Harriett Evelyn Swaim was a supervisory teacher in home economics from 1941 to 1943. She was born in 1911 in Marshall, Indiana. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics with additional study in English, biological science, chemistry, and physical education, from Purdue University in 1932. She completed graduate work at University of Colorado and Purdue University, graduating from the latter with an Master of Science in Home Economics Education, with additional study in clothing and home administration, in 1940. Her thesis for her master’s degree was titled “A Comparison of Integrated and Problem-Discussion-Demonstration Methods of Teaching Home Economics.” Before coming to OSC, she worked as an assistant in home economics education at Purdue for three years, and taught home economics at various high schools throughout Indiana. In 1941, she was hired at $1800 for a ten month term. She resigned in 1943.
Joan Booth Kearney briefly held the position of Emergency Assistant at Large (Instructor rank) in 1946. She was born in 1922 in Toledo, Oregon, and began attending Oregon State College as an undergraduate in 1939, with a focus on child development and political science. Before finishing her degree, she spent three years working for the War Department at Camp Adair in the purchasing department. She returned to OSC and completed her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in Spring 1946, and shortly thereafter applied for a position at the college. She applied and was accepted for the position of Emergency Assistant at Large (Instructor rank) to the tune of $2,400 per year, with the eventual likelihood of becoming a home demonstration agent in the future. At this point, her husband had recently returned from overseas, and the two were currently childless. Due to unknown reasons, Mrs. Kearney soon found it impossible to accept the position and withdrew her application. She passed away in 1992, at the age of seventy.
Carolyn G Sullivan was an English instructor from 1942 to 1947, and was a graduate nursery school assistant for three years before that. She was born in 1912 in Corvallis, Oregon. She received her Bachelor of Science from OSC in 1937 in home economics and education. By 1940 she had completed all requirements or an Master of Science except a thesis. Her graduate field was household administration and child development, with additional study in education and psychology. Her thesis subject was “An Analysis of the Family Life Problems of 137 Freshmen.” She worked as a graduate assistant with State College Nursery School at OSC. Before coming to OSC in 1942, she gained experience as a home economics teacher at Independence High School, where she also was responsible for freshman English and the school library. She was also an English and typing instructor at Coos River High School in 1942. She spent some time as a clerical assistant and reference department page at the Oregon State College Library. In 1944, Sullivan had spent two years being hired by the term. She had been a civilian professor for some time and had been recently entrusted with responsibility for the Army Program. She requested a year’s contract for job security. She was then put on a yearly 10 month contract at a salary of $2270 per year. In 1947, she resigned to accept a position with the Long Beach City School System in California, which she hoped to use to further herself professionally and gain experience in a metropolitan area. She was married to J. A. Sullivan, with whom she had at least one child. She was a member of Delta Zeta, PEO Sisterhood, and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Corinne Harpham McTaggart was a home demonstration agent for Douglas County from 1948 to 1951. She was born in 1921 in Prineville, Oregon. She received her Bachelor of Science from OSC in 1944 in the field of professional home economics. She married Holden McTaggart during her junior year, who was a member of the army. After graduation, they went to Texas, where she taught high school, and Washington, D.C. where she supervised the cafeteria for the War Department. For two years before coming to OSC, she was a high school home economics teacher in Roseburg, Oregon. She resigned in 1951 at a salary of $3,900 to give full time to homemaking.