Abby Marlatt facts for kids

Abby Lindsey Marlatt (born December 5, 1916 – died March 3, 2010) was a brave teacher and activist. She worked hard for social justice and helped her community. As a professor at the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington, Kentucky, she became well-known for speaking out against war in the 1960s. She was honored by many groups for her important work. In 2001, she was even added to the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Education

Abby Marlatt was born on December 5, 1916, in Manhattan, Kansas. Her family had a long history in education. She was the only child of Frederick and Annie Marlatt. Her aunt, Abby Lillian Marlatt, was also a well-known educator.

Abby went to Kansas State College. She graduated in 1938 with a degree in home economics. She focused on dietetics, which is about planning healthy meals. While in college, she was very active in the student Christian movement. She led the college's YWCA group. One special memory from college was helping at a "settlement house" in New York City. This house helped working-class girls learn to cook and live together.

To become a dietitian, she interned at the University of California at Berkeley. She earned her certificate in 1941. She also started her advanced studies there. Her professor, Dr. Agnus Fay Morgan, hired her as a teaching assistant. This helped Abby work towards her Ph.D. During this time, she worked with groups like the American Friends Service Committee. She also learned about non-violent protest from Bayard Rustin, a famous civil rights leader.

Career as a Professor and Activist

Starting Her Teaching Career

In 1945, Abby Marlatt became an assistant professor at Kansas State University. She taught Foods and Nutrition. She finished her Ph.D. in 1947. Her research looked at how school children ate and what nutrients they got.

From 1953 to 1954, she taught as a visiting professor in Beirut, Lebanon. She taught at the Beirut College for Women. This school helped women in the region get an education. Students from the college would visit villages in the summer. They taught girls and women basic reading, healthcare for mothers and babies, and crafts.

While at Kansas State, Abby helped students plan a sit-in. Students from the YMCA and YWCA protested at lunch counters near campus. They wanted to end segregation.

In 1956, Dr. Marlatt moved to the University of Kentucky. She became the first Director of the School of Home Economics. She was hired as a senior professor with job security.

Fighting for Civil Rights in Lexington

For several years, Dr. Marlatt led the School of Home Economics without problems. But by 1959, she started joining college students and Black civil rights groups. They held peaceful protests and sit-ins in downtown Lexington. They wanted to end segregation in public places.

Her first protest was in the spring of 1959. She tried to bring a mixed group of white and Black students to a restaurant. They were refused service and asked to leave.

In the summer of 1959, students from the YWCA and YMCA joined with youth from the NAACP. They started the Lexington chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Dr. Marlatt became the secretary of this group. CORE members would send small teams to talk to store managers. They asked them to change their rules and serve everyone equally. They also organized sit-ins at lunch counters. Groups of people would sit and try to order food. If only the white people were served, they would try to share their food with their Black friends.

The university president, Dr. Dickey, called Dr. Marlatt to his office. He told her that her protests were hurting the university's money. Some faculty and students were protesting businesses downtown. But Dr. Marlatt believed she had the right to protest in her free time.

In 1961, CORE held a big meeting with James Farmer. He was a co-founder of CORE and organized the 1961 Freedom Riders. The mixed-race CORE chapter ended in 1968.

Church members who had been active in CORE and NAACP formed a new group. It was called the Lexington Committee on Religion and Human Rights. Dr. Marlatt worked with this group. She worked with Joe Graves and Harry Sykes. Harry Sykes later became Lexington's first Black city commissioner.

Making a Difference: Abby's Activism and Community Work

Abby Marlatt was involved in many groups throughout her life. She worked with academic, national, state, and local organizations.

• She helped organize the Lexington chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
• She was on the board of the United Nations Association's local chapter.
• She was a member of the YWCA.
• She was active in the Kentucky Civil Liberties Union.
• She served on the board of the League of Women Voters.
• She helped organize the Lexington Commission on Religion and Human Rights.
• She was an officer and board member for the Community Action Council.
• She helped start Micro-City Government, which worked on local community issues.
• She was involved with non-profit housing groups like Emerson Center, Inc.
• She helped with nutrition projects for older people through Bluegrass Community Services, Inc.
• She was on the advisory board for the University of Kentucky Donovan Scholars Program.
• She served on the Ethics Commission for the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government.
• She was a mentor and tutor at Harrison Elementary School through the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program.

She was also a member of many professional groups related to her work in nutrition and home economics. These included:

• Kappa Omicron Nu
• American Association of University Professors
• American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
• American Dietetic Association
• Kansas Dietetic Association (where she was president)
• Sigma Xi (science and engineering)
• Phi Upsilon Omicron
• Kentucky Council on Aging
• Kentucky Nutrition Council
• Omicron Delta Kappa

Honors and Awards

Abby Marlatt received many awards for her service and activism:

• 1985: Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion (for service to others)
• 1985: National Conference for Community & Justice (Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award)
• 1996: University of Kentucky Women's Forum Sarah B. Holmes Award (for service to women)
• 1999: Kentucky House of Representatives (honored for her work with youth programs)
• 2000: University of Kentucky College of Human Environmental Sciences Hall of Fame
• 2001: Central Kentucky Civil Liberties Union (Distinguished Service Award)
• 2001: Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame
• 2001: Kentucky Council on Aging (Gaines Center Humanities Award)
• 2002: Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Senior Citizens Hall of Fame
• 2002: Kentucky Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Community Service Award)
• 2004: University of Kentucky Wiley-Berger Award for Volunteer Service

Personal Life and Death

Abby Marlatt passed away on March 3, 2010. Sean Wright, a community leader, once said that Dr. Marlatt was a "Drum Major in the Band of Justice." He admired how she fought for change, even in difficult situations. Her dedication to justice and helping others left a lasting impact.