.
By James Smith
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Abby Lindsey Marlatt papers include records from her academic career and personal life. They are divided into series covering her academic work, personal life, correspondence, and publications and art.
The academic series covers her undergraduate coursework at Kansas State College (KSC), graduate work at the University of California-Berkeley, and employment as associate professor at KSC. Types of material included are assigned work, study materials, notes, quizzes, and exams. Also, this series contains items from her academic year teaching at the Beirut College for Women in Lebanon.
The materials in the personal series include documentation of her life outside academia, including information about her church, travel documents, newspaper clippings, and programs, as well as a few personal effects such as a driver's license, budget book, and guest register.
The correspondence series represents much of Abby’s adult life, although the bulk is from the late 1930s though the late 1950s. Exchanges with her parents and friends include letters, telegrams, and postcards covering topics that include her personal and professional activities, as well as social issues such as pacifism, race relations, rationing, and religion.
The publications and art series contains books and artwork from Abby's collection usually focused on Kansas and KSC.
Biographical Note
Abby Lindsey Marlatt, daughter of Frederick and Annie Marlatt, was born on 5 December 1916 in Manhattan, Kansas. She was the granddaughter of Manhattan settler Washington Marlatt and the niece of Abby Lillian Marlatt. Abby Lindsey Marlatt graduated from Kansas State College (KSC) in 1938 with a degree in home economics and dietetics. In 1941, she earned a certificate in hospital dietetics from the University of California at Berkeley and continued her education there, eventually earning her Ph.D. in nutrition and food science in 1947.
In 1943, Abby Lindsey Marlatt donated a cookbook collection of 600 volumes to KSC that included titles owned by Abby Lillian Marlatt. This collection was the start of the Kansas State University Libraries' extensive cookery collection.
By 1945 Marlatt had accepted a position as associate professor in the Department of Food Economics and Nutrition at KSC. Her research focused on nutrition and dietary habits of school children. She was a visiting professor during the 1953–1954 academic year at the Beirut College for Women in Lebanon. In 1956, she became head of the Home Economics department at the University of Kentucky.
Abby was personally involved in civil rights issues. She helped form the Lexington chapter of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and was involved in other organizations that included the Lexington Committee on Religion and Human Rights, Community Action Council, and Unitarian Universalist Church. Her activism influenced her demotion from the department head position in the 1960s. She retired from the University of Kentucky in 1985, the same year she received the Sullivan Medallion and the Brotherhood Award in recognition of her devotion to civil rights and social justice.
Marlatt was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in July 2001. She died on 3 March 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Morse Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions:
No restrictions.
Use Restrictions:
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Physical Access Note:
Original materials available during open hours of repository and any digitized materials that are online are available with Internet access.
Technical Access Note:
No restrictions.
Acquisition Source:
Abby Lindsey Marlatt Estate
Acquisition Method:
Donation.
Appraisal Information:
These documents represent the life of a member of a prominent Manhattan family as well as a Kansas State College graduate and faculty member.
Preferred Citation:
[Item title], [item date], Abby Lindsey Marlatt papers, Box [number], Folder [number], Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Processing Information:
Project archivist James Smith processed and described materials and university archivist Cliff Hight reviewed the finding aid in late 2013.
Finding Aid Revision History:
Basic editing and formatting revisions made in June 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Academic],
[
Series 2: Personal],
[
Series 3: Correspondence],
[
Series 4: Publications and Art],
[All]
- Series 1: Academic

- This series covers Abby Lindsey Marlatt's professional academic career. This includes workshops, class rolls, student academic work, experiments with data and notes, and academic papers.
- Box 1

- Folder 1: Events and book donation, 1949, 1955-1956, undated

- Folder 2: Kansas State College School of Home Economics workshop on Testing and Evaluation, February 16-18, 1950, 1950

- Folder 3: Evaluation workshop, 1946-1949,1952

- Folder 4: Evaluation workshop January 1951 School of Home Economics Kansas State College, Manhattan, KS, 1950-1951

