1926 - 1980
Manuscript Collection Number: 439
Accessioned: Gift of J. Rodman Steele,
Jr. 2001; videotapes gift of the American Association of Family
and Consumer Sciences.
Extent: 1.6 linear ft.
Content: correspondence, newspaper
clippings, financial documents, receipts, printed material, ephemera,
photographs, programs, postcards, notebooks, professional files, publications,
journals, obituaries,
bibliography, greeting cards, and video tapes.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: Sally W. Donatello,
April 2002.
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Marion Harlan Steele (1904-1985) was one of the pioneers of the American home economics movement, which began at the turn of the twentieth century. Ellen H. Richards founded the American Home Economics Association (AHEA) in 1909. Steele championed Richards’ philosophy about family, nutrition, and ecology, but especially devoted her efforts to the International Scholarship Program of AHEA (which became the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences—AAFCS—in 1994).
Steele was born on June 23, 1904, and spent her childhood in Elsmere, Delaware. After she graduated from high school, she worked for a local ophthalmologist. Then she attended the University of Delaware’s Women’s College. After graduation in 1928 with a B.S. in English, Steele became active in the Alumnae Association, and was its president in 1933. Furthermore, she served on the executive committee for the celebration of the University’s Centenary, which was held in May 1934.
In 1928 Steele started a career as secretary to Helen W. Atwater, the editor of AHEA’s Journal of Home Economics. After a number of promotions she became managing editor in 1946. Steele held that position until she retired in 1969.
Upon her retirement, colleagues and students made a contribution in Steele’s name to AHEA’s International Scholarship Fund. A book of tributory letters from international students was organized and presented to her. In addition, AHEA’s 1969 Assembly of Delegates passed a resolution of appreciation for her commitment to its organization and International Scholarship Fund.
During her forty-one years of service to AHEA and its mission, Steele developed friendships with professionals, students, and teachers nationally and internationally. Many of those people became well known for their contributions to the evolution of home economics into its current form of family and consumer economics.
While on the staff at AHEA’s headquarters, Steele resided in Washington, D.C., and every Friday afternoon she returned to her family home in Delaware to spend the weekend. She had two brothers, Leroy Steele and Joseph Rodman Steele. After she retired she moved back home to 112 N. du Pont Road in Elsmere, Delaware. She died on September 23, 1985.
Her alma mater honors her memory and work with an annual symposium sponsored by the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy (CHEP) at the University of Delaware. Additionally, the symposium is hosted by the Delaware Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (DAFCS), the University’s Human Resources Alumni Association, Delaware State University, and Steele’s family. This May event is an opportunity for students to present research papers in a professional forum.
Note: Biographical information derived from the collection and the University of Delaware Archives. The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) generously shared materials and videos tapes from their archives. See manuscript librarian for additional information.
The Marion H. Steele Papers, spanning the years 1926-1980, contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial documents, receipts, printed material, publications, ephemera, employment documents, photographs, programs, postcards, professional files, journals, obituaries, bibliography, greeting cards, and videotapes. The collection is small—1.6 linear feet, yet the material gives a clear view of her life as a devoted professional on the staff of the American Home Economics Association (AHEA). The papers also show her connection to the University of Delaware’s Women’s College, and her involvement with the Alumnae Association in the 1930s.
The papers are arranged in chronological order, and follow her life from college to post-retirement days. They are divided into three sections. The first is her time associated with the University of Delaware. The second is her work with AHEA and its International Scholarship Fund. The third contains a few miscellaneous items. The bulk of the material focuses on AHEA’s International Scholarship Fund.
In the first section there are publications from Steele’s undergraduate days at the University as well as documents and expenses associated with the Women’s College Alumnae Association; a reunion list from 1932 for classes 1918-1931; and, a notebook filled with correspondence and notes about the University’s Centenary in 1934—Steele served on the executive committee for its planning (Box 1, F2-F4).
Most of the papers are about the AHEA where Steele worked from 1928-1969 (Boxes 1-3, F9 –F30). Much of the correspondence is evidence of her relationships with students, professors, and professionals in her job at AHEA. There is substantial material about the International Scholarship Fund. Among the material are twenty-four spiral- bound stenographer’s notebooks filled with notes about the Fund (Box 1, F19).
AAFCS (AHEA) provided two videotapes to include in the collection (Box 2, F31). One recording is a full-length tape about Steele, and is titled Marion H. Steele Remembered. On this video Evelyn C. Miller of the Delaware Home Economics Association interviews numerous colleagues, co-workers, friends, and relatives who share their recollections of Steele. Her oldest and dearest friend, Dr. Mildred B. Foreman, recalled stories about their childhood in Wilmington, Delaware, and re-enforced the consensus about her devotion to AHEA. Other friends from her high school and college days talked about their long friendships and the “Elsmere girls.” The video also describes Steele’s commitment to family and friends in her home state. The comments summarize the wealth of knowledge that she amassed about home economics, and especially her work as secretary to the International Scholarship Fund from 1947-1969. Most of the remarks express a common theme about Steele’s professional character and her role as a mentor and friend to so many, especially international students. Most of the people interviewed discussed qualities that made Steele so respected in her professional and personal life. They described her as meticulous, caring, determined, scholarly, mannerly, highly energetic, and devoted. Marion H. Steele Remembered is a shortened version of the longer video (Box 3, F31).
