Fargo, N.D., May 6, 2022 — Prairie Public’s television documentary about a historic house on the North Dakota State University campus is set to premiere on Thursday, May 19, at 9:00 p.m. “The Women of Alba Bales House” tells the story of the students who lived at the house while preparing for careers in home economics.
Alba Bales was the first female academic dean at North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC). The NDAC Demonstration House—later named the Alba Bales House—was completed in 1923, and was an experimental learning laboratory where students demonstrated their proficiency in all aspects of household management. Home economics students who lived in the Alba Bales House not only contributed to home management, but also to community development, consumer economics and the empowerment of women.
“Today, the idea of women living in this ‘practice house’ and learning to cook, clean and set a beautiful table seems antiquated,” said producer Matt Olien. “But the former students interviewed for the documentary have fond memories of their time there. The documentary was created by Prairie Public in partnership with NDSU Libraries and the NDSU College of Human Sciences and Education.
Prairie Public Broadcasting, headquartered in Fargo, is a non-profit member station of PBS and NPR that provides public television services throughout North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, southern Manitoba, and parts of Montana and South Dakota; public radio service to North Dakota; and educational and technological services to communities and individuals across its coverage area.
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