Many housewives actually walk miles while doing their kitchen work because the stove, sink and work table are far apart in their great big kitchens. That was the way especially with many old-fashioned kitchens.
But recently the housewives and the architects and the engineers and the home economics specialists got at it and began talking and planning con- venient kitchens. So modern kitchens in general are better workshops and kitchen jobs can be done in less time, and with less effort.

--Easier Kitchens (1932) U.S. Department of Agriculture. Office of Information. Radio Service. Housekeepers' Chat

Throughout its existence, the Bureau of Home Economics used principles of systematic research to devise the best designs for efficient kitchens and farmhouses. This exhibit showcases several of the more prominent results of this work.