The Greater St. Louis Home Economists in Home and Community will celebrate its 65th anniversary Thursday, April 26.

The Greater St. Louis Home Economists in Home and Community began in 1947 when then-president of the Missouri Home Economics Association, Mary Inez Mann, believed home economists who were not working still needed to maintain contact with other home economists.

Five home economists were invited to her home to discuss the possibility of forming a group. Sixteen home economists, who would become the charter members of this group, conducted the first organized meeting Jan. 23, 1947, at Clayton City Hall.

Just as the field of home economics has undergone a name change to family and consumer sciences, this group has changed names, too. From the St. Louis Homemakers, the name changed to the Greater St. Louis Home Economists in Homemaking to distinguish it from the business group. Since the group is an affiliate of the national organization, the name again was changed to the current one, The Great St. Louis Home Economists in Home and Community.

The group annually contributes $500 to a college student who is pursuing family and consumer sciences and attending a Missouri school. The group has published three cookbooks, with the profits going to the scholarship fund.

For more information about the anniversary celebration, contact Sandy Hounsom at (314) 638-6625 or shounsom@hotmail.com.