Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science (GWSCDS)
With the introduction of the 1908 Education (Scotland) Act School Boards became directly responsible for the domestic education of school girls. The cookery schools now came under control of the Scotch Education Department who wanted to centralise their teaching institutions in each city. The Glasgow School of Cookery and the West End School of Cookery had to amalgamate and on 19 December 1907 a meeting was held to form an Association which would be responsible for the election of a Governing Body. The Association was called the Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science (Incorporated).
The first Superintendent and Office Secretary of the College was Isabella (Ella) Glaister (1879-1954), daughter of Professor John Glaister, Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine and Public Health at the University of Glasgow. She took over from Grace Paterson in March 1908 and had the difficult task of managing the amalgamation at staff level and of overseeing the four College sites dispersed across Glasgow. She only stayed at the College a short time, resigning in September 1910 to take up the position of Inspectress of Domestic Subjects with the Scotch Education Department.
During her time at the College Ella Glaister arranged publication of the first Glasgow Cookery Book. It was originally created to save students writing down all the recipes used in class. Over the years staff revised the recipes and new editions were published. Very soon members of the public wanted to buy the book and demand grew so much that it became an iconic Glasgow cookbook and is still in use over 100 years later.
Ella Glaister was succeeded by Dorothy Melvin (1881-1963) who took up the post of Superintendent and Office Secretary (later changed to Principal) on the 25th of October 1910.
Dorothy Melvin remained in position as Principal for 36 years during which time she proved to be a strong leader who fought for women's education and the recognition of domestic science. She also maintained the College's role in the wider community, helping people through times of deprivation and poverty. In recognition of her work she was awarded an OBE in 1937.
Dorothy Melvin was central to the development and realisation of the new College premises at Park Drive, Glasgow. She worked closely with the architect, Walter R Watson, to ensure that the new building was an exemplar for domestic science education, with the most-up-to-date facilities, designed to enhance the work of staff and students, and inspiring to members of the public.
With several premises spread across the city and shortage of student residences a new College building was needed. Originally estimated at £30,000 it was expected that a grant from the Scottish Office would cover half the costs and the rest would be raised by public subscription. Leading citizens were approached to support the venture and the campaign was promoted in the Glasgow Herald newspaper. One article stated:
"The pressure of life in these days renders it more than ever necessary that the business of the household should be conducted on scientific principals.....every year 'domestic scientists' are being turned out to radiate the instruction in still wider circles."
In the same way that the Glasgow School of Cookery was established on philanthropic principals, the College Governors now called for people to come forward and subscribe to the new College building for the purpose of serving public welfare.
By April 1911 over £6,000 had been raised from private donations.
The final cost of the building was £42, 613 half of which was funded by the Scotch Education Department and the remainder through donations from private individuals and public institutions including Glasgow City Council's common good fund; Lanark, Renfrew, Argyll and Dumbarton County Councils; the Trades House of Glasgow; Educational Endowment Board; Muirhead Trustees; Incorporation of Bakers; Incorporation of Wrights; Incorporation of Gardeners; Incorporation of Hammermen; Incorporation of Weavers and Incorporation of Tailors.
Building on the Park Drive site commenced in 1913 but the College would not move into its new building until 1919.
Before the Park Drive building was completed the Red Cross wrote to the College regarding the shortage of hospital accommodation and requesting use of the new building as a hospital for the duration of the war. The Governors agreed to the request and as building continued alterations to the original fixtures and fittings were made to suit its new function. This was no grand philanthropic gesture by the Governors as the College received rental for use of the building. However, as an institution desperate for larger, single-site premises, it was a very great sacrifice to make for the war effort, but a decision which was unanimously agreed.
The Woodside Red Cross Hospital was opened on 28th of June 1915. It provided 26 wards and 300 beds to treat those wounded in the war. The College was supportive of the new hospital, raising funds, adopting wards, making visits and offering their cooking and sewing skills.
The philanthropic principles on which the 3 institutions and new College building were founded set an example which would remain embedded in the ethos of the College. This was most evident during the two world wars when staff and students offered their skills to support the war effort. Through the following decades the College was to help disadvantaged people in many ways and today Glasgow Caledonian University continues this tradition as the ‘University for the common good’.