| 
Manuscript Group 211
Papers, 1895-1983
0.5 cubic feet
The papers of Margaret Ritchie were donated to the University of Idaho Library by her estate and were delivered by Calvin Warnick in May 1989. They were processed by Judith Nielsen in July 1990.
Margaret Ritchie was born in Bay City, Michigan, June 5, 1895, the daughter of John W. and Helen (White) Ritchie. She spent her early life there, graduating from Eastern High School in 1914. She received a diploma from Skidmore School in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1916, then attended Columbia University Teachers College in New York City where she received her B.S. degree in 1918 and her M.A. in 1930.
She was an assistant instructor of foods and chemistry at Columbia before joining the home economics staff at Battle Creek College in Michigan where she taught for 18 years, eventually becoming director of the home economics department. When the school closed its doors in 1938 Ritchie came to the University of Idaho as head of Home Economics. She retired as department head in 1959, but continued to teach until forced to retire because of age in 1965. She then taught at California Polytechnic College in Pomona until 1968 when she returned to Moscow to live.
She was active in university, community, and professional affairs during her 47 years in Moscow. She was a member and officer in many organizations including the Home Economics Association, Idaho Home Economics Association, American Diatetics Association, and Moscow Dieticians Group. She served on the board of Church Women United and was active in Meals on Wheels and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women and the PEO Sisterhood.
Margaret Ritchie died in Moscow on January 7, 1986, at the age of 90. Her body was cremated and the ashes sent to Bay City for burial.
The papers of Margaret Ritchie include her curriculum vitae, her M.A. diploma, certificates of appreciation, a small amount of correspondence, brochures, programs, newspaper clippings about her and people she knew, professional photographs as well an informal snapshots and a few post cards, and AAUW and PEO yearbooks. Other items include World War II ration books, a list of appointments for the years 1949 and 1950, a 7 1/2 x 11 1/2" 48 star American flag, and a lock of her baby hair.
Box Folder Description Items 1 1 Curriculum Vitae, etc., 1936-1981 5 2 Diploma and certificates, 1930-1959 3 3 Speech delivered during Skidmore commencement week, 1916 1 4 Correspondence, 1930-1965 14 5 Receipts, 1930 29 6 Programs for musical events, ca.1930 2
7 Travel clippings and brochures, n.d. 6 8 Bay City clippings, 1928-1962 15 9 Columbia University Teachers College, 1918-1930 12 10 Battle Creek College, 1927-1963 28 11 University of Idaho, 1938-1953 15 12 International Home Economics Association, Paris, 1963 12 13 Margaret Ritchie Recognition Dinner, February 23, 1965 16
14 Helen and John Ritchie, ca.1895-1955 4 15-16 Formal portraits of Margaret Ritchie as a child, 1895-1903 24 17 Formal portraits of Margaret Ritchie as an adult, 1915-1965 9 18 Snapshots of Margaret Ritchie, 1919-1983 41 19 Dedication of Home Economics Building, November 1952 2 20 John Harvey Kellogg and the Miami Clinic, 1925-1936 9 21 Idaho and University of Idaho scenes, n.d. 5 22 Other photographs, n.d. 6 23 AAUW, Battle Creek branch, yearbooks 1932-1938 6 24 P.E.O. Sisterhood yearbooks, 1941-1945 6 25 Other items, 1897-1951 6
|