Jessie V. Coles (1893-1976) was a professor of home economics. Coles graduated from Iowa State College (University) with a B.S. (1915) in Home Economics. She received her M.A. (1922) from Columbia University in New York City and her Ph.D. (1930) from the University of Chicago. She taught at the University of Missouri and the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of the book The Consumer-Buyer and the Market (1938). This collection contains news clippings, awards materials, correspondence, publications, and photographs of her parents. The publications include published writings on consumer spending and family budgets.

Jessie Vee Coles was born June 28, 1894 near Williams, Iowa. She graduated from the local high school and then attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids for two years. Coles transferred to Iowa State College (University) at Ames, where she earned her B.S. (1915) in Home Economics. She received her M.A. (1922) from Columbia University in New York City and her Ph.D. (1930) from the University of Chicago. In the late 1930s she taught at the University of Missouri and wrote the book The Consumer-Buyer and the Market (1938).

Coles was hired as an Associate Professor (1941-1950) at the University of California at Berkeley. She was promoted to full Professor (1950-1961) and remained at Berkeley until her retirement. After her retirement she continued giving lectures and teaching summer school until November 1964. She contacted Iowa State University in 1974 wishing to donate her Iowa farmland to the College of Agriculture. Coles died February 17, 1976, at her home in Greenbrae, California, at age 81.

This collection (1916-1977, undated) contains biographical information, awards, publications, and photographs of her family. The publications include a bibliography of published works and writings on consumer spending and family budgets. Clippings and correspondence related to the donation of her family farm located in Hamilton County, Iowa, to Iowa State University in 1974 is also included in these materials.

The following book by Coles is available in the ISU Library:

The Consumer-Buyer and the Market (call number TX335 C68co)

The files are arranged in chronological order.