It will launch next year.

If you can't wait, check out Historic Photos of Minnesota. You will find a bit about Munsingwear's unique history.

I'm collecting oral histories, photos and stories from former Munsingwear employees. Please send them my way.

And, as usual, I'm collecting stories from former Betty Crocker scholarship winners.

If you are looking for my other book, Finding Betty Crocker, ask your local bookseller to order or order from Amazon.com.

Thank you for your continued interest in my projects!

Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow

Some more interesting questions from the Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow. These questions are from the 1959 test.

Which statement is most nearly correct?

A. Most mental illness is a result of heredity.

B. Most mental illness is caused by poor physical condition.

C. Most mentally ill people are dangerous.

D. Most mental illness is a reaction to both physical and environmental problems.

Which statement is most nearly correct?

A. Breast-fed babies are heavier.

B. Bottle-fed babies are healthier.

C. Breast-fed babies received more personal attention.

D. None of the above is true.

Do you think that the answers today would be the same as 1959? Let me know if you took this test!

Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow

From the 1959 Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship examination.

42. A homemaker will enjoy her housekeeping tasks more if she...

A. has the right equipment.

B. has someone to talk to while working.

C. does the tasks systematically and regularly.

D. has a working plan suitable to herself and her family.