Transnational friendships and networks: Academic women at the University of New Zealand 1911-1961

In 1911, a Department of Home Science at the University of New Zealand (1870–1961) opened. It was the first such department in either New Zealand or Australia for the training of women. Offering courses in science, food, and nutrition and practical courses in home and institutional management, the department aimed to provide women with the necessary skills and knowledge for their intended roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers. However, this newly established department presented opportunities for women to establish their own scholarly traditions, undertake work that was intellectually respectable and professionalize the field of Home Science. Crucially, the academic community of home scientists extended beyond New Zealand. Transnational networks and connections across New Zealand, England and North America promoted friendships, collegiality and solidarity between/among academic women, and reinforced women’s capabilities as scholars, scientists, and leaders in the field. This paper focuses on exchange programs such as the Fulbright and Carnegie to illustrate the importance of transnational connections in forging alliances between women and fostering women’s leadership within the field of Home Science.