RS 12/1/14 P. Mabel Nelson

Descriptive summary

creator:	Nelson, P. Mabel
title:	Papers
dates:	1914-1964, n.d.
extent:	1.68 linear feet (4 document boxes)
collection number:	RS 12/1/14
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	P. Mabel Nelson Papers, RS 12/1/14, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Dr. Precious Mabel Nelson was born November 9, 1887, in Brookston, Indiana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Nelson. She graduated from Riverside High School in Riverside, California, in 1906. For the next few years she taught in a country school. In 1909, she entered the University of California at Berkeley to prepare to teach English. While there she learned of a “new” field called home economics. In 1912, she transferred from Berkeley to the State Normal School of Manual Arts and Home Economics at Santa Barbara. She graduated from there the following year and received a diploma enabling her to teach sewing and cooking. Dr. Nelson returned to Berkeley and finished her Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition (1916). During the fall of 1919, she entered Yale University and graduated from there with her degree as a doctor of philosophy (1923).

Dr. Nelson came to Iowa State University College (University) in 1923. She joined the staff as an associate professor and Director of Research in Food and Nutrition. By 1926, she became the head of the department, and in 1944 was named Dean of the Division of Home Economics. During her time at Iowa State she expanded the department’s staff size from 83 to 108. She also pioneered the development of cooperative research among home economists of land grant colleges and state universities.

In addition to her duties as dean, Dr. Nelson was very active in extension activities through her work with the Federation of Women’s Clubs. She worked closely with the graduate committee of the college and with the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station. She was involved with WOI radio and appeared during the program called the “Homemaker’s Half Hour”. Dr Nelson also helped coordinate people during WWII in food production, conservation, and nutrition. She gave similar advice to those in charge of Iowa’s penal institutions.

Dr. Nelson was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Nu, Iota Sigma Pi, Mortar Board, Omicron Nu, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Sigma Delta Epsilon, Sigma Xi, American Association of University Women, American Chemical Society, American Institute of Nutrition, and is listed in the 10^th edition of American Men of Science, a directory of outstanding scientists in North America. She was permanent chairperson of the first cooperative project in six Midwestern states studying the nutritional status of college women, as well as chairperson of the Health Committee. She was a member of the executive group of the Iowa Home Economics Association and of the Iowa Farm Safety Committee. Dr. Nelson penned several professional papers and co-authored a laboratory manual called Food Preparation, Principles and Procedures.

Dr. Nelson retired as dean in 1952. She continued to teach at Iowa State before moving to California to live with her sister in 1957 . She died there February 19, 1963.

Collection description

The collection documents P. Mabel Nelson’s activities as the Dean of the Division of Home Economics (College of Family and Consumer Science). The collection contains copies of various speeches, notes, professional publications, and newsclippings. Also included is personal biographical information and correspondence, as well as some of the honors bestowed on her.