Although the Marion H. Steele Papers are small in volume, their content shows a woman’s life devoted to the pursuit of her profession as well as the education of women about careers in home economics. For that work Steele’s alma mater, the University of Delaware, and her employer, AHEA, have kept her legacy alive.
I. University of Delaware
A. Publications
B. Alumnae Association, Women’s College
C. Centenary
D. The Review
II. American Association of Home Economics
A. Association Related Material
B. International Scholarship Fund
C. Miscellaneous Materials
D. Videotapes
III. Miscellany
Box -- Folder -- Contents
I. University of Delaware
1 F1 Bulletin of the University of Delaware,
Women’s College, 1926-1927, March 1927
F2 Publications, 1923-1931
F3 Publications, 1957-1960s
F4 Alumnae Association, Women’s College, University
of Delaware, 1930s (I)
F5 Alumnae Association, Women’s College, University
of Delaware, 1930s (II)
F6 Centenary, University of Delaware, 1934 (I)
F7 Centenary, University of Delaware, 1934 (II)
F8 The Review, University of Delaware, 1934
Two copies of the student newspaper, dated January
19 and April 25, with articles about the centenary
II. American Association of Home Economics (AHEA)
F9 AHEA, 1942-1968
F10 Related Materials on Home Economics’ Conferences
and Programs, 1964-1968
1 F11 Journal of Home Economics, Annual Meeting Survey,
1968
F12 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (I)
F13 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (II)
Contains reprints from the Journal of Home
Economics about scholarship students
F14 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (III)
Contains correspondence from colleagues, students,
and friends; most of it was received after her
retirement in 1969
F15 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (IV)
Contains correspondence from colleagues, students,
and friends; most of it was received after her
retirement in 1969
F16 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (V)
Contains correspondence from colleagues, students,
and friends; most of it was received after her
retirement in 1969
F17 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (VI)
Contains correspondence from colleagues, students,
and friends; most of it was received after her
retirement in 1969
F18 AHEA, International Scholarship Fund (VII)
Contains correspondence from colleagues, students,
and friends; most of it was received after her
retirement in 1969
F19 Notes, AHEA, International Scholarship Fund
Meetings, 1947-1969
Contains twenty-four notebooks
2 F20 Miscellaneous, Home Economics Materials
F21 Bibliographies, 1938-1939
Contains an extensive bibliography on home
economics subjects; put together by Steele
F22 National Dairy Council Booklet
F23 Journal of Home Economics, 1947-1952
Contains three journals (1947, 1950, 1952) and two
promotional booklets for noted from AHEA
F24 Home Economists, 1929
Contains a publication about prominent men and
women of the home economics movement in the United
States
3 F25 Journal of Home Economics, 1953
Contains three issues of the journal from January
to March
F26 Journal of Home Economics, 1959-1968
Contains the 1959 fiftieth anniversary issue of
the journal and one from 1968
F27 American Dietetics Association, 1936-1940
Contains review copies of two small booklets (1936
and 1940)
F28 American Association of University Women, 1965
Contains an article (p. 10-12) that mentions Ellen
H. Richards (1842-1911) who founded AHEA and was a
pioneer in home economics education.
F29 Obituaries, 1947-1970
Contains programs and news clippings about
colleagues, friends, professors, and
acquaintances. Two programs from memorial
services held at the University of Delaware are
included. These programs highlight the lives of
Winifred Josephine Robinson (1867-1962) who was
Dean of the Women’s College and Francis Hagar
Squire (1902-1956) who was Dean of the College of
Arts and Science. There is also a news clipping
about Edith A. McDougle who taught in the
Mathematics Department at the University of
Delaware for thirty-two years. In 1918 McDougle
was one of the first graduates of the Women’s
College of Delaware.
F30 Steele’s Notebook of Quotations
F31 Videotapes, ca. 1985
Contents: Two VHS tapes; tape #one titled Marion
H. Steele Remembered runs approximately seventy-
five minutes; tape two, which is a shorter version
of the first tape, is titled A Living Tribute to
Marion H. Steele and runs approximately fifteen
minutes.
Description: The tapes are interviews with
colleagues, co-workers, friends, and family. They
provide significant information about Steele’s
professional commitment to AHEA and personal
allegiance to her family and friends in Elsmere,
Delaware. Most of the individuals expressed a
common notion that Steele’s work with the
International Scholarship Fund was a sizable
contribution to the field of home economics. Her
boundless energy formed lasting bonds with foreign
students. Evelyn C. Miller, who represented the
Delaware Home Economics Association, conducted the
interviews.
III. Miscellany
F32 News Clippings, 1933-1944
F33 Miscellaneous
F34 Drawing
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