Accession No. RARE.2025.0161: Purchased, 2025 January.
[identification of item], Ruth Slabach Notebook for Home Economics Coursework at East Cocalico Vocational School (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania), SPEC.RARE.MMS.0415, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2025 August; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2025 August.
Ruth Slabach (1913-2002) was born in Brecknock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Harry F. and Annie (Reinhold) Slabach, and was the wife of C. Earl Deibler. She was a 1931 graduate of the East Cocalico Vocational School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and also attended the Lancaster Business School. She went on to work for the Fleet-Air Shoe Company in Ephrata, Pennslyvania until she retired.
The Ruth Slabach Notebook for Home Economics Coursework at East Cocalico Vocational School (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) collection contains one notebook used by Lancaster, Pennsylvania student Ruth Slabach from circa 1929 to 1931. The first portion of the notebook covers household planning, starting with the roles of the father and mother in American homes. While the role of the father is outlined as being dedicated to financial support, repairs and protection, the role of the mother is mainly focused on the needs of the family and taking care of the household. Also included in the first portion of the notebook are budgets for clothing, food, shelter, and recreation.
The second portion of the notebook contains Slabach's examples of how she would decorate her theoretical home. Laid within with the notebook pages are scraps of textiles and weave patterns that she chose to furnish her home and her written descriptions of the materials. Also inlcuded in the plans are Slabach's hand drawn clothing patterns and fiber drawings.