Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Practice Cottage, later known as the Home Management, was an early instructional facility at South Dakota State College used to support hands on training in household management for students in the home economics curriculum. Photographic and archival records indicate that the Practice Cottage was in use by at least 1920. Distinct from Woodbine Cottage, which served as the college president’s residence, the Practice Cottage functioned as a living laboratory where students applied classroom instruction through daily responsibilities such as meal preparation, cleaning, budgeting, and hosting.
The cottage reflected broader national trends in early 20th century home economics education, which emphasized scientific and practical approaches to household management. As part of the college’s commitment to experiential learning, the Practice Cottage played a central role in educating generations of students during the 1920s and 1930s. Its use illustrates the integration of academic instruction with real world practice and highlights the importance of applied training within South Dakota State College’s home economics program.