Purdue Engineering's Link to Ellen Swallow Richards 

Andrey Abraham Potter was born in Russia in 1882. After reading the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, he made a decision to one day come to America, and at the age of 15, he accomplished his dream. He entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at age 17, earning a bachelor of science degree in 1903. One of his instructors was none other than Ellen Swallow Richards, the founder of home economics. He would often tell stories of what it was like as a student to be entertained in the Richards’ household. After working on steam turbines for General Electric, he went to Kansas State Agricultural College where he established the first curricula in agricultural engineering. In 1906, he became a U.S. citizen and married Eva Burtner, a 1905 domestic science graduate of Kansas State Agricultural College.

In 1920, he joined Purdue University as its third Dean of Engineering. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1953. Under his leadership, engineering at Purdue expanded and became one of the largest and most respected programs in the country. He was known affectionately as the “Dean of Deans” of engineering universities. He died in 1979 at the age of 97.

During one of his many talks to home economics audiences following his retirement, he shared his impressions of Ellen Richards.

“After entering MIT, I was to learn that Robert Richards was to be my counselor. A few days after the opening of the academic year, I received a letter from Ellen Swallow Richards extending an invitation to me for dinner at the Richards’ home in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts (formal dress). This and other visits to the Richards’ home during my undergraduate days, afforded me opportunities to know and appreciate one of the greatest and most charming persons I ever met. To those who knew Ellen Richards, and worked with her, she is remembered as the vivacious and kindly leader, inspiring teacher, counselor, practical scientist, devoted friend and one who was giving of herself to inspire happier lives for others. She always had the talent to put first things first so that she was never too busy to aid others. She also had time for abundant hospitality in her home and demonstrated that a woman can contribute to improvement of the environment in which people live and work. It is a distinct privilege for me to pay tribute to Ellen Swallow Richards — a great, kind, practical and useful person, a woman who was much more beautiful than her photographs, and one who was constantly and unselfishly giving of herself to ensure better working conditions, improved health and happier living for all people.”

Resources:

  • A.A. Potter speech given November 3, 1967, to the College and University Section of the Illinois Home Economics Association. Purdue University Libraries Special Collections
  • Photo courtesy Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections