Beulah Blackmore

Beulah Blackmore (April 6, 1886 – July 29, 1967) was an American home economist on the faculty of Cornell University from 1915 to 1951, and head of the New York State College of Human Ecology at Cornell University's Textiles and Clothing department from 1925 to 1951.

Early life and education Blackmore was born in Vassar, Michigan, the daughter of Oliver Blackmore and Anna Blackmore. Her brother, John James Blackmore, was a professional musician. She attended high school in Tuscola County, and graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1917. Later she completed graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to her appointment at Cornell, Blackmore was a public school teacher in Howard City, Michigan, and Tacoma, Washington. including such courses as "Elements of Design", "Clothing and Handwork", and "Elementary Millinery". She became a full professor in 1923, and served as head of the textiles and clothing program from 1925 until her retirement in 1951. She oversaw the creation of the school's costume shop, home economics courses for male students, a collection of historical textiles and international garments, and a diverse research program on clothing and fabric. She also introduced courses and research on how psychology influences clothing. She also donated her own collection of rare objects and books on these subjects to the college.

In addition to her work within the Cornell University campus, Blackmore taught community classes on creating new clothes for children out of discarded textiles and gave interviews and lectures on consumer advice. Publications Blackmore wrote textbook chapters and technical reports; "The Making of Clothing" and "Millinery" (1919, textbook chapters) "Watch Your Step in the Dining-Room" (1922, with Flora Rose) "A Clothing Project" (1922) "How Will You Pack When You Go Away?" (1924) "The Clothes We Wear" (1928) "Clothing purchased by farm families in Tompkins County, New York, 1927–28" (1934)

Personal life Blackmore lived with fellow home economist Helen Canon in Ithaca, New York for more than thirty years. Blackmore and Canon were recognized by their friends as partners with an "eternal" relationship. Blackmore died at home in 1967, at the age of 81.