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Born and Raised
Born to Fanny and Peter Swallow. Raised on a farm and hardly had education. -
From Farm to Westford Academy
Graduated from Westford Academy skilled in Math and Latin language before 16 having very little to no education.
https://www.asce.org/templates/person-bio-detail.aspx?id=11201 -
Ellens First Teaching Job
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Graduates MIT
Deciding to take the road less traveled, Ellen was well known for her studies in water science. Before being admitted she was turned down several times but never gave up. She was finally admitted but under the circumstance she would be considered a "special student".
https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/ellen-h-swallow-richards -
Marries Robert Richards
Ellen's ,then, geology and mineralogy professor Robert Richards respected Ellen's drive and passion for more and decided to make the long term commitment of being her husband. After moving to Jamaica Plains and begins to teach science courses.
http://vcencyclopedia.vassar.edu/alumni/ellen-swallow-richards.html -
Sanitation Studies Professor
Prior to getting married, Ellen was set to lead an all women's science lab where they studied sanitary chemistry. Their studies lead to food and water safety awareness. Causing MA to pass its first food, drug and water safety laws and standards
http://news.mit.edu/2017/scene-at-mit-ellen-swallow-richards-womens-laboratory-0321 -
Adulteration of Food
Following her studies, Ellen wrote and published the book "Food Materials and Their Adulteration" (1885). The book discussed many topics including nutrition and the quality of food and how foods and drinking water have the potential to cause disease due to it sanitary standards. During her studies she found mahogany dust in cinnamon and arsenic in the walls.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015048470317&view=1up&seq=63 -
Admitted Once Again AIME
The American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers was founded in 1871 and Ellen was admitted in 1879 (along with her husband).
https://mininghalloffame.org/page/ellen-swallow-richards -
Co Founding
Ellen sat amungst 15 women and discussed her observation of the lack of opurtunities there were for women in education and what they cound do to improve the issue. After that meeting Ellen co-founds the Association of Collegiate Alumnae. In 1882 it was became The American Association of University Women.
https://www.aauw.org/ -
The Chemistry of Cooking and Cleaning
The Chemistry of Cooking and Cleaning was published in 1881 and covers the science behind removing stains from clothing, how to properly measure to bake a cake, and other topics for the homemaker (housekeeper)
https://archive.org/details/chemistrycooking00richiala/page/n6 -
Water Quality Standards Enforced
While still a professor, Ellen and her students performed a series of second test in which they concluded that the water was considered unsafe and unsanitary. This conclusion brought about water purifying tablets Soon after the development of the purifiers, the nation enforced its first water quality standards
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/women-scientists/ellen-h-swallow-richards.html -
Fanny Taylor Swallow
Ellen's mom dies in 1892. Because of Ellen's pertinacity and sagacity, she relentlessly continues to pursues and accomplishes her goals. -
Rumford Kitchen
Targeting the homemakers, women, the purpose of the Rumford Kitchen was to continue to bring awareness to food safety, nutrition and water sanitation, spices, food preparation, and overall education of all of the above by providing samples and displays.
https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/why-we-shouldnt-forget-ellen-richards-founder-the-home-ec-movement.htm -
Lake Placid Conference
The first meeting was held in 1899 and consisted of only 15 members. They discussed and debated on issues and successes of home economics over the years and how they could continue to improve. After a few years the annual conference grew from a few to hundreds of members.
http://www.lakeplacidnews.com/page/content.detail/id/526070/IT-S-OUR-HISTORY--Lake-Placid-s-home-economics-history.html -
The Cost of Living as Modified by Sanitary Science
Published in 1899, covered managing income, emotional and mental health, household organization and more.
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006548765 -
American Home Economics Association First President
Becoming AAFCS 1994
https://www.aafcs.org/advertise/about-aafcs -
Another Degree
Ellen received her BA in Food Science from Smith College as well as becoming a member of the board of trustees.
https://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/findaids/sophiasmith/mnsss59.html -
Ellens Death
Ellen died in 1911 due to angina. She left behind her studies loved ones and her legacy. To this day organization and businesses name awards, businesses and streets in her name in remembrance. -
Period: to
Birth to Death
In her time Ellen became one of the most important figures in Family and Consumer Science. From MIT to Rumford Kitchen, Richards was known for breaking boundaries and contributed greatly to FACS.
