Progress in the household

"Progress in the Household" by Lucy Maynard Salmon is a scholarly work focusing on the study of domestic service, written in the early 20th century. This publication examines historical and economic perspectives on household labor, particularly the complex dynamics between employers and employees in domestic settings. The text aims to shed light on the challenges faced by households in securing competent domestic help and advocates for a more systematic understanding of household management as a field deserving of serious academic inquiry. The opening portion of the work sets the stage for a critique of domestic service as it stands in society. It begins with a reflective apologia where Salmon discusses the limitations of her previous work, "Domestic Service," and establishes her credentials as a researcher in this field. She acknowledges the difficulties many households face in employing reliable domestic help, illustrated through the chaotic scenario of a modern housewife struggling with various employee issues. The narrative emphasizes the prevailing disconnect between domestic service and broader economic discussions, while advocating for investigation and education in the field as necessary steps towards improving the status and effectiveness of household work. Salmon expresses hope that understanding domestic service as a legitimate area of economic study can pave the way for substantial improvements in the future. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Lucy Maynard Salmon was an American historian whose work was foundational in the establishment of the field of public history. Salmon was a professor of history at Vassar College from 1889 until her death. Salmon was the first woman to serve on the Executive Committee of the American Historical Association. Salmon published widely in historical journals and general magazines, and was highly active in civic affairs, supporting civil service reform and world and women's suffrage.