- Folder 5: Evaluation workshop, 1948, undated

- Folder 6: Experiments and class notes, 1951, 1959, undated

- Folder 7: K.S.U.-student evaluation of teaching, 1949

- Folder 8: Foods I, undated

- Folder 9: Nutrition & Dietetics-Lecture Notes, 1946-1947, undated

- Folder 10: Nutrition & Dietetics, 1950-1951, undated

- Folder 11: Notes, 1946-1949

- Folder 12: B.V. Proteins, 1945, 1948

- Folder 13: Nutrition & Dietetics Grades, 1945-1949

- Folder 14: Dietetics class rolls, 1952-1953, 1955-1956

- Box 2

- Folder 1: Human Nutrition, D.A.C., Nutrition of Development-rolls, 1954-1956

- Folder 2: Food Cost Date 1945 vs 1947

- Folder 3: 309, 1946, 1949-1950

- Folder 4: Heights and Weights of White Boys and Girls in the United States, 1956

- Folder 5: Nutritional Status of School Child, 1949-1951

- Folder 6: Physical Measurement Tables, undated

- Folder 7: Kansas Mass Study, Interrelationships, Hemoglobin vs Dietary, Ascorbic Acid-Blood vs Dietary, Physical Variables., 1953, 1955

- Folder 8: NC-5(2) Kansas Mass Study Physical Meas. Tabulation, undated

- Folder 9: Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, 1955-1956, undated

- Folder 10: Physical Status References, undated

- Folder 11: Physical Measurement Data, Wetzel, Pryor, Baldwin-Wood, Three States, undated

- Folder 12: No. 5 (2) Mass Study-Dietary Relationships, Servings of Foods vs Dislikes, 1952, undated

- Folder 13: Mass Study-Kansas, Dietary-Frequency Distribution, Inter Corrals of Nutrients, 1952

- Folder 14: Diets of Iowa Women & School Children, 1956

- Folder 15: Iodine & BM-Raw Data, 1947-1948, undated

- Folder 16: Nutrition Seminar, 1948-1951

- Box 3

- Folder 1: Human Nutrition workshop-June 29-July 10 1953, 1953-1954, undated

- Folder 2: Home Economics Association Programs, 1948-1949, 1955-1956

- Folder 3: V. Kathryn Bitters, M.S. 1954, 1953

- Folder 4: Nutr. & Food Prep-Blind, 1950

- Folder 5: Correspondence-Special Diets, 1949-1956

- Folder 6: Thesis-Grace Cables, 1955

- Folder 7: Chen, Jean Chih-Ying, 1950

- Folder 8: Te-Ch'in Chou-Thesis, 1952

- Folder 9: J. Nutr. Menus 5028-Chou & Marlatt, 1950-1953

- Folder 10: Chou-Marlatt-Carotene, Utilization Paper, 1946-1947, undated

- Folder 11: Correspondence, 1950

- Box 4

- Folder 1: Te Chin Chou-Correspondence, 1950-1951, undated

- Folder 2: Te-Chin Chou-Current, 1951-1954, undated

- Folder 3: Te Chin Chou-Ph.D. Records etc., 1949-1951, undated

- Folder 4: Dietetic Educ. Comm., 1955

- Folder 5: College Comm., Evaluation of Education, Objectives: Science, 1949-1951

