Archives West Finding Aid
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Alice L. Edwards Papers, 1895-1962
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Edwards, Alice L. (Alice Leora), 1882-
- Title
- Alice L. Edwards Papers
- Dates
- 1895-1962 (inclusive)18951962
- Quantity
- 1.25 cubic feet, including 70 photographs, (5 boxes, including 1 oversize box)
- Collection Number
- MSS EdwardsAlice
- Summary
- The materials in this collection were generated and/or collected by Alice L. Edwards, a 1906 graduate of Oregon Agricultural College. They document her career as a home economist and include materials related to her personal life. The collection contains correspondence, clippings and publications, photographs and artwork, certificates and awards, ephemera, coursework and teaching materials, and two diaries kept by Edwards on a trip to Europe in 1925.
- Repository
-
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Alumna Alice Leora Edwards was born April 19, 1882 in Monroe, Oregon to Louis Edwards and Margaret Whealdon Edwards. As a young woman, Edwards taught at the Bellfountain country school before attending Oregon Agricultural College (OSU), graduating in 1906 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.
From 1909 to 1915, Edwards taught Zoology and Entomology at OAC, and later served as a Student Assistant in the Biology department at Teachers College, Columbia University from 1915 to 1917. She received her M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1917. From 1917 to 1918 she was Assistant Professor of Dietetics at the University of Minnesota, and between 1921 and 1926 served as Dean of Home Economics at Rhode Island State College.
In 1925, Edwards, a member of the World Student Christian Federation, traveled with the group to Europe to encourage and coordinate the work of existing national student Christian movements after the devastation of World War I. In 1940, Edwards completed her Doctorate of Education at Columbia University Teachers College, and the next year became the Dean of Home Economics at Mary Washington College at the University of Virginia at Fredericksburg, a position she held until her retirement from academic life in 1951.
Edwards also served as Executive Secretary of the American Home Economics Association from 1926 until 1936. In her capacity with the Association, she represented the organization on the Council of American Standards, the Women's Joint Congressional Committee, and served on the President's Advisory Committee on Education. During her career, she edited Scientific Consumer Purchasing: A Study Guide for the Consumer (1939), co-authored Consumer Standards (1941) and wrote Product Standards and Labeling for Consumers (1940). She devoted her career to advocating for standardized size and labels for consumer goods.
Edwards moved back to Oregon in 1951 and died in Corvallis, Oregon on July 4, 1962.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The first series, Biographical materials, includes Edwards' college transcripts, curriculum vitae, letters of reference and newspaper clippings regarding her publications and career advancement.
The second series is comprised of personal and professional correspondence, including correspondence relating to her work with the American Home Economics Association, lists of land grant institutions that offered home economics for teacher training, and her work with the National Canners' Association to standardize the size and labeling of consumer products.
Two diaries, kept by Edwards during her trip to Europe in 1925 with the World Student Christian Federation comprise the third series.
The fourth series is comprised primarily of publications and clippings. The majority of the publications and clippings in this series were written by others.
The fifth series, Coursework and Teaching Materials, contains materials related to Oregon Agricultural College, including the Golden Jubilee Reunion of the Class of 1906, and an article written by Edwards entitled Early Oregon State. Of particular note is a collection of responses to a questionnaire Edwards sent to alumni of the OAC 1905-06 Home Economics program regarding the effectiveness of the program and its effect on their lives (Box 3, Folder 1).
The sixth series contains personal ephemera, including pamphlets, theater bills, and event programs. Of special note in this series is a pamphlet for a "Birth Control Mass Meeting" held in Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York in 1916. Guest speakers included Emma Goldman, with a special appearance by Margaret Sanger (Box 3, Folder 8).
The seventh series contains photographs and artwork. The photographs are exclusively black and white, and the artwork including etchings and a sketchbook.
Series eight consists of certificates and awards, including Edwards' 1908 certificate to teach in the public schools of Oregon and Rhode Island, and a Meritorious Service Award from the Office of Price Administration, recognizing Edwards' service to the "war effort."
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Alice L. Edwards Papers (MSS EdwardsAlice), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The papers consists of eight series: 1. Biographical Materials, 1917-1962; 2. Correspondence, 1916-1961; 3. Diaries, 1925; 4. Clippings and Publications, 1906-1959; 5. Coursework and Teaching Materials, 1905-1956; 6. Ephemera, 1906-1956; 7. Photographs and Artwork, 1895-1956; and 8. Certificates and Awards, 1908-1955.
