Picturing history: postcards tell story of buildings named for human ecology leaders

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Human Ecology and K-State have more buildings named in honor of human ecology leaders than any other land grant university campus. Sets of 12 postcards depicting the buildings and their namesakes, numbering more than any other college at K-State, are available for $5.

Brightly colored postcards profile 100 years of leadership, ranging from Nellie Sawyer Kedzie Jones who joined the faculty in 1882 to Ruth Hoeflin who was dean until 1983.

To order, contact Carol Kellett at ckellett@k-state.edu or at 343-0 Justin Hall, College of Human Ecology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506. Mail order cost is $6. Checks should be payable to K-State Foundation/Human Ecology Council.

The cards are a project of the Human Ecology Student Council.

Nellie Sawyer Kedzie Jones: Kedzie Hall

Mrs. Kedzie joined the faculty in 1882 as superintendent of sewing and became department head for household economy and hygiene. She was the only female faculty member until 1884 and the first woman to hold professor rank and the first woman department head. In 1887, she left Kansas State Agricultural College and founded programs at Bradley University and the University of Wisconsin. Domestic Science Hall was dedicated in 1899 and named Kedzie Hall in 1902 to recognize her leadership in home economics. The building currently houses the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Henrietta Calvin: Calvin Hall

Appointed as a professor of domestic science in 1903, Mrs. Calvin started a summer program in domestic science and domestic arts for teachers in 1904 and earned recognition for strengthening the curriculum. During her appointment from 1903 to 1908, the Board of Regents approved a second building that was completed in 1908 after she accepted a position at Purdue University. Calvin Hall was dedicated in 1908 and named in honor of Mrs. Calvin in 1925 at the Golden Jubilee. Calvin Hall is currently the home of the College of Business Administration.

Helen Bishop Thompson: Thompson Hall

Dr. Thompson was the first dean of the Division of Home Economics, serving in this role from 1918 to 1923. With her leadership and elevated standards, programs grew in rank and influence. During her administration, the Kansas legislature appropriated funds for a cafeteria building, named Thompson Hall in her honor. The building was dedicated in 1922 and named Thompson Hall at the 1925 Golden Jubilee.

Mary Pierce Van Zile: Van Zile Hall

Van Zile was the first permanent residence hall at Kansas State Agricultural College. It opened in September 1926 to serve the increasing number of women students. Mary Van Zile served as dean of the Division of Home Economics from 1908 to 1918 and as the dean of women from 1908 to 1939. After she retired from K-State, she continued teaching at Iowa State University.

Ellen Swallow Richards, Margaret Ahlborn, and Ula Dow: Campus Creek Complex

The complex integrates three structures formerly used as home management residence houses. The first house, completed in 1948, was named Ellen Richards Lodge in honor of Dr. Richards. Although she did not serve on the KSAC faculty, she is a renowned leader and the founder of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, formerly the American Home Economics Association. The second residence was completed in 1949 and named Margaret Ahlborn Lodge in honor of the assistant dean of the Division of Home Economics from 1929 to 1937. The Ula Dow Lodge was completed in 1949 and named to recognize contributions of Ula Dow, professor and head of domestic science in 1913 and 1914. Additions to enlarge and nhance facilities for the Family Center and the Speech and Hearing Center were completed in 1996 and 2005 when the building was renamed as the Campus Creek Complex.

Margaret M. Justin: Justin Hall

Dr. Justin served as dean of the School of Home Economics from 1923 to 1954, earning recognition as an international leader in the discipline. In 1960, a 100,000 square foot building was completed and dedicated for home economics. The many creative features and innovations in Justin Hall were guided by Doretta Hoffman, who became the dean of home economics in 1954.

Doretta Hoffman: Hoffman Lounge

At the time of Dean Hoffman’s retirement, she requested that the lobby of Justin Hall be furnished in a manner that provided a welcoming and functional environment for studying, meetings and special events. Once the renovation was completed and furnishings purchased, it was named Hoffman Lounge in 1974, to honor her work as dean of the College of Home Economics from 1954 to 1974.

Georgiana Smurthwaite: Smurthwaite Scholarship and Leadership House

The residence house was dedicated in 1961 to honor the work of Georgiana Smurthwaite, a faculty member in Home Economics Cooperative Extension for more than 30 years. The Kansas Extension Homemakers Council helped raise funds for the construction of the residence facility that serves a small community of women scholars. Their contribution was made in appreciation of her work in providing effective educational programs in small rural communities.

Bessie B. West: West Residence Hall

The hall was named in honor of West, a nationally acclaimed leader in food service and institutional management. Mrs. West was the head of the Department of Institutional Management from 1923 to 1956 and director of the KSAC Cafeteria. West Hall opened to female students in fall 1962 to accommodate increasing enrollment. Mrs. West helped design the curriculum in which students have laboratory experiences in Kansas State Dining Services facilities.

Martha Kramer: Martha Kramer Dining Center

Dr. Kramer was a faculty member in foods and nutrition for 30 years and served as assistant dean of the School of Home Economics from 1945 to 1960. The was dedicated in 1965 as part of the complex that includes Marlatt and Goodnow Residence Halls. Kramer Dining Center staff members supervise and mentor students and interns in the Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics.

Martha S. Pittman: Pittman Building

Headquarters of K-State’s Housing and Dining Services, dedicated in 1987, named in honor of the head of the Department of Food Economics and Nutrition from 1923 to 1946. Dr. Pittman is recognized for her leadership to enhance graduate education and research innovations as well as continuous publication of her book, Practical Cookery.

Ruth Hoeflin: Ruth Hoeflin Early Childhood Education Center

Most commonly called The Stone House, the building is officially the Ruth Hoeflin Early Childhood Education Center and C.Q. and Georgia Chandler Institute for Child and Family Studies. The expanded facility was dedicated in 2001. Dr. Hoeflin was dean of the College of Home Economics from 1975 to 1983 after fulfilling other leadership roles within the college. Throughout her career, Dean Hoeflin dedicated her teaching and research to the development of young children as she mentored home economics students.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 and is filed under Dean's Blog.