- Folder 6: National Food & Nutrition Institution Dec. 1952, 1952

- Folder 7: Graduate Faculty Notices, Students, 1951-1956

- Folder 8: Devadas-Poor Price Diet of South India, 1950

- Folder 9: Dissertation Abstracts and K.S.U. Newsletter, 1955, 1969

- Box 5

- Folder 1: Ann Harrington, MS 1953, 1951-1955

- Folder 2: Margaret Haupt, MS-May 1953, 1953

- Folder 3: Hazen Conf., 1952

- Folder 4: H.E. International, 1955-1956

- Folder 5: Staff meetings, 1946, 1952-1955

- Folder 6: H.E. staff workshop 1949 K.S.C., 1955

- Folder 7: Workshop on Evaluation, 1946

- Folder 8: Sister Mary Ambrose Kelley, MS 1953, 1952-1959

- Folder 9: Keller, Frances MS, 1947-1948

- Folder 10: Job offers, 1955-1956

- Folder 11: A.L. Marlatt employment record, 1952-1956

- Folder 12: Public relations talks 1954, 1954

- Folder 13: Report and prospective student guide, 1950, 1955

- Box 6

- Folder 1: Recommendations, 1949-1959

- Folder 2: Radio talks, 1954-1956

- Folder 3: Salman-Infant needs in Lebanon, 1954

- Folder 4: Sigma Xi, 1948-1949, 1955

- Folder 5: Weight Control Colloq., ISC-Jan. 18-20, 1955

- Folder 6: Notes, undated

- Folder 7: Notes, undated

- Box 7

- Folder 1: Notebooks, undated

- Folder 2: Notebooks, 1941, undated

- Folder 3: Notebooks, 1941-1943

- Folder 4: Project outlines, 1937-1938

- Folder 5: Lydia J. Roberts-Leadership Conf. for Home Economists LGCSU Oklahoma State Un 1962, undated

- Folder 6: Inst. equipment problem, Abby Marlatt, 1937-1938, 1950

- Folder 7: Term paper, Home Economics 101B, 1941, 1941

- Box 8

- Folder 1: Dissertation summary, 1938, 1938

- Folder 2: Abby Marlatt dissertation, 1938, 1947

- Folder 3: Abby Marlatt, Ph.D. dissertation draft-photos, undated

- Folder 4: Research notes, 1942-1945, 1942-1945

- Folder 5: K.S.C. thesis "Food and Religion in the Middle East", 1955

- Folder 6: K.S.C. Faculty Mothers Club, 1954-1958

- Folder 8: Kansas State College materials 1959, 1959

- Box 12

- Folder 1: U.C. organizations etc., 1947-1950

- Folder 6: Kansas State-Justin Hall dedication, 1949-1966

- Box 13

- Folder 9: Class notes, U.C.-Berkeley, 1931-1942

- Folder 10: Class notes and work K.S.C., 1936

- Folder 13: Lab notebook, undated

- Folder 14: Institute on Nutrition & National Defense, 1937-1941

- Box 14

- Folder 1: Notes and labs, 1940-1944

- Folder 2: Notes-data, 1941-1946, undated

- Folder 3: Experiment-notes, 1942-1945

- Series 2: Personal

- This series contains documents that pertain to Abby Lindsey Marlatt's personal life. These items include information about her church, travel documents, newspaper clippings, programs, and other items.
- Box 12

- Folder 2: Commencement and honorary society booklets, 1937-1941, undated

- Folder 3: Abby Marlatt grade cards-Elementary, Jr. & Sr. High School, 1924-1934

- Folder 4: First Unit. Church-Berkeley, 1939-1945

- Folder 5: U.C.-Berkeley & K.S.C. info., 1937-1944

- Folder 7: Games, 1948, undated

- Folder 8: Appointment calendar, 1950-1951

- Folder 9: Race Relations Non-Violence workshop S.F., 1943, undated

- Folder 10: Church Bldg. Comm., 1955-1956

- Box 13

- Folder 1: Heroes of Goodwill, 1942

- Folder 2: The Flood Forum, 1951

- Folder 3: K.S.C. Diploma, 1931-1938

- Folder 4: Iota Sigma Pi, 1937-1938

- Folder 5: U.C.-Berkeley, commencement program 1939 and campus map, 1933, 1939

- Folder 6: Programs, menus, brochures, CA and elsewhere, late 1930s and early 1940s, 1937, 1940-1943

- Folder 7: Programs, menus, brochures, travel items-CA and elsewhere, late 1930s, early 1940s, 1936-1945

