Glasgow School of Cookery

Glasgow School of Cookery and Domestic Economy

Glasgow Training School of Cookery and Domestic Economy

Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science (Incorporated)

The Glasgow School of Cookery was established in 1875, opening to the public on 21 February 1876. It was born out of Victorian philanthropy. In 1908 the Glasgow School of Cookery amalgamated with the West End School of Cookery to form a Scottish Central Institution called the Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science (Incorporated) (later The Queen's College, Glasgow).

The School's first premises were at The Albert Hall, 285 Bath Street, but by the time of its amalgamation with the West End School of Cookery it had moved to premises at 86 Bath Street, 504 Sauchiehall Street and 1 Victoria Crescent.

Initially the School hoped to educate young working class women in culinary skills as a contribution to the improvement of family life among lower income groups. This approach however was not very successful although the daytime courses for better-off women were priced to subsidise the cost of the evening classes for working women. A new strategy was adopted which promoted culinary education within the board schools and this proved a successful initiative eventually resulting in the School being responsible for the training of teachers. Subjects taught initially included superior cookery, plain cookery and cookery for the working classes although in time the syllabus expanded to include diplomas in cookery, laundry, housewifery, dressmaking, needlework and millinery. The School not only taught teacher's diplomas but also provided demonstrations and lectures for the public. These public classes were attended by women and girls of all social backgrounds

Grace Chalmers Paterson (1843-1925) was the first principal and driving force behind the Glasgow School of Cookery and her role was on a organisational level as opposed to being actively involved in the teaching duties of the School. She was replaced by Ella Glaister in March 1908 although she was around until June of that year.

In 1888 the Glasgow School of Cookery managed a tearoom at the Glasgow International Exhibition (2 May 1888 - 10 November 1888) which provided enough profits to help with the running of the school for some years to come.

GB 1847 GSC

List of sources for the administrative information:

Thompson, W. and McCallum, C.Glasgow Caledonian University: its origins and evolution, (East Linton, Tuckwell Press Ltd, 1998)

Authority record created according to the National Council on ArchivesRules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (NCA Rules)1997 and International Council on Archives: Ad Hoc Committee on Descriptive StandardsInternational Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (ISAAR)CPF1995.

Corporate name authority record compiled for the GASHE project by Emily Woolmore, GASHE project archivist, 30 March 2000