Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

P. Mabel Nelson

RS 12/1/14
P. Mabel (Precious Mabel) Nelson (1887-1963)
Papers, 1914-1962, undated


Descriptive summary

creator:

Nelson, P. Mabel (Precious Mabel) (1887-1963)
title:

Papers
dates:

1914-1962, undated
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 (Precious Mabel) Nelson Papers, RS 12/1/14, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

Precious Mabel Nelson (1887-1963) was a food scientist and served as Dean (1944-1952) of the Division of Home Economics at Iowa State. Nelson was a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (1916) and Yale University (1923). She joined the faculty of Iowa State in 1923 and was named Director of Research in Food and Nutrition prior to being named Dean. Nelson pioneered the development of cooperative research among home economists of land grant colleges and state universities. This collection contains biographical information, correspondence, awards, speeches, notes, professional publications, and news clippings.

 

Biographical note

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. 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).

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, 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”. 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.

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 10th 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. Nelson penned several professional papers and co-authored a laboratory manual called Food Preparation, Principles and Procedures.

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

This collection (1914-1962, undated) contains biographical information, correspondence, awards information, speeches, notes, professional publications, news clippings, course materials, departmental reports and records, and research files. Much of the research files and published works are focused on aspects of food science and human nutrition.

 

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

undated

1

5

Biographical Information: News Clippings

1923-1964

1

6

Correspondence: Government, Staff, and Public (1 of 3)

1923-1959

1

7

Correspondence: Government, Staff, and Public (2 of 3)

1923-1959

1

8

Correspondence: Government, Staff, and Public (3 of 3)

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: 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: Food and Nutrition Staff Information

1920-1928

2

9

Department Materials: Food and 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 of 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 "

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

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

2

39

Publications: "Spoilage of Canned Foods in Iowa"

1941

3

1

Publications: "The Soybean as Human Food"

undated

3

2

Publications: "The Status of Digestion in the Stomach at the Time Beaumont Made His Observations on Alexis St. Martin"

undated

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 (1 of 2)

1934-1957

3

12

Research: Information Concerning Iowa State University Home Economics History (2 of 2)

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

undated

4

4

Research: Travel Notes

undated

4

5

Speeches: "The Community School Lunch Program"

undated

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"

undated

4

13

Speeches: "The Home Experience Examination"

undated

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"

undated

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: "20th Century Food Knowledge"

1934