- Folder 8: Interracial Education Committee, 1937

- Folder 11: K-State handbook, excerpts from 1874, 1874

- Folder 12: Wardrobe plan, college students budget book, 1935-1938

- Box 14

- Folder 4: Art-Related, 1934-1935

- Folder 5: "Marionette Show" play, undated

- Folder 6: Diary, 1935

- Folder 7: K-State YWCA materials, 1935-1937

- Folder 8: Bland diet, 1939

- Folder 9: Long's Peak Colorado, undated

- Folder 10: Photo: Abby looks at Marlatt portrait, undated

- Box 19

- Folder 1: Booklets, 1964, undated

- Folder 2: Driver's license and dictionaries, 1920, 1937, undated

- Folder 3: High school materials, 1929, 1931-1932, 1934

- Box 20

- Item 10: Ph.D. diploma, 1947

- Item 11: Clippings, 1935-1938

- Item 12: Guest register, 1956

- Copies of portion of guest register pertaining to Manhattan. Digital versions available. Original register is at the University of Kentucky.
- Series 3: Correspondence

This series contains letters of correspondence between Abby Lindsey Marlatt's parents and her friends. The majority of the letters in the series were written while Abby was living in Berkeley, California.
Many of her letters cover themes of pacifism, race relations, and religion. Topics also covered are societal issues from the Second World War such as the Japanese relocation and internment in the United States, interaction with displaced Filipino families, rationing, and discussion with her friends who were conscientious objectors and were a part of the Civilian Public Service (Bill Wallace and D. Ian Thiermann).
She writes about daily events going on in her life that cover school, lab experiments, and her social outings with friends. Many of the letters Abby received from home contain newspaper clippings of local Manhattan events. Letters from family include events such as when Abby's father passed away.
During the early 1950s Abby corresponds with friends and family during her time in Beirut. Items included with the letters are documents that include her school duties, costs, and baggage list. She also writes to and receives letters from her insurance company while she was hospitalized in Beirut.
During the mid-1950s there are letters written to Abby from Waldon Hastings that shows their complex relationship.
Other areas of note are letters between Abby and the University of Kentucky when she was offered a position as the head of the department of home economics and the administration's offers to visit the campus. Along with this job offer there are letters from other institutions where she is offered a position.
- Box 9

- The majority of these letters discuss the complex relationship between Abby Lindsey Marlatt and Waldon H. Hastings. Waldon became a professor in the department of flour and feed milling industries at Kansas State College in 1955. At the time of his appointment Waldon was married to Alice Marie Hastings and had three children. He resigned from the school in 1962. The letters are all from Waldon written to Abby.
- Folder 1: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1959

- Folder 2: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1956

- Folder 3: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1955-1956

- Folder 4: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1956-1957

- Folder 5: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1957

- Folder 6: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1958

- Folder 7: Correspondence-From Waldon, 1959

- Box 10

- Folder 1: Correspondence bundle #25 (KSC), 1955-1956

- Correspondence received from friends and acquaintances. Several letters in this folder are correspondence where Abby writes about taking the position of the head of home economics at the University of Kentucky. Letters also include correspondence with her friend Ursula while she was in Durango, Mexico, and Ames, Iowa. A letter from Beirut is also in this folder.
- Folder 2: Correspondence bundle #25 (KSC), 1954-1955

- Folder 3: Correspondence bundle #25 (KSC), 1955-1956

- This folder contains a letter from the University of Kentucky offering Abby Lindsey Marlatt the position as head of the Home Economics department. Return letter from Abby describing her interest in the position. This folder also contains letters from her friend Ursula.
- Folder 4: Correspondence bundle #25 (KSC), 1955

- One letter in this folder contains a photograph of Abram "Tom" Marlatt, Abby's great-grandfather. Letters from India and Beirut are also part of this folder.
- Folder 5: Beirut College for Women, 1953-1954

- Customs forms concerning items brought with Abby on her travels. Baggage list of all the items Abby brought back with her from Beirut. Included is a missionary checklist on travel preparation and Beirut school agreement of duties. Cost list for traveling to Beirut.
- Folder 6: Beirut College for Women, 1952-1955

