On the Trail of Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911)

In the summer of 2006, my husband, Bob, and I embarked on a research journey following in the footsteps of Ellen Swallow Richards. We logged more than 3,000 miles. In a single day, we crossed the Hudson, Delaware, Susquehanna, Potomac, and Shenandoah rivers. We met incredible people who are the keepers of the history of home economics, as well as keepers of the history of the remarkable woman, Ellen Swallow Richards.

The goal of our journey was to provide research for a pictorial and written history of the life of a most remarkable woman and her impact on our quality of life today and the profession of home economics. While other histories have been written, none have the video footage that follows in her footsteps. Our intent is to provide young professionals, as well as the seasoned ones, a renewed appreciation for the founder of home economics, Ellen Swallow Richards, as well as an appreciation for the discipline of home economics and family and consumer sciences.

Stops on our journey...

Dunstable, Massachusetts

We wandered through rural Massachusetts near Dunstable searching for some remnants of the farm where Ellen was born. Instead of farm country, we found lovely colonial style homes with manicured lawns. Mile after mile of carefully placed stone fences defined the properties. Since it was a Sunday, the library was closed. Eventually, we found someone who assisted us in locating photos of how Dunstable looked many years ago when Ellen was a resident.

Photo: This is a residence in Dunstable where a Swallow relative lives today. The home where Ellen grew up burned some time ago.

Westford Academy

On through the rural countryside to Westford, we were more successful as we found the museum open in the old Westford Academy where Ellen had once attended. Folks there were delighted to share all they had on our dear Ellen. The building where her father operated his store had burned, but just being in the Westford Academy was a walk back in time.

Vassar College

We next journeyed to Vassar College and the campus where Ellen began her higher education journey more than 130 years ago. Surprisingly, the campus remains much the same as it was when she attended. Many of the old buildings are still there, including the Astronomy Observatory where she studied under Maria Mitchell. As we walked up the steps to the observatory, I could sense her presence. Some of the early dormitories are still there, and I was astounded to find that students today live there willingly and pay as much as $7,900 for room and board. The rooms are spartan at best and primitive, too. There is no air conditioning and little in the way of comforts that other university dorms have today. This room and board is in addition to tuition that is more than $33,000 per year. Quite a change from the $300 Ellen had to save for her first semester in 1868! While at Vassar, she lived on the top floor of what is now called the Main Building.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To follow Ellen to her days at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), we spent two days in the bowels of the archives and museum at MIT searching for anything new that hadn’t already been written about Ellen. While we didn't uncover much new information, we did come across photos of her and her life that we had not seen before. Photos of the home she and Robert had in the White Mountains of New Hampshire near Randolph were most revealing, more in what they didn't have than what they did. The house was almost spartan in its design as well as the furnishings. But after spending time in those mountains ourselves, we could see how she took solace in the peaceful, clean, cool air in the shadow of the Presidential Range of the Balsams. While the MIT campus today is in Cambridge and not on Boylston Street in Boston, we were treated to numerous tributes to Ellen on this current campus. We were able to videotape an interview with Barbara Imperiali, former Ellen Swallow Richards Chair at MIT.

Jamaica Plain

We visited Ellen’s home in Jamaica Plain (about 20 minutes from MIT) and were impressed by how the current owner has kept up the yard and maintained the lovely flower gardens. Ellen would approve if she were here today as she had a great fondness for flowers. We also went down the street to Jamaica Pond where she walked each day. Today, there are still many people walking, running, and biking around this beautiful oasis in the middle of a busy community. It is not difficult at all to see why Ellen included this as a part of her daily renewal in her quest for the quality of life she believed so important. Visit the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.

Photo: Inside the Ellen and Robert Richards' home at 32 Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain.

Lake Placid, New York

In Lake Placid, New York, we wandered the former grounds of the Lake Placid Club imagining Ellen and her contemporaries in the boathouse with Mirror Lake lapping at their feet.Their discussions eventually gave rise to the birth of home economics. There is a new boathouse there now, a lovely restaurant that sparkles at night and is reflected in Mirror Lake.

Photo: The Lake Placid Club boathouse where Ellen and her contemporaries first met to work on home economics.

Cornell University

We spent a full day and a half in the Kroch Library Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections at Cornell University where we searched the AAFCS archives. We were warned that transcribing Ellen’s handwriting would take a lot of time and sure enough, hours flew by as I read letter after letter to her dear friend, Mary Hinman Abel, and many others. The proceedings from all the Lake Placid Conferences were wonderful primers in our early history and provided a perspective that can only come from original source documents. We left Cornell with an even better idea why we were on this journey.

Visit Cornell University's Home Economics Archive.
Guide to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Records 1899–2006

Rockland, Maine

In Rockland, Maine, we were treated to an afternoon visit with longtime home economist and author Marjorie East. She delighted us with her candid view of our historic profession and agreed to go on camera for a wonderful, insightful interview. She remains quite the scholar and is busy with activities in her community. She will celebrate her 92nd birthday in September 2008.

Gardiner, Maine

We were welcomed by a gracious host at Christ Church in Gardiner, Maine, where Ellen and Robert Richards are both buried. We also were told about a historian who may have more information and photos of the Richards' family.

National Women's Hall of Fame


In Seneca Falls, New York, we visited the National Women’s Hall of Fame and were treated royally on a Sunday afternoon. Ellen shares space with some of the most famous women in American history.

Photo: Plaque outside of the Women's Hall of Fame. Ellen Richards was inducted in 1993.