Hoobler, Icie Gertrude Macy, 1892-

Scientific research consultant of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dr. Icie Macy Hoobler was born July 23, 1892 in Missouri but spent her professional life in Michigan. She was a graduate of Central College for Women (AB, 1914), the University of Chicago (BS, 1916), the University of Colorado (MA, 1918), and Yale University (Ph.D., 1920) with a degree in physiological chemistry. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Hoobler in 1923 joined the staff of the Merrill-Palmer School for Motherhood and Child Development. Her assignment was "to organize, equip and direct the Nutrition Research Project as a support to the teaching and training program." After consultation with school trustees and medical and service organizations, it was decided to place the Nutrition Research Laboratory in the Children's Hospital of Michigan. A cooperative arrangement was worked out whereby the school provided the finances and direction and the hospital provided the space, utilities, and medical guidance. Thus in late 1924, the Nutrition Research Laboratory of the Merrill-Palmer School and the Children's Hospital of Michigan was opened. Although the laboratory was in the vanguard in applying the new science of nutrition and child development, the school had limited resources and could not extend its work into other needed areas of research. Through the influence of the Detroit Pediatric Society, the laboratories and its resources were transferred in 1931 to the newly established charitable organization, the Children's Fund of Michigan. Dr. Hoobler continued on, assuming the position of director of the Fund's research division. The assured long time period of the fund and financial support permitted Dr. Hoobler to plan for extended studies on nutrition and the growth of children and on the metabolism of mothers. She continued with this work through the 25 years of the Fund's existence. In her career, Dr. Hoobler was acknowledged for her contributions in the field of maternal and child nutrition, as a scientist, researcher, and author. She died January 6, 1984.