Ola Faye Nichols was an extension agent for Washington County from 1941 to 1955. She was born in 1912 in Alexander, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Science from Colorado State College in 1940 in the field of home economics, with a major in teaching. There she also minored in English, science, and clothing, and graduated with a scholarship rating of B+. Before coming to OSC, she was a home demonstration agent for a year with the University of Missouri, where she worked entirely in promoting leadership and teaching groups of men and women how to carry out community projects. She wished to move to a more progressive state, and was hired at $2,100 per annum. She was promoted to assistant professor in 1945, and associate professor in 1949. She took a year of sabbatical leave in 1953, which she spent studying the education and social sciences fields at Washington University, St. Louis. She was a member of the Home Economics Association and the American Association of University Women. In 1955, after a period of ill health, she resigned to return home to Texas and spend more time with her family. She resigned at a salary of $5,588.
Ruth Annetta Moser was an associate professor in the School of Clothing, Textiles, and Related Arts, employed at OSU from 1946 to 1974. She was born in 1908 in Harvey, North Dakota. She attended the Junior College of Santa Rosa, California, for a year, and in 1931 received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education from North Dakota Agricultural College. She attended OSC for graduate work in home economics clothing and textiles, and applied for a graduate assistantship position while she completed her master’s degree. Before coming to OSC, she was a high school instructor in home economics in North Dakota for four and a half years. She spent another year as a home Management Supervisor with the Rural Resettlement Administration, and was an extension agent for eight and a half years. She was hired as a graduate assistant in CTRA and then, a year later, was hired as a part-time instructor. Due to resignations of a couple faculty members, her employment was increased to full-time, at a rate of $2,600 for ten months. She took sabbatical leave for Spring Term of 1965, when she studied related arts at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus. She was promoted to assistant professor in 1949 and associate professor in 1959. She was a member of the American Association of University Women; councilor, publicity and membership chairman with the American Home Economics Association; and president and secretary-treasurer of the National Home Demonstration Agents Association. While at OSU, she was involved with the OSU Academic Requirements Committee and the CT Clothing Placement Examination Chairman. She also helped develop the laboratory facilities for her program. She was awarded emeritus status in 1974, after being employed at OSU for 28 years. She began as an instructor at a salary of $2,600 for a ten month term, and retired at 10,400 in 1966. On the subject of her photo, Professor Moser submitted a new photo in 1957. She thought this version was an improvement, although she said that “the camera was never very kind to this particular subject.” She requested that they “please destroy the one you have.”
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.
Laura Belle Smith was an Assistant Professor in Art and in Clothing, Textiles, and Related Arts intermittently from 1946 to 1967. She was born in 1904 in Toronto, Canada. She studied at the School of Architecture of the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University, graduating from the latter in 1933 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and Watercolor Painting. She earned her Master of Arts from Ohio State University in the same field in 1934. Her thesis for her master’s degree was titled “New Materials in Interior Design.” She went on to attend the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chouinard Art Institute, and University of California in Los Angeles for further study. Before coming to OSC, she taught art at various universities in Texas, Kansas, and California. While an employee at Texas State College for Women, she was on the advisory committee for the completion of the new Student Union building. She selected furniture and completed the decorations. She was also in charge of a new demonstration house, where she “directed the interior section.” While interior design and watercolor painting were her two major fields of interest, she occasionally taught classes in fundamental and advanced design, house planning, and mechanical drawing. She was married when she came to OSC. In 1946, he was hired at $2400 for a ten month term in 1946 as an Assistant Professor of Art and Architecture. She resigned from this post the next year, and then temporarily took work in the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Related Arts as a substitute for teachers on sabbatical leave. For roughly the next two decades, she was appointed to temporary positions in the CTRA department as permanent staff members resigned, while OSC worked to fill their positions. They considered this a great help, and thought of her as an “able person and good teacher.” As her husband was already on staff at OSC, Smith could not be put on permanent staff herself. Furthermore, as she only taught one area, this made scheduling difficult, and they wished to have more versatile employees on permanent staff.