Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1904-2008 (Accumulation)
Extent
7.0 linear feet (7 records boxes)
Name of creator
Administrative history
Dr. Ethel Austin Martin graduated from SDSU in 1916 and went on to do graduate work at Columbia University and the University of Chicago. She taught at several institutions before joining the National Dairy Council in 1929, where she served as Director of Nutrition Services until her retirement. Dr. Martin was a distinguished nutritionist who was instrumental in developing research grant programs, instituting nutrition conferences, founding journals, and writing several nutrition textbooks.
Before her death in 1993 at age 100, she established an endowment at South Dakota State University with the ultimate objective of providing for a permanent professorship to ensure continuing high-level instruction in the science of nutrition. Dr. Martin's goal was realized in 1997, when the Ethel Austin Martin Chair in Human Nutrition was established and subsequently filled by Dr. Bonny Specker.
The purpose of the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition is to advance knowledge in the science of human nutrition through a multidisciplinary approach, to encourage practical applications in improving human health, and to offer professional enrichment in nutrition for all students, faculty and staff at SDSU. The advancement of knowledge in the science of human nutrition is takes place through both research and educational programs using a multidisciplinary approach.
The E.A. Martin Program advances nutrition knowledge with these campus activities: Active research projects both within the program, as well as collaborative efforts with other investigators from SDSU and the region. Financial support for pilot projects is provided to faculty at SDSU who propose collaborative nutrition projects that utilize a multidisciplinary approach. Educational programs such as formal courses, as well as support for invited seminar speakers. The annual E.A. Martin Distinguished Lecture in Human Nutrition has been a long standing tradition at SDSU, bringing in world-renowned speakers in the field of human nutrition.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection is composed mainly of records pertaining to the development of the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition. Included are records related to the Endowed Chair, the Distinguished Lecturer and Visiting Professorship in Human Nutrition and collected publications related to nutrition. Also included are the Ethel Austin Martin Papers which are composed of articles and books by Ethel Austin Martin, transcripts, correspondence, ephemera, awards, and photographs.
The Endowed Chair records are composed mainly of records pertaining to the development of the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition, the Endowed Chair, and the Basic Course in Nutrition. Also included are financial files, progress reports, records related to the Ethel Austin Martin buildings, the Human Nutrition Committee files, newsletters, and the memorandum of agreement with Ethel Austin Martin and the signing ceremony of the agreement. The records pertaining to the development of the program and the Endowed Chair are composed of working papers created by Ethel Austin Martin as well as South Dakota State University. These materials consist mainly of correspondence, notes, collected research, statements, and position papers. The material related to the Basic Course in Nutrition consists of records related to the creation of the course and include items such as research in creating the course, textbook selection, course material, and syllabi. The files related to the memorandum of agreement with Ethel Austin Martin are composed of the agreement, correspondence, and material dealing with infringement on the agreement, most likely gathered by Ethel Austin Martin herself. Also included is material pertaining to the signing of the agreement in 1985.
Dr. Ethel Austin Martin, 1916 alumna of South Dakota State University, established an endowment fund to promote multidisciplinary scholarship and education in the field of human nutrition. This fund provides for a series of Distinguished Lectureships in Human Nutrition. The Distinguished lecturers in Human Nutrition are on the South Dakota State University campus for a two-day period. They give a major presentation open to the general public, followed by exploratory discussions of the functions of the program in different educational areas of the University. The material is composed of files related to the planning and development of the Ethel Austin Martin Distinguished Lecturer in Human Nutrition. Included are files on program planning and development, publicity, programs and announcements, audio recordings of some lectures and material related to the selection of lecturers. Folders consist of correspondence, clippings, photographs, and speech files, including research. Ethel Austin Martin was very involved in the planning of the lectureships. Researchers will find many letters, notes, and related material created by Martin in these files.
"The concept of the Ethel Austin Martin Visiting Professorship at South Dakota State University is al all campus effort to encourage and advance learning in the science of human nutrition and its application. It represents a unique approach to human nutrition through the active cooperation of faculty and students from all pertinent disciplines at the university. Advances planning and preparation in cooperation with the visiting professor in inherent in the concept. Each visiting professor is selected because of his/her excellence in a specific area of nutrition. The visiting professor provides direction and guidance to campus participants and serves as special lecturer on campus and in the community.
The Visiting Professorship program is implemented as a grass roots effort by task force committees, each group consisting of faculty members who represent different subject areas that can contribute to the understanding of a nutritional problem. Prior to the symposium, task force groups assemble data and prepare presentations intended to stimulate questions and promote discussion. These cooperative relationships create a cross-fertilization of expertise among the various subject areas which enhances their separate contributions and broadens immeasurable the dimensions of human nutrition.
The Nutrition Fund Committee, appointed by the President of South Dakota State University, is responsible for the implementation of the Visiting Professorship program. The members represent different disciplines that impact upon human nutrition and are rotated on a specific basis.
The Ethel Austin Martin Visiting Professorship is funded by a gift from Ethel Austin Martin, a 1916 Home Economics graduate of South Dakota State University. She received as advanced degree in nutrition at Columbia University, New York, and did additional graduate work at the University of Chicago. Dr. Martin was Director of Nutrition Services of the National Dairy Council for 22 years. She has authored several textbooks on nutrition, including the well-known textbook, "Nutrition in Action." The material is composed of files related to the planning and development of the Ethel Austin Martin Visiting Professorship in Human Nutrition. Included are files on program planning and development, publicity, proceeding, programs, evaluation of the conference, audio and video recordings of some sessions and material related to the selection of the visiting professor. Folders consist of correspondence, clippings, and photographs. Ethel Austin Martin was very involved in the planning of the lectureships. Researchers will find many letters, notes, and related material created by Martin in these files.
The collected publications are composed of publications related to human nutrition collected by Ethel Austin Martin and the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition. These were most likely collected in preparation for the Basic Course in Human Nutrition. Folders consist of journal articles, books, newsletters, and proceedings.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged into series:
- Series UA 24.0: Endowed Chair Records
- Series UA 24.2: Distinguished Lecturer in Human Nutrition Records
- Series UA 24.3: Visiting Professorship in Human Nutrition Records
- Series UA 24.4: Collected Publications in Human Nutrition
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Open. Researchers are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
- English