NTDMG211.xml Margaret Ritchie Papers 1895-1983 Ritchie (Margaret) Papers Finding aid prepared by Judith Nielsen Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives ©1990 Encoded by ArchProteus2003 Finding aid is in English Overview of the Collection University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives MG211 Margaret Ritchie, 1895-1986 Margaret Ritchie Papers 1895-1983 EXT Correspondence, brochures, newspaper clippings about Ritchie and her acquaintances, curriculum vitae, Columbia University Teachers' College master's diploma (1930), certificates of appreciation, photographs, postcards, yearbooks of the American Association of University Women and the PEO Sisterhood, World War II ration books, list of appointments, 1949-1950, and other items. English

Margaret Ritchie was born in Bay City, Michigan, June 5, 1895, the daughter of John W. and Helen (White) Ritchie. She spent her early life there, graduating from Eastern High School in 1914. She received a diploma from Skidmore School in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1916, then attended Columbia University Teachers College in New York City where she received her B.S. degree in 1918 and her M.A. in 1930.

She was an assistant instructor of foods and chemistry at Columbia before joining the home economics staff at Battle Creek College in Michigan where she taught for 18 years, eventually becoming director of the home economics department. When the school closed its doors in 1938 Ritchie came to the University of Idaho as head of Home Economics. She retired as department head in 1959, but continued to teach until forced to retire because of age in 1965. She then taught at California Polytechnic College in Pomona until 1968 when she returned to Moscow to live.

She was active in university, community, and professional affairs during her 47 years in Moscow. She was a member and officer in many organizations including the Home Economics Association, Idaho Home Economics Association, American Diatetics Association, and Moscow Dieticians Group. She served on the board of Church Women United and was active in Meals on Wheels and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women and the PEO Sisterhood.

Margaret Ritchie died in Moscow on January 7, 1986, at the age of 90. Her body was cremated and the ashes sent to Bay City for burial.

The papers of Margaret Ritchie include her curriculum vitae, her M.A. diploma, certificates of appreciation, a small amount of correspondence, brochures, programs, newspaper clippings about her and people she knew, professional photographs as well an informal snapshots and a few post cards, and AAUW and PEO yearbooks. Other items include World War II ration books, a list of appointments for the years 1949 and 1950, a 7 1/2 x 11 1/2" 48 star American flag, and a lock of her baby hair.

The papers of Margaret Ritchie were donated to the University of Idaho Library by her estate and were delivered by Calvin Warnick in May 1989.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Idaho Women Ritchie, Margaret, 1895-1986--Archives. University of Idaho -- Faculty -- Records and correspondence Rationing -- Idaho -- History -- Sources Detailed Description of the Collection 1/1 Curriculum Vitae, etc. 1936-1981 5 items 1/2 Diploma and certificates 1930-1959 3 items 1/3 Speech delivered during Skidmore commencement week 1916 1 item 1/4 Correspondence 1930-1965 14 items 1/5 Receipts 1930 29 items 1/6 Programs for musical events ca. 1930 2 items Clippings, Brochures, etc. 1918-1965 1/7 Travel clippings and brochures undated 6 items 1/8 Bay City clippings 1928-1962 15 items 1/9 Columbia University Teachers College 1918-1930 12 items 1/10 Battle Creek College 1927-1963 28 items 1/11 University of Idaho 1938-1953 15 items 1/12 International Home Economics Association, Paris 1963 12 items 1/13 Margaret Ritchie Recognition Dinner February 23, 1965 16 items Photographs 1895-1983 1/14 Helen and John Ritchie ca. 1895-1955 4 items 1/15-16 Formal portraits of Margaret Ritchie as a child 1895-1903 24 items 1/17 Formal portraits of Margaret Ritchie as an adult 1915-1965 9 items 1/18 Snapshots of Margaret Ritchie 1919-1983 41 items 1/19 Dedication of Home Economics Building November 1952 2 items 1/20 John Harvey Kellogg and the Miami Clinic 1925-1936 9 items 1/21 Idaho and University of Idaho scenes undated 5 items 1/22 Other photographs undated 6 items 1/23 AAUW, Battle Creek branch, yearbooks 1932-1938 6 items 1/24 P.E.O. Sisterhood yearbooks 1941-1945 6 items 1/25 Other items 1897-1951 6 items