Vocational Training

The 1917 Smith-Hughes Act, also known as the National Vocational Education Act, gave federal funds to states to support job training in business and industry, agriculture, and home economics. This new funding and emphasis on trade education encouraged more students to enter educational programs that made them skilled laborers who qualified for higher paying jobs. In 1920s Elmira, students had several options for vocational training. The Elmira Business Institute trained male and female students for secretarial and other office jobs. Women also attended the St. Joseph’s Nursing School and the Arnot Ogden Nursing School to become trained as a certified nurses. Nursing students took general science courses and also received practical experience treating patients at the hospitals.

“Don’ts For Secretaries” Secretarial work was a popular choice for women of the 1920s. While these jobs helped women become more independent, strict codes of conduct kept them in traditional gender roles.	"What I Expect of My Secretary” Elmira Business Institute published documents to help educate workers. This pamphlet was designed to help women learn to navigate workplace politics.	St. Joe's Graduates, 1927 Elmira had two nursing schools: St. Joseph’s Nursing School and Arnot Ogden School of Nursing.
Del Kader Beauty School Graduates Beauty school was an acceptable vocational training option for women. Unlike nurses and secretaries, trained cosmetologists could open their own businesses or work from home. This allowed them more entrepreneurial opportunities than other professional women.

Vocational Training

“Don’ts For Secretaries”

Secretarial work was a popular choice for women of the 1920s. While these jobs helped women become more independent, strict codes of conduct kept them in traditional gender roles.

"What I Expect of My Secretary”

Elmira Business Institute published documents to help educate workers. This pamphlet was designed to help women learn to navigate workplace politics.

St. Joe's Graduates, 1927

Elmira had two nursing schools: St. Joseph’s Nursing School and Arnot Ogden School of Nursing.

Del Kader Beauty School Graduates

Beauty school was an acceptable vocational training option for women. Unlike nurses and secretaries, trained cosmetologists could open their own businesses or work from home. This allowed them more entrepreneurial opportunities than other professional women.