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Maud May Babcock (May 2, 1867 – December 31, 1954) was born in East Worcester, New York to William Wayne Babcock and Sarah Jane Butler. She was educated in the public schools of Binghamton, New York then received a Bachelor of Arts from Wells College in New York and a Bachelor of Education from the National School of Elocution and Oratory in Philadelphia. In 1890, she graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with a diploma.

While studying and teaching at Harvard University, Babcock taught Susa Young Gates, daughter of Brigham Young. Gates convinced her to move to Salt Lake City where Babcock became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and became the first female member of the University of Utah's faculty. Babcock founded two departments, the Department of Speech and the Department of Physical Education. She taught in both departments, and became the first female chair of a department at the University of Utah. She worked at the University for 47 years. Babcock loved physical activity, and she made valuable contributions to the Deseret Gym. She also established University of Utah's first physical training curriculum, which for several years included speech and dramatics. She established the University Theater, originated the first college dramatic club in the United States, led the production of the first university stage play, directed over 300 plays and taught.

She wrote five books on speech and elocution and was a renowned traveler and lecturer in the region. In addition to her professional interests in drama and elocution, she also favored women's suffrage and opposed corsets.

She served as president of the National Association of Teachers of Speech, and was a trustee for the Utah State School for Deaf and Blind for 20 years. In 1907, she was elected to be president of the board of trustees for the school. Along with all of her work in physical education and theater, Babcock was the first woman to serve as chaplain in the Utah senate, becoming the first woman chaplain in any state senate in the United States.