The Growth of the Department under Abby Marlatt (1909-39)

Abby Marlatt

In September 1909 classes resumed under the directorship of Abby L. Marlatt. She dramatically transformed the Department of Home Economics during her tenure (1909 - 1939), as enrollments grew from 52 to 605. Marlatt expanded from one week to two the "Housekeepers' Conferences," or short courses, that Hunt had instituted in 1905, offering lectures, demonstrations, and laboratory practice for non-University students. In 1911, the University purchased a small house located across the street from Agriculture Hall for the home economics students to use as a Practice Cottage. Three years later, the Home Economics and Extension Building was opened at 1300 Linden Drive. Although students had been involved in experiments from as early as 1908, the 1914 appointment of Dr. Amy Daniels marked the beginning of institutionalized home economics research at the University of Wisconsin. Student organizations such as the Euthenics Club, Omicron Nu and Phi Upsilon Omicron were established.

The lunch room

Home economics students and staff did not isolate themselves from the needs of the University and the larger community. The Department created the Dorothy Roberts Nursery School in response to a request from a group of neighborhood mothers in 1926. At the same time, the curriculum was expanded with the development of specialized majors such as foods and nutrition, textiles, applied bacteriology, related art, and home economics journalism, and the formation of a lunch room to provide students with institutional management experience.