What Is A Betty Lamp And What Does It Mean?

The Betty Lamp was chosen for the logo of the American Home Economics Association as the result of a contest in 1926. The Betty Lamp continued as the logo of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) after the name change in 1994. In colonial days, the Betty Lamp provided light for all household industries. Representing the light in the home and the light of the mind, the Betty Lamp is an appropriate logo for AAFCS and all the associated disciplines.

Early in the 20th century, the Betty Lamp was adopted as a "symbol of learning." The beam of this Betty Lamp symbolizes the following:
 

The need of exact knowledge
The appreciation of beauty
The spirit of joy
The power of strength
The blessing of fellowship
The satisfaction of achievement
The value of service
The bond of cooperation

The Ohio Association of Family and Consumer Sciences shares the philosophy with the national association that this Betty Lamp truly symbolizes the essence of what our association values. As a true "symbol of learning," OAFCS uses the Lamp as a visual reminder of its beliefs.