From Modern to Ranch in Arkansas, 1945-1970 (U.S. National Park Service)

Introduction

Holly Hope: I really am honored to be included in an agenda with so many people who are much more lofty than I. I have learned so much so I want to thank you and then I better get into it.
I’m going to go over the bureaucratic and social reasons for the emergence of the Mid-Century, Modern and Ranch in Arkansas. In particular I want to touch on the role of women in Mid-Century house design.

Architecture of the home was always family centered, but it wasn’t always designed according to the convenience of the women of the family. Cultural movements eventually began to consider the real needs of women within the parameters of family life, but it wasn’t until the mid-century that the female perspective was sought out and their contributions physically influenced the form of the house. Not necessarily as architects, because female architects were all but unknown in Arkansas at the time, but rather as an every day inhabitant of the house.

Forward Looking Forms

Modern and Ranch type homes were forward looking forms. They evolved from the craftsman bungalow and historic revival styles. It was logical that women were eventually instrumental in their design because ideas about the roles of women were evolving in the mid-century as well. Ranch architecture was promoted heavily as the home of choice in 1950 subdivisions for young families. Modern and Ranch co-existed but large scale developers could see that the Ranch form lent itself to prefabrication and quick construction in large numbers.

Government agencies were hesitant to finance modern houses in the beginning because they were out of the norm. As a result the Ranch became a prevalent style that was reproduced in many sizes and forms in Arkansas subdivisions for decades. The Ranch shared architectural characteristics as well as the attitude of modern architecture and it evolved from that style as it quickly overshadowed it in Arkansas.

Precedence for the minimalistic trends of mid-century modern and ranch surfaced at the close of the 19th century when the fussy Victorian era was abandoned for simplicity and balance in exterior and interior treatments of homes. Central to this was the comfort of the middle class family. Previously the domestic unit consisted of the stay-at-home mother under the authority of the hands-off father. She would serve as the supervisor of the children in the house.

By 1910 technology and economic growth allowed for a shift women’s roles. They started exploring new life purposes outside the home and this trend led to the popularity of straight-forward architecture with less furniture, fewer rooms and reduced maintenance. These were all hallmarks of the modern and ranch houses to come.

During the Progressive Era in 1880 – 1920 honesty because a frequent catch word. This referred to casual beginnings and a return to a more humble environment in a smaller house, the Bungalow, which was constructed with natural materials and authentic textures. Similar to the tracts of ranches in the 1950’s neighborhoods, the bungalows furthered changes in social conventions.

Starter Homes for Young People

These small homes were considered appropriate for young people who were just beginning their lives. They were starter homes, just like those that were embraced by couples after World War II. Hearty, comfortable spaces and furniture invited the enjoyment and participation of children as active members of the household. The explosion of mid-century subdivisions in Arkansas was a continuation of 1920 suburban expansion of bungalows buoyed by the federal government.

Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover encouraged efforts to increase housing stock by using the federal government to stem shortages. With the support of the government, the Architect Small House Service Bureau formed in 1921 drew up house plans at a modest price and assisted in classes on do-it-yourself construction projects.

Hoover instituted the own-your-home campaign to aid war industry workers in purchasing houses through long-term mortgages. He was also a supporter of the 1923 Better Homes in America Incorporated program which sponsored tour houses in rural and urban areas to promote owning and maintaining a home during Better Homes Week.

In Arkansas White and Pulaski counties participated in Better Homes Week during the early 1930’s. Clytice Ross, 1931 White County, Arkansas, Better Homes Incorporated Chairwoman and Home Demonstration Agent reported that Littlerock had hosted a Better Homes school, County Better Home schools and District Better Homes schools.

These all provided ideas for various campaigns during Better Homes Week. Reports from these campaigns resulted in prizes for activities that encouraged thrift for home ownership and to help make accessible to all American families homes of beauty, comfort and convenience. These activities were primarily facilitated by women. Females made up committee heads and volunteers because that was logically their area of experience.

Government programs like these were designed to install the proper mindset for home ownership. Eventually encouragement moved to actual involvement and fiscal assistance for potential home buyers. The first steps had been taken by Hoover in 1930 when he held the President’s Conference on Building and Home Ownership which supported bank loans for homes, among other things.

The Federal Housing Administration allowed developers to obtain bank loans for subdivision of land and construction of houses, which became a more lucrative process for the developers by the post World War II era.