The Department of Child Development was established in 1930 and provided courses for students who were interested in careers working with children and families. In 1990, the Department of Child Development merged with the Department of Family Environment to form the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. This collection contains correspondence, reports, and radio transcripts related to the operation of the department and child care in general. The radio transcripts are from "Homemakers Half Hour" which broadcast on WOI radio.

The Department of Child Development originated in 1924 as a sub-department of Household Administration within the Division of Home Economics. Lula Lancaster Bishop was hired to direct "child care and training" and she also oversaw the nursery school. The nursery school was organized in 1924 to serve the teaching and research needs of the department. In 1930, the Department of Child Development was established with its general responsibilities identified as college teaching, nursery school teaching research, supervision of infants in home management houses, and conferences with parents. The curriculum was designed to prepare students for professional work with children and their families. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Human Development and Family Studies in 1990 when the Department merged with the Department of Family Environment.

In 2005, the College of Family and Consumer Sciences merged with the College of Education to form the College of Human Sciences. As of 2014, the Department is administered by the College of Human Sciences.

This collection (1924-1975) contains course manuals, testing materials, governmental policies, radio programs, brochures, workbooks, and child care studies. The radio transcripts are from "Homemakers Half Hour" which broadcast on WOI radio.

See also collections classified under the College of Human Sciences, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, RS 29/7.

The collection is organized alphabetically.