• Page 174 →Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911). A chemist, she defined the modern study of interaction between organisms in their environments, which she called “Ecology.” She was primarily concerned with using science to improve the quality of life in everyday home and work environments. In 1899, she organized the first conference on home economics. Her landmark water purity research was complemented by her analyses of pollution in everything from wallpaper to prepared foods. She formulated the Normal Chlorine Map, the standard map for sanitary surveys. She worked her way through Vassar (MA) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, becoming the first woman graduate of M.I.T. in 1873. In 1884 she was appointed Instructor in Sanitary Chemistry at M.I.T.
Download TIF (19.8 MB)

Ellen Swallow Richards postcard

From Women Making History: The Revolutionary Feminist Postcard Art of Helaine Victoria Press by Julia M. Allen and Jocelyn H. Cohen

  • Part of the Women and Ecology Series, set of 5 postcards. Printed letterpress in brown with caramel and green border, 3 ½” x 5½”. 100% recycled paper. This was the second printing as Nancy Poore and Jocelyn Cohen felt the quality of the images on the first recycled card stock was not good enough quality. The recycled cardstock did not have a coating, and the halftone images were not crisp and clear. They then discovered an extra heavy coated cardstock which was not sold as recycled, but actually was. So, they did this second printing. Photograph, Swallow collecting water samples from the Charles, with an inset portrait.
Creator(s)
Creator Role
Subjects
  • HISTORY / Women
Related Section
Citable Link