Chapter XXXV: Appendix: I

SCHEDULE NO. I.—EMPLOYERS

STATISTICS OF DOMESTIC SERVICE

The graduates of Vassar College, Classes of ’88 and ’89, desire to collect statistics in regard to the subject of domestic service, and ask your assistance.

The work has grown out of a belief that a knowledge of some of the actual conditions of such service, as viewed from the standpoint of both employer and employee, is essential to an intelligent discussion of this question. It is hoped to tabulate the results obtained, showing the average wages paid in each occupation, the length of time employed, etc. The statistics, to be of value, must represent the experiences of many housekeepers in many localities, and the co-operation of all who are interested in the subject is earnestly solicited. Three schedules are sent you upon which to supply information.

SCHEDULE NO. I.—For Employers (mistresses of households).

SCHEDULE NO. II.—For Employees (domestic servants of all kinds).

SCHEDULE NO. III.—For Educational Statistics (from teachers, etc., in the kinds of schools specified).

These schedules are sent to all housekeepers and their employees who can be communicated with by the members of the Classes of ’88 and ’89 and the Department of History.

Will you please fill out the following blank and return it to the person sending it to you, or to the address given below? Please complete all the columns relating to each person in your employ.

Only estimates can be given in reply to Questions 7, 10, and 12.

If any question—as No. 17—is not applicable to you, this sign—X—may be used.

A prompt reply will be considered as a special favor.

_All personal information will be treated as confidential._ The name is asked as a guarantee of good faith, to avoid sending duplicates, and to render possible further correspondence in regard to special points of experience. It may, however, be omitted if desired.

Please return to—DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY,
VASSAR COLLEGE,
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

December 1, 1889.

I Number engaged in each occupation
II Place of birth. If foreign born, state the number of years each
employee has resided in this country.
III Time in your employ
IV Paid by the day, week, or month
V Amount
VI With or without board
VII Actual working hours per day
VIII Time allowed each week
IX Vacation time allowed during year
X With or without loss of wages

============+=================+=================+=======================
| NUMBER ETC. | WAGES | LABOR
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
OCCUPATIONS | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII| IX | X
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
WOMEN | | | | | | | | | |
GENERAL | | | | | | | | | |
SERVANTS | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
SECOND GIRLS| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
COOKS AND | | | | | | | | | |
LAUNDRESSES| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
COOKS | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
LAUNDRESSES | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
CHAMBERMAIDS| | | | | | | | | |
AND | | | | | | | | | |
WAITRESSES | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
CHAMBERMAIDS| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
WAITRESSES | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
NURSES | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
SEAMSTRESSES| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
MEN | | | | | | | | | |
BUTLERS | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
COACHMEN AND| | | | | | | | | |
GARDENERS | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
COACHMEN | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
GARDENERS | | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| | | | | $ | | | | |
------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| | | | | $ | | | | |
============+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====

1. Name of Employer, ____

2. Post Office, ____ 3. County, ____

4. State, ____ 5. Date, ____

6. Do you live in a city, in a town, or in the country? ____

7. Estimated present population of city or town, ____

8. Leading industries of city or town, ____

9. Are women and girls employed in these industries? ____

10. Estimated total number so employed, ____

11. Are women and girls employed as clerks? ____

12. Estimated total number so employed, ____

13. Length of time you have been housekeeping, ____

14. Total number of domestic servants employed during that
time, ____

15. Length of time without servants, ____

16. Length of time you have boarded, ____

17. Length of time you have boarded since marriage, ____

18. Number of persons in your family, ____

19. Name any special privileges granted your servants, such as
single rooms, the use of a sitting-room, etc., ____

20. Have you paid, as a rule, higher or lower wages this
year than last year, and in what branches of occupation,
respectively? ____

21. Nature of the service rendered. Is it “Excellent,” “Good,”
“Fair,” or “Poor”? Please specify by kinds of employment, ____

22. Have you found it difficult to obtain good domestic
servants? ____

23. What explanation of the difficulty can you give? ____

24. How do you think the difficulty can be lessened or removed?
____

SCHEDULE NO. II.—EMPLOYEES

STATISTICS OF DOMESTIC SERVICE

1. Name, ____

2. Place of birth, ____

3. Present residence (city or town, and state), ____

4. Name of present employer, ____

5. Present occupation, ____

6. Years of service in present occupation, ____

7. Years of service with present employer, ____

8. Number of previous employers (domestic occupations), ____

9. Whole number of years engaged in domestic occupations, ____

10. Present wages received, per week, $____; per month, $____

11. Highest wages received from previous employers, per week,
$____; per month, $____

12. Lowest wages received from previous employers, per week,
$____; per month, $____

13. Have you ever had any regular employment other than
housework? ____

14. Name such kinds of employment, ____

15. Highest wages received in other than domestic occupations,
per week, $____; per month, $____

16. Lowest wages received in other than domestic occupations,
per week, $____; per month, $____

17. Why do you choose housework as your regular employment? ____

18. What reasons can you give why more women do not choose
housework as a regular employment? ____

19. Would you give up housework if you could find another
occupation that would pay you as well? ____

NOTE.—All personal information will be treated as confidential.

Please return the Schedule to the person giving it to you, or
to—

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY,
VASSAR COLLEGE,
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

December 1, 1889.

SCHEDULE NO. III.—SCHOOLS, ETC.

STATISTICS OF DOMESTIC SERVICE

SCHOOLS FOR TRAINING DOMESTIC SERVANTS

1. City or Town, and State, ____

2. Number of such schools, ____

3. How supported, ____

4. Number that can be accommodated at the present time, ____

5. Present number in attendance, ____

6. Greatest number ever in attendance, ____

7. Total number in attendance since organization, ____

PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYMENTS ARE TAUGHT

8. City or Town, and State, ____

9. Number of such schools, ____

10. Kinds of employment taught, ____

11. Is instruction compulsory or optional? ____

12. Is the object of such instruction technical or general? ____

13. Present number receiving such instruction, ____

PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHERE HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYMENTS ARE TAUGHT

14. Names of schools, ____

15. City or Town, and State, ____

16. Present number receiving such instruction, ____

WOMEN’S EXCHANGES, ETC.

17. Please give, below, instances with which you are acquainted
of

1. Women’s exchanges.

2. Co-operative housekeeping.

3. Food prepared at home for sale outside.

4. Housework, not including ordinary day labor or sewing done
by persons other than regular servants,

and state also how far the results in these cases have been
remunerative, ____

Name, ____

Address, ____

Please return the Schedule to the person giving it to you, or to

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY,
VASSAR COLLEGE,
POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.

December 1, 1889.