- Correspondence between the University of Kentucky and Abby Marlatt inquiring about taking a job as head of Home Economics department and an invitation to visit the campus. A letter from Albert G. Watson detailing a trip to Europe and his discussions with the locals and the state of the countries he visits while he examines pacifism and U.S. relations in Europe. There is an open letter written to the people of Japan from the Fellowship of Reconciliation discussing atomic tests and their effects. This folder also contains various newsletters such as the ACLU newsletter, the War Resisters' International newsletter, and the Conscription News newsletter. This folder contains a series of correspondence between Abby and her insurance company while she was hospitalized during her stay in Beirut. Arrangement details for Abby's trip to Beirut.
- Folder 7: Beirut College for Women, 1953-1954

- In this folder there is a letter asking Abby to be a part of a team to teach Home Economics in Pakistan. Expense letters from places Abby visited.
- Box 11

- Folder 1: Correspondence bundle #26 (KSC), 1952-1956

- Along with the letters in this folder there are Christmas cards and postcards. The correspondence is from various friends of Abby.
- Folder 2: Correspondence bundle #26 (KSC), 1955-1956

Bundle 1 of 2
Offer to Abby from Simmons College to serve as the director of their Home Economics department. In addition to the correspondence this folder contains Christmas cards and a letter and newsletter about integration.
- Folder 3: Correspondence bundle #26 (KSC), 1955-1956

Bundle 2 of 2
Items in this folder contain correspondence, Christmas cards, photos. Notable correspondence is from Abby’s international acquaintances.
- Box 15

- Folder 1: Correspondence-Bill Wallace to Abby Marlatt, 1945-1947

- The majority of the letters in this folder are from Bill Wallace and cover Bill's time in the Civilian Public Service. Bill served from 1942-1946 and during his service trained as a smokejumper in the Missoula, Montana, camp. Other letters that were bundled with this group of correspondence are from Mary Spessard.
- Folder 2: Correspondence-Abby Marlatt to her mother, 1946

- This folder contains letters that Abby wrote to her mother while living in Berkeley, California.
- Folder 3: Correspondence-Abby Marlatt to her family, 1943

- Letters from Abby to her parents while she was living in Berkeley, California. In these letters she talks about her daily life and class work. Topics also include an interracial workshop Abby attended as well as other items with her discussing race relations. She writes about her interaction with Filipino families and children through her church group. The Second World War comes up often and she discusses news and the effects that are felt in the United States. One of the war time subjects she writes about is Japanese relocation and internment.
- Folder 4: Correspondence-Abby Marlatt to her family, 1942

- This folder contains letters from Abby that she wrote to her parents. These letters cover daily life as well as war time life. She comments many times about the rationing of food. She writes about the Civilian Public Service and her interaction with them, including Bill Wallace, as well as a letter describing a tour of one of their camps.
- Folder 5: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from her mother, 1945-1946

- Folder 6: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from her family, 1943

- Box 16

- Folder 1: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from her father and mother, 1941

- Folder 2: Correspondence-Letters from Abby Marlatt, 1939

- Abby writes about her classes and daily life as well as labs she is participating in and her research. A number of her letters discuss the war as well as the subject of neutrality for the United States. Abby describes a talk given by Major Carlson in the June 25, 1936, letter and describes the talk given about the Chinese military. Many times in her letters she discusses the pacifist view points and religious ideas.
- Folder 3: Correspondence-From Bill Wallace to Abby Marlatt, 1942-1943

- Folder 4: Correspondence-From Abby Marlatt to her family, 1940-1941

- December 9, 1941, letter discusses events in California after Pearl Harbor. In her letters she discusses her lab work. She writes about the neutrality position in regard to pre-war United States actions.
- Folder 5: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from her mother and father, 1944-1945

