March 7th

Born this day in 1869, Abby Lillian Marlatt, Home Economics Professor of University of Wisconsin director of Home Economics. Marlett earned BS in Domestic Science in 1888 Kansas State College and a MS Domestic Economy in 1890. Marlatt organized Utah State Agricultural College's domestic economy department and a home economics department at the Manuel Training High School in Rhode Island. Marlatt's success at these shcools caught the attention of the Dean of UW Harry L. Russell who invited Marlatt to develop a department at UW. In 1909, she began to create a domestic science program that influenced other such educational programs the world over. In 1912, The Practical Cottage, was the corner stone of Marlatt's program. The concept of using an actual home for the studies of domestic arts. The university purchased a house and with some home improvements, and "home schooling" was in session.
Marlatt and her students took the concept of running a household very seriously. The Practical Cottage, was a blank slate ready for the students create functioning household. Marlatt was a strong personality, whose commitment to her program and the students are still remembered. When Marlatt arrived at UW there were 52 students, 12 courses, one major, one faculty member with one assistant. When she retired in 1939the Home Economics Department had 602 students, 67 courses, eight majors, and 25 faculty members, and one research assistant. And that is a good thing.


On this day in 1955, Mary Martin's Peter Pan was televised.