Objects in Museums & Galleries Edinburgh Collection
Museums & Galleries Edinburgh holds a collection of objects relating to the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science, the institution that went onto become ɬÂþÌìÌÃ.
Its collection includes text books and samples of work completed by students of needlework courses.
Many of the needlework pieces in the collection were completed by Maud Pentland (later Maud Steven).
Maud was born in 1895 and studied Needlework Design at the college (Atholl Crescent) from 1914 to 1916. She studied under Louisa M Chart, who also taught at the Edinburgh College of Art. In 1921, Maud was offered a place as Assistant Sewing Mistress at Edinburgh Ladies College (later the Mary Erskine School). She also taught at other schools around Edinburgh and at night classes.
Maud was at Atholl Crescent at an exciting time. In the early 20th century, the school leadership were acutely aware of the damaging effects of childhood malnutrition and were taking hugely impactful practical action in response. The child mortality rates for the working classes were shockingly high, and the school’s leadership saw teaching of domestic science in schools as key to reducing them.
Government listened, and domestic science became part of the curriculum in schools.
