History and lore
Abby Marlatt taught home economics in Utah and Rhode Island before the University of Wisconsin brought her to Madison in 1909 to lead its new department. Over thirty years she built it into one of the leading programs in the country, insisting that students be grounded in the arts and sciences as well as practical work, and during the First World War she helped Wisconsin organize its part in the national drive to conserve food and served on the home economics advisory committee of the U.S. Food Administration.