- Folder 6: Correspondence-Abby Marlatt to her mother and father, 1944

- Some of the topics covered in this folder are the Civilian Public Service, attendance of interracial functions, and Japanese-American internment. Abby also discusses church visits and religious aspects of her life.
- Box 17

- Folder 1: Correspondence-From Abby Marlatt to her family, 1939-1940

- This folder contains letters Abby wrote to her parents, aunts, and uncles. In her letters she discusses her experiments with rats and studying their blood sugar. In one of her letters she writes about the 1940 election.
- Folder 2: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from her parents, 1942

- Many of the letters have newspaper clippings with news from Manhattan, KS.
- Folder 3: Correspondence-From Abby Marlatt to her parents, 1937-1938

- Some of the letters in this folder written are from when Abby was traveling in Europe.
- Folder 4: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from Aunt Helen, 1943-1944

- A notable letter in this folder discusses the book donation to Kansas State College.
- Folder 5: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from Aunt Helen, 1943-1944

- Letters from Abby's aunt Helen talking to her about Abby's father’s death.
- Folder 6: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from her Aunt Abby, 1940-1942

- Folder 7: Correspondence-To Abby Marlatt from Bill Wallace, 1944-1945

- This folder contains letters where Bill Wallace writes about the Civilian Public Service.
- Box 18

- Folder 1: Correspondence-From friends and family to Abby Marlatt, 1943

- Letters to Abby from Donald Engle.
- Folder 2: Correspondence-From Abby Marlatt's aunts and letters to her mother, 1936-1945

- This folder contains a series of letters written to Abby from her aunts Abby and Helen along with letters from Abby to her mother. A few letters were from other individuals such as friends of Abby. The letters contain writings on Postwar Universal Military Training and her thoughts on the issue. Also discussed in a letter is the issue of segregation in Kansas.
- Folder 3: Correspondence-From friends and family to Abby Marlatt, 1940-1944

- This folder contains letters from Bill and Patricia along with other friends of Abby. Also contained is a letter from D. Ian Thiermann and going to a CPS camp and his experiences. These letters contain many newspaper clippings from her mother.
- Folder 4: Correspondence-From Abby Marlatt to her mother and father, 1937-1940

- This folder contains letters from Abby's mother and father with newspaper clippings.
- Folder 5: Correspondence-From friends and family to Abby Marlatt, 1945

- Along with the correspondence this folder also has post cards and letters from Abby as well as her family and friends.
- Folder 6: Correspondence-From friends to Abby Marlatt, 1923, 1943

- This folder contains letters from Abby’s friends along with postcards from unknown senders. There is also a letter from D. Ian Thiermann written while he was in the Civilian Public Service. Thiermann served from 1942-1946.
- Series 4: Publications and Art

- This series contains published items and art work. These items include a book, World-Famous Paintings, that Abby mentions purchasing in one of her letters. The three volumes of Trireme which were the annuals for the Beirut college where Abby taught. Other items include books about the nervous system and the College Symposium volume from Kansas State Agricultural College.
- Box 20

- Item 1: World-Famous Paintings, 1939

- Item 2: Regional Diagnosis in Lesions of the Brain and Spinal Cord, 1940

- Item 3: The Anatomy of the Nervous System, 1940

- Item 4: Trireme, 1955

- Trireme was the annual for the Beirut College for Women.
- Item 5: Trireme, 1954

- Trireme was the annual for the Beirut College for Women.
- Item 6: Trireme, 1953

- Trireme was the annual for the Beirut College for Women.
- Item 7: College Symposium, 1891

- Item 8: Map, 1950

- Item 9: Classic books set, undated

- Folder 1: Oversized

- Item 1: Hillside Pond, undated

- Ink drawing by Birger Sandzén.
- Item 2: Anderson Hall, undated

- Charles M. Copps
- Item 3: Afterglow, 1955

- Print by John F. Helm Jr. The print is from the Friends of Art at K.S.C.
- Folder 2: Oversized

- Item 1: Anderson Hall painting, undated

- Oversize
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