Maud Babcock

Maud May Babcock (May 2, 1867 – December 31, 1954) was the first female member of the University of Utah's faculty. She taught at the university for 46 years, beginning in 1892. While there she established the University Theater, originated the first college dramatic club in the United States, led the production of the first university stage play, directed over 300 plays and taught. She also founded the Department of Speech and the Department of Physical Education at the University of Utah. Babcock stayed longer in Utah than she intended, becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) four months into her planned one-year stay. At the University of Utah, Babcock founded two departments, the Department of Speech and the Department of Physical Education. She taught in both departments, and became the first female chair of a department at the University of Utah. In 1918 after extensive correspondence she met in person with Maude Adams and they planned a production of The Pilgrim's Progress. WWI canceled that production because no male actors were available. She worked at the university for 47 years. In addition to her professional interests in drama and elocution, she also favored women's suffrage and opposed corsets. Becoming the first woman chaplain in any state senate in the United States.

Death She died at the age of 87.

The information in the article is taken from two obituaries clipped intact but without dates from two newspapers, one the Salt Lake Tribune and the other, apparently, the Deseret News