Skip to main content

Cutler, Virginia F., 1905-1993

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1905 - 1993

Biographical History

Virginia F. Cutler (1905-1993) was a professor of home economics and a distinguished scholar.

Virginia Farrer Cutler was born to Robert Farrer and his wife Mary on December 17, 1905. They later moved to Murray, Utah where he worked in the smelter. She attended the University of Utah, getting a bachelor's degree in 1926 on a four-year scholarship. In 1929, she married Ralph Garr Cutler and settled in Salt Lake City. Her husband died in 1931, so Cutler returned to teaching. She undertook her master's degree at Stanford University and later her doctoral work at Cornell University. She also attended sessions at Vassar and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1946 she was appointed to be professor and the Head of the Home Economics Department at the University of Utah. During her eight years there, she established the Family Home Living Center. In 1954 she obtained a position as an education advisor for the State Department's International Cooperation Administration in southeast Asia, first in Bangkok, Thailand for two years, and then in Djakarta, Indonesia for five years, organizing instruction programs in schools and workshops. In 1961 she returned to Utah to become Dean of the College of Family Living at the Brigham Young University where she contributed to the planning and development of the Heritage Halls. In 1966 she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to the University of Ghana in Legon, where she taught for three years, finally returning to the Brigham Young University as a distinguished professor. After retirement in 1970, she spent the next five years as chairman of a Consumer Action Panel for the major appliance industry and setting up a program that has continued to the present.

Cutler was the United States delegate to the World Forum on Women, Brussels, 1962. She also earned several awards, including the Joseph F. Smith Family Living Award and Woman of the Year Award from the American Association of University in 1966. Cutler was appointed by President Nixon to the Consumer Advisory Council in 1972-1975, was a member of the Utah Governor's commission on the Status of Women, 1972, and Distinguished Service awards from the University of Utah and Cornell University. Cutler died on May 20, 1993 in Eugene, Oregon.

Citation:
Woman power, social imperatives and home science, 1969: t.p. (Virginia F. Cutler; Professor of Home Science, University of Ghana, Legon)

FamilySearch, via WWW, June 1, 2010: (Virginia Grace Farrar; b. Dec. 17, 1905; d. May 20, 1993; m. Ralph Garr Cutler, July 10, 1929)

BYU Campus Photographs, via WWW, June 1, 2010: (Dr. Virginia F. Cutler; Distinguished Professor of Family Economics and Home Management; head of the Home Economics Dept. at the Univ. of Utah from 1946 to 1954; dean of the BYU College of Family Living from 1961 to 1966; head of the Dept. of Home Science at the Univ. of Ghana from 1966 to 1969)

Deseret News, May 26, 1993 (Virginia Farrer Cutler; b. 1905; parents: Robert and Mary Farrer; lived in Murray, Utah; graduated University of Utah, 1926; m. 1929 to Ralph Garr Cutler, settled in Salt Lake City; 1931, returned to teaching; received master's degree at Stanford University, Ph.D., Cornell University; also attended Vassar and Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; 1946, appointed to be professor and the Head of the Home Economics Department at the University of Utah; est. Family Home Living Center; 1954, became education advisor for State Department's International Cooperation Administration in southeast Asia, first in Bangkok, Thailand for two years, and then in Djakarta, Indonesia for five years; organized instruction programs in schools and workshops; 1961, returned to Utah as Dean of the College of Family Living, Brigham Young University; contributed to planning and development of the Heritage Halls; 1966, awarded Fulbright Fellowship to the University of Ghana in Legon, taught for three years; returned to Brigham Young University as distinguished professor; retired, 1970, then spent five years as chairman of a Consumer Action Panel for the major appliance industry; United States delegate to the World Forum on Women, Brussels, 1962; earned several awards, including the Joseph F. Smith Family Living Award and Woman of the Year Award from the American Association of University in 1966; appointed by President Nixon to the Consumer Advisory Council in 1972-1975; was a member of the Utah Governor's commission on the Status of Women, 1972; Distinguished Service awards from the University of Utah and Cornell University; d. May 20, 1993 in Eugene, Oregon) http://www.deseretnews.com/article/291676/DEATH--VIRGINIA-FARRER-CUTLER.html?pg=all

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Collection of oral histories and interviews

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5662
Scope and Contents

Contains interviews and oral histories on audio tapes. Individuals featured on the audio recordings are primarily Brigham Young University staff, faculty, or administration. Dates range from 1972 to 1987.

Dates: 1972-1987

College of Family Living records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 309
Scope and Contents

Contains administrative, departmental, and historical records for the College of Family Living. The collection includes publicity materials, self-evaluation reports, meeting minutes, faculty and department information, correspondence, materials outlining the history of the college, and records from the Department of Child and Family Relations, 1954-1990.

Dates: 1954-1990

Virginia F. Cutler autobiography and funeral recording and transcript

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 2573
Abstract

This collection contains two items: her autobiography and funeral services tapes and transcription. The autobiography is photocopies of a typewritten autobiography with handwritten corrections in which Cutler writes about her early life, her education, her teaching career, her travels, and her other activities. The funeral tapes are two cassette tapes with a transcript copy.

Dates: 1970; 1993

Virginia F. Cutler papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 1802
Scope and Contents

Contains certificates, pamphlets, scrapbooks, and theses documenting Cutler's education and career as an educator. The theses are for both her master's and her doctor's degrees.

Dates: 1926-1975

Winnifred C. and Stuart B. Jardine papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 5972
Scope and Contents

Contains primarily the personal papers of Winnifred C. Jardine, including correspondence between family and friends, cookbooks authored by her and others, journals, notes, recipe clippings, and photographs of the Jardine family. Also includes research and history Winnifred collected and wrote about Virginia F. Cutler, a scholar and professor of home economics. Also includes some papers from the military service and career of Winnifred’s husband, Stuart B. Jardine. Dated 1908-2013.

Dates: 1908-2013