The Homemakers issue commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which improved home life in America. The stamp was issued in conjunction with the annual meeting of the National Extension Homemakers Council. A production "first" accompanied this stamp: It was the first one produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing that combined offset and intaglio (engraved) printing. The process had been utilized by the American Banknote Co. earlier with the Overrun Countries issue, but had not been used before on a U.S. stamp produced within the government framework.