Acquisition Information
The materials were donated to Oregon State College in 1961.
Related Materials
SCARC's holdings include nearly eighty collections relating to home economics at Oregon Agricultural College, including the College of Home Economics and Education Records (RG 141), the College of Home Economics Motion Picture Films and Videotapes (FV 044), the College of Home Economics Photograph Collection (P 044), the College of Home Economics Oral Histories (OH 011), and the Ava Milam Clark Papers (MSS ClarkAvaM).
Materials pertaining to Oregon Agricultural College alumni can be found in the Alumni Association Records (RG 035), and many other collections.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1917-1962Return to Top
Series 1, Biographical Materials, includes Edwards' college transcripts, curriculum vitae, letters of reference and newspaper clippings regarding her publications and career advancement.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1.1 | Transcripts, publication list, letters of recommendation |
1917-1962 |
Series 2: Correspondence, 1916-1961Return to Top
Included in this series is correspondence concerning her work updating the book Scientific Consumer Purchasing: A Study Guide for Consumers and the publication of her work Product Standards and Labeling for Consumers.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1.2 | Personal |
1919-1961 |
| 1.3 | Professional |
1916-1936 |
| 1.4 | Professional |
1937-1956 |
Series 3: Diaries, 1925Return to Top
The diaries in this series include information about activities and experiences aboard the out-going vessel the S.S. Andania; landing at London; and the various cities visited, including Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, Vienna, and Geneva. An itinerary for the trip is included with the first diary (Box 1, Folder 5).
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1.5 | Women's Student Pilgrimage itinerary and diary |
circa 1925 |
| 1.6 | Diary |
1925 |
Series 4: Clippings and Publications, 1906-1959Return to Top
Included in this series are book reviews, consumer education articles, and materials related to the Langworthy Dietary Survey. Of special note in this series are reports prepared by Bertha Edwards, Alice's sister, for the East Harlem Nursing and Health Service of New York City, for which Bertha was the Supervisor of Nutrition (Box 2, Folder 1).
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1.7 | Advisory Committee on Education |
1937 |
| 1.8 | American Standards Association |
1930-1936 |
| 1.9 | The Atlantic Monthly |
1936, 1939 |
| 1.10 | Book reviews, conference reports |
1939, 1942 |
| 1.11 | The Commentator |
1939 |
| 1.12 | Consumer Education articles |
1931-1939 |
| 2.1 | Food and Nutrition articles |
1926-1953 |
| 2.2 | Gender [women's pay, Why Women Work] |
1938-1953 |
| 2.3 | Harper's Monthly |
1934-1935 |
| 2.4 | Home Economics |
1928-1954 |
| 2.5 | Home Economics and Home-making |
1935-1936 |
| 2.6 | Industrial Standards |
undated |
| 2.7 | Land Grant College Association |
1930-1941 |
| 2.8 | Langworthy Dietary Studies |
1918 |
| 2.9 | Poetry |
circa 1922 |
| 2.10 | Teachers' Salaries: Are They Too Low? |
undated |
| 2.11 | United States Department of Agriculture; Office of Education |
1912-1945 |
| 2.12 | Product Standards on Labeling for Consumers |
1939 |
| 2.13 | Published by Alice Edwards |
1931-1940 |
| 2.14 | Vox Studentium |
1926 |
| 5.1 | Langworthy Dietary Studies: Menus |
undated |
| 5.2 | Alice L. Edwards, Things that We All Want Alike: Buying Information for the Spring Bride; assorted clippings |
1925-1952 |
| 5.3 | Essays: Nature, Survival of the Fittest; Fifth Anniversary Address, Philomath College |
circa 1900 |
Series 5: Coursework and Teaching Materials, 1905-1956Return to Top
Of particular note in this series is a collection of responses to a questionnaire Edwards sent to alumni of the OAC 1905-06 Home Economics program regarding the effectiveness of the program and its effect on their lives (Box 3, Folder 1). Included with the survey are lists of Home Economics alumni for the years 1889 through 1907, a draft of the letter sent to questionnaire recipients, and letters from recipients who chose not to complete the questionnaire.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2.15 | Columbia University |
1939-1940 |
| 3.1 | Oregon Agricultural College, Home Economics Questionnaire |
1924-1925 |
| 3.2 | Oregon State College, Golden Jubilee Reunion |
1956 |
| 3.3 | Oregon State College, Home Economics Association, Early Oregon State
|
undated |
| 3.4 | Oregon Agricultural College, OAC Barometer
This item has been digitized.
