Black Women Students Of The Biltmore School of Domestic Science, ca. 1901
Asheville, NC - Biltmore Estate - In 1901, Edith Vanderbilt established the Biltmore School of Domestic Science, which trained young Black women in professional housekeeping.
Biltmore School of Domestic Science
In 1901, Edith Vanderbilt established the Biltmore School of Domestic Science, which trained young Black women in professional housekeeping. The intention behind this initiative was two-fold: to help satisfy the increasing demand for efficient domestic service at the Biltmore and in the area at the time, and—more importantly to Edith—to help women with socio-economic challenges to become gainfully employed.
Coursework covered the duties of a maid, waitress, laundress, cook, and housekeeper; if a student showed a preference for a special line of work, she was given the necessary training to develop that skillset. Additionally, the school created a network to increase its graduates’ prospects of finding work:
“The graduating classes form a society for houseworkers. The purpose of this society is mutual help, by raising the respect of the general public for such work and workers…Any positions that are vacant if in good families will be reported, and an effort be made to fill them from among the members of the society.”
— The Home Science Magazine, Volume XX, October 1903–March 1904
Source: Estate & Family History Blog
More than a hostess: Honoring Edith Vanderbilt
By Amy Dangelico - Posted 2/21/20 Updated 5/13/26
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From: American Aristocracy - The Biltmore
Excerpt
Edith's husband, George Vanderbilt was one of the most progressive and forward thinking multi-millionaires of the Gilded Age. Rather than building a museum-piece home that would only serve his own pursuit of pleasure, his idea was to build a house to make Americans proud on a working estate that would provide gainful employment and bring prosperity to the local community.
In 1889 - the same year that work started on the chateau - George established the "Biltmore Forest School" which was the first institute for scientific forestry in the United States. The majority of the estate's employees lived at the town of Best and that same year Vanderbilt purchased the town and renamed it "Biltmore Village".
In a time when plumbing and central heating was unheard of in ordinary houses, he provided both in the cottages he built for his employees. He paid good wages and at Christmas all the staff and their children were invited up to the chateau for a celebration - each one receiving a present from under the towering tree in the Great Hall.
The Hawley Museum is passionately committed to uncovering and sharing the fascinating family stories that have influenced our state's and nation's history. We believe that every family has a unique story to tell, one that adds depth to the rich tapestry of North Carolina and U.S. History.
We encourage you to reflect on your own family narrative—did your ancestors play a pivotal role in these historical events? We invite you to become a part of our family curator team by sharing your family's history, whether it be through photos, videos, articles, or documents.
Let’s work together and weave a more comprehensive narrative that honors the roles families have played in our collective past to inspire future museum visitors.
The Hawley Museum is passionately committed to uncovering and sharing the fascinating family stories that have influenced our state's and nation's history. We believe that every family has a unique story to tell, one that adds depth to the rich tapestry of North Carolina and U.S. History.
We encourage you to reflect on your own family narrative—did your ancestors play a pivotal role in these historical events? We invite you to become a part of our family curator team by sharing your family's history, whether it be through photos, videos, articles, or documents.
Let’s work together and weave a more comprehensive narrative that honors the roles families have played in our collective past to inspire future museum visitors.