Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby - Commemorating Her Life and Legacy

The Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby located at the intersection of MIT Buildings 2 & 4 is a testament to the remarkable life and legacy of Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911). As the first woman to be admitted, graduate, and become an instructor at MIT, and considered to be the founder of ecology and home economics, she broke barriers and paved the way for future generations. Her contributions as a chemist, environmentalist, and advocate for women's education continue to impact us today. As visitors stand in the lobby, surrounded by the memorabilia of her life and legacy, they can almost hear Richards' call to action from 1872, “I hope that I am winning a way which others will keep open.”^[1]

Visitors to the Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby can immerse themselves in the rich history and memorabilia. From the Ellen Swallow Richards Memorial Tablet, which was commissioned by her contemporaries and created by Boston sculptor Bashka Paeff, to the permanent exhibit of photographs, books, and memorabilia, the lobby is a testament to Richards' impact and the deep admiration she inspired in those around her.

The Ellen Swallow Richards Memorial Tablet is the centerpiece of the lobby and serves as a powerful reminder of Richards' achievements. The bronze bas-relief of the serene face of Richards surrounded by symbols of her contributions to science was dedicated in 1928, on the 86th anniversary of her birthday. Chairing the dedication ceremony was Richards’ pupil and research assistant, Frances Stern (Class of 1913), an early food bank advocate who pioneered links between diet and sociology. Numerous other classmates, students and colleagues shared personal memories extolling Ellen Swallow Richards' character, achievements, and legacy. Head of the MIT Departments of Biology and Public Health, Samuel E. Prescott 1894 S.B. Chemistry, student and colleague of Richards, concluded the proceedings: 

“It is pleasant to think that as these young men and women pass this beautiful memorial which will adorn and give distinction to their path to laboratory or research rooms, they may pause for an instant to look upon the serene face there portrayed, and that they may inwardly, even if inarticulately, say in essence to themselves: Here is one of the truly great, for she taught not only her own science but the love of all truth, the dignity of labor, and the nobility of human service.”^[2]

In 1980, MIT further honored Ellen Swallow Richards by dedicating a lobby in her name near the former home of the MIT Chemistry Department. At the Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby Dedication, alumnae guests of honor testified to Richards’ impact on their own lives and careers. For the occasion, a portrait of Richards by Ellen D. Hale, (1885-1940) impressionist painter from Boston was placed behind the speakers. 

• Florence Hope Luscomb 1909 S.B Architecture, women's suffragist, lifelong activist for social and civil liberties, and one of MIT’s first women graduates in architecture, shared personal reminiscences of Richards as unofficial “dean of women” during the early years of MIT. 
• Marjorie Pierce 1922 S.B, 1923 M.Architecture, spoke to Richards’ influence on the life of women at MIT. Pierce was president of the MIT Women’s Association from 1940-44, and a key figure in refurbishing the Lobby and creating the Ellen Swallow Richards Chair for Science endowment. 
• Susan E. Schur 1960 S.B., S.M. Metallurgy highlighted the relevance of Richard’s work to modern-day concerns. Schur served as President of the Association of MIT Alumnae (AMITA), Vice-President of the Association of MIT Alumni and chaired the 1973 celebration of 100 years of women graduates from MIT.

The permanent exhibit in the Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby is a treasure trove of information and inspiration for visitors. A wall-mounted display case includes a biographical overview and photographs of Richards' life and career, while highlights of an exhibit case below the Ellen Memorial Tablet include a photograph of Richards and her husband, MIT Professor Robert H. Richards 1868 S.B. Mining & Metallurgy, one of the many books she wrote, “First lessons in food and diet” (1904), a seminal biography of Richards, “Ellen Swallow: The woman who founded ecology” by Robert Clarke. Chicago, IL: Follett. Darwin, C. (1973) and the moving poem “In Memoriam Ellen H. Richards” written by her sister-in-law, Pulitzer prize author Laura E. Richards. Visitors can sense the deep admiration and respect that Richards' contemporaries had for her as they explore the exhibit and learn more about her life and work.

The Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby at MIT was established to recognize the impact of her groundbreaking contributions to inclusion in education as well as to environmental science and engineering. The Ellen Swallow Richards Lobby is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of women in science and the life of this remarkable woman who continues to inspire and impact us today. Her legacy lives on, not just in the lobby, but in the countless succeeding generations who have walked through the doors she opened to make their own groundbreaking contributions.

1. The Vassar Miscellany, Volume 40, Issues 6-9
2. "In Memory of Ellen H. Richards” The Journal of Home Economics 1929-06: Vol 21 Issue 6. 
3. Course Catalogue of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1878 - 1879, http://hdl.handle.net/1721.3/82720. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Libraries. Department of Distinctive Collections.
4. Hunt, Caroline L 1865-1927. The Life of Ellen H. Richards. Anniversary Edition, American Home Economics Association, 1958. 
5. Collection on Ellen Swallow Richards, MC-0659, container X. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Distinctive Collections, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
6. MIT, Self-Guided Walking Tour of MIT’s Campus. https://institute-events.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/8.21_Self_guided_tour_FINAL.pdf Accessed Feb 2023. 
7. “Massachusetts Institute of Technology Honors Ellen Swallow Richards”. American Home Economics Association. AHEA Action, 1980-02: Vol 6 Iss 4 .  
8. Campbell, Calvin Duncan. Tech Talk. V24, N22, Jan 16, 1980.