|
1905 |
| 3.5 | Rhode Island State College |
1925 |
Series 6: Ephemera, 1906-1956Return to Top
Included in this series are personal ephemera, including pamphlets, theater bills, and event programs, including a pamphlet for a "Birth Control Mass Meeting" held in Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York in 1916 (Box 3, Folder 8).
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3.6 | Pamphlets: Europe trip |
1906-1925 |
| 3.7 | Pamphlets: Phi Upsilon Omicron Constitution and Bylaws; Oregon Agricultural College, School of Domestic Science and Art, Camp Cookery
|
1912, 1936 |
| 3.8 | Pamphlets: New York Birth Control Committee Mass Meeting; Manners in Public Places
|
1916, 1925 |
| 3.9 | Theater bills, programs, and flyers |
1916-1956 |
Series 7: Photographs and Artwork, 1895-1956Return to Top
Included in this series is a group photograph of the opening of the Celilo Canal on the Columbia River in 1913, with Oregon Senator Nathan Whealdon and L.N. Edwards in attendance; the OAC senior class of 1906; various photographs taken during Edwards' trip to Europe in 1925; and family photographs. Also included are photographs of the Oregon Agricultural College campus as well as of the campus of Washington State College in Pullman, Washington. The etchings in the series were likely purchased by Edwards during her travels through Europe in 1924-1925; the sketches, done by an unidentified artist, depict humorous events and/or interactions, done in the style of cartoons. Some of the captions for the sketches are in German, which suggest these sketches were done by Edwards during her travels in Europe.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4.1 | Photograph album
The photograph album contains 62 black and white prints. Subjects include scenic views of Mt. Hood and surrounding area; group shots and individual photographs of Oregon Agricultural College's Class of 1906; views of the OAC campus; family photographs; and hiking and picnicing scenes (presumably also near Mt. Hood). The pages have been removed from the album and individually sleeved.
|
circa 1906 |
| 4.2 | Alice Edwards portrait, Golden Jubilee photographs |
circa 1956 |
| 4.3 | Sketchbook and etchings |
undated |
| 5.4 | Group photograph, Opening of the Celilo Canal on the Columbia River |
circa 1913 |
| 5.5 | Painting of Alice Edwards [print]; wood block print of The Acropolis |
undated |
Series 8: Certificates and Awards, 1908-1955Return to Top
Series eight consists of certificates and awards, including Edwards' certificates to teach in the public schools of Oregon and Rhode Island.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4.4 | Certificates and Awards
Oregon Teacher's Certification (1908); Rhode Island Teacher's Certification (1921); Pi Lambda Theta "Key" certificate (1938); OSU Foundation Sustaining Member Award (1955)
|
1910-1955 |
| 5.6 | Certificates and Awards
Phi Kappa Phi membership certificate, Rhode Island State College (1923); Meritorious Service Award, United States Office of Price Administration (1945)
|
1923-1945 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Commercial products--Specifications.
- Consumer education--Handbooks, manuals, etc.
- Consumer education--Study and teaching.
- Food--Standards.
- Home economics students--Oregon--Corvallis.
- Home economics--Study and teaching (Higher)
- Labels--Standards--United States.
- Standardization.
Personal Names
- Edwards, Alice L. (Alice Leora), 1882-
Corporate Names
- American Home Economics Association.
- Oregon Agricultural College. Class of 1906.
- Oregon Agricultural College. School of Home Economics.
- Oregon State College--Alumni and Alumnae.
- World Student Christian Federation.
Form or Genre Terms
- Etchings (prints)
- Photograph albums.
- Photographic prints.
- Questionnaires.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Kaidanovsky, Samuel P. (creator)
Corporate Names
- American Home Economics Association. Committee on Standardization of Consumers' Goods. (creator)
Finding Aid Authors: Faye Harkins and Rachel Lilley.
2018
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