Organization

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Container List

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Biographical Information	1940-1963
1	2	Biographical Information – Dean Congratulatory Letters	1944-1945
1	3	Biographical Information – Honoraries	1923-1953
1	4	Biographical Information – Honorary Dinner	n.d.
1	5	Biographical Information – News Clippings	1923-1964
1	6	Correspondence – with Government, Staff, and Public (one of three)	1923-1959
1	7	Correspondence – with Government, Staff, and Public (two of three)	1923-1959
1	8	Correspondence – with Government, Staff, and Public (three of three)	1923-1959
1	9	Course Materials – 4-H Club Convention	1952
1	10	Course Materials – Diet Therapy Short Course	1962
1	11	Course Materials – The Eighteenth Annual 4-H Girls Club Convention	1947
1	12	Course Materials – Farm Electrification Short Course	1951
1	13	Course Materials – File of Materials Used in Nutrition	1937-1938
2	1	Course Materials – Food and Nutrition 303 Lesson Outlines	1952
2	2	Course Materials – Iowa State Nutrition Conference	1941
2	3	Course Materials – Scope of Home Economics	1953
2	4	Course Materials – Seminars	1925-1933
2	5	Department Materials – Enrollment	1930-1936
2	6	Department Materials – Foods and Nutrition Department	1931-1943
2	7	Department Materials – Food and Nutrition Department-Recipients of Advanced Degrees and Titles of Theses	1886-1962
2	8	Department Materials – Foods and Nutrition Staff Information	1920-1928
2	9	Department Materials – Food & Nutrition Staff Meeting Minutes	1931-1936
2	10	Department Materials – Master’s Thesis	1935-1936
2	11	Department Materials – Report of the Iowa State College Nutrition Subcommittee	1940
2	12	Department Materials – Summer Quarter-Report of Director	1940
2	13	Publications – The Alumnus of Iowa State College	1947-1953
2	14	Publications – Applications f Statistical Method to the Data of Vitamin Feeding Experiments	1930
2	15	Publications – Breeding Records of Rats Fed Certain Diets Containing Meat	1942
2	16	Publications – The Cooking of Meats	1924
2	17	Publications – Co-Operative Research Among Colleges	1937
2	18	Publications – Early Co-Operative Research in Home Economics	1953
2	19	Publications – Effect of Storage on Vitamin A Content of Canned Tomatoes	1940
2	20	Publications – The Effect of Treated Fats on Vitamin A Potency	1941
2	21	Publications – Farm and Home Week	1946
2	22	Publications – The Food Consumption Habits of 145 Iowa Farm Families	1935
2	23	Publications – Future Challenges-Home Economist	1945
2	24	Publications – Honey in Fancy and in Fat	1928
2	25	Publications – Influence of the Animal’s Age Upon the Quality and palatability of Beef	1930
2	26	Publications – Iowa Uses Enriched Flour	1944
2	27	Publications – Know Your Foods	1929
2	28	Publications – List of Publications on Food and Nutrition	1915-1953
2	29	Publications – Maternal Diet and Lactation	1926
2	30	Publications – Meat in Nutrition	1930
2	31	Publications – Mechanics of Research Development	1947
2	32	Publications – Nutrition in National Defense	1941
2	33	Publications – Observing Home Economics Education at Iowa State College	1949
2	34	Publications – The Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Lards and Other Fats in Relation to Their Culinary Value	1938
2	35	Publications – The Place of “Sweets” in the Diet	1930
2	36	Publications – The Relation of the Quality of Vegetables to the Waste Incurred and the Time Used in Their Preparation	1933
2	37	Publications – The Role of Diet in Lactation	1926
2	38	Publications – Second to None	1937
3	1	Publications – The Soybean As Human Food	n.d.
3	2	Publications – The Status of Digestion in the Stomach at the Time Beaumont Made His Observations on Alexis St. Martin	n.d.
3	3	Publications – Studies in Home Canning	1928
3	4	Publications – A Study of Certain Factors Affecting Shrinkage and Speed in the Roasting of Meat	1926
3	5	Publications – Use Lard as a Household Fat	1935
3	6	Publications – The Vitamin A, B, and C Content of Artificially Versus Naturally Ripened Tomatoes	1929
3	7	Publication – The Vitamin B Content of Vegetables	1930
3	8	Research – Canning Directions	1914-1936
3	9	Research – Critiques	1955
3	10	Research – History of Nutrition Committee	1952
3	11	Research – Information Concerning Iowa State University Home Economics History (one of two)	1934-1957
3	12	Research – Information Concerning Iowa State University Home Economics History (two of two)	1934-1957
3	13	Research – Information on Mary B. Welch	1954
4	1	Research – National School Lunch Workshop	1949
4	2	Research – Notes on History of Women’s Education	1949-1958
4	3	Research – Nutritional Status and Dietary Needs of Population Groups in the North Central Region	n.d.
4	4	Research – Travel Notes	n.d.
4	5	Speeches – The Community School Lunch Program	n.d.
4	6	Speeches – Dairy Products From Standpoint of Homemakers	1940
4	7	Speeches – The Development of Research in Foods and Nutrition	1934
4	8	Speeches – The First Cooperative Approach to the Nutritional Problems of College Women	1956
4	9	Speeches – Food Economy 78 Years Ago and Now	1934
4	10	Speeches – Glimpses of Home Economics at Iowa State College Through 75 Years	1947
4	11	Speeches – Have you Tried Oats?	1932
4	12	Speeches – Home Economics at the Iowa State College	n.d.
4	13	Speeches – The Home Experience Examination	n.d.
4	14	Speeches – Introductory Speeches Made	1947-1952
4	15	Speeches – Milk Makes the Difference	1940
4	16	Speeches – Nutrition and Health	1941
4	17	Speeches – The Part Meat Plays In Your Diet	n.d.
4	18	Speeches – Radio Talk on Lard for WHO Radio	1934
4	19	Speeches – Schedules and Programs of Speeches	1927-1956
4	20	Speeches – State Nutrition Council for National Defense	1943
4	21	Speeches – To the Alumni of the Home Economics Division	1949
4	22	Speeches – What is an Adequate Consumption of Dairy Products?	1942
4	23	Speeches – 20^th Century Food Knowledge