May Louise Cowles
Encyclopedia
May Louise Cowles was an American economist
, researcher
, author
, and advocate
of Home Economics
. She was a member of the faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
from 1915–1958. She had many submissions published in the Journal of Home Economics, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and Rural Sociology. She also produced several widely-read pamphlets including Meeting Housing Needs of Older People in Rural Areas (1957) and spoke at a string of national seminars to encourage the addition of family economics to home economics
instruction across the United States.
Cowles "created some of the first family economics courses in the nation" at the collegiate level.
. She attended Kansas State Agricultural College
where she earned a B.S. in home economics in 1912 and entered the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1915 to earn her master's degree in home economics.
. Her Ph.D. dissertation investigated the economics of clothing consumption and whether consumer behavior could be classified according to "laws." One of her studies reported that during the time period, husbands spend more on clothing than their wives by 10%--a finding that was met with some ridicule in the press at the time. She also completed significant work in the study of home economics and its impact on rural families in the United States.
Kansas State University
recognized her contributions to home economics and her participation in the field by awarding her the Distinguished Service Award for "outstanding achievement in home economics" in 1959.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
of Home Economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
. She was a member of the faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
from 1915–1958. She had many submissions published in the Journal of Home Economics, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and Rural Sociology. She also produced several widely-read pamphlets including Meeting Housing Needs of Older People in Rural Areas (1957) and spoke at a string of national seminars to encourage the addition of family economics to home economics
Family and consumer science
Family and consumer sciences is an academic discipline that combines aspects of social and natural science. Family and consumer sciences deals with the relationship between individuals, families, and communities, and the environment in which they live...
instruction across the United States.
Cowles "created some of the first family economics courses in the nation" at the collegiate level.
Early life and education
Cowles was born on September 25, 1892 in Sibley, KansasSibley, Kansas
Sibley was a settlement in Cloud County, Kansas, United States north of Concordia and the Republican River. It was once in the running for the county seat but lost in a 1870 run-off election against Concordia. The area is now abandoned as a town and the land is privately owned and used for farming...
. She attended Kansas State Agricultural College
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
where she earned a B.S. in home economics in 1912 and entered the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1915 to earn her master's degree in home economics.
Rise to prominence
From 1926 to 1929 Cowles studied for her Ph.D. in economics at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. Her Ph.D. dissertation investigated the economics of clothing consumption and whether consumer behavior could be classified according to "laws." One of her studies reported that during the time period, husbands spend more on clothing than their wives by 10%--a finding that was met with some ridicule in the press at the time. She also completed significant work in the study of home economics and its impact on rural families in the United States.
Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
recognized her contributions to home economics and her participation in the field by awarding her the Distinguished Service Award for "outstanding achievement in home economics" in 1959.