Clark, Ava Milam, 1884-1976

Home economics Dean Ava Bertha Milam was born on November 27, 1884 in Macon Missouri, one of 5 daughters of Ancil and Louisa Milam. She taught at the Blees Military Academy from 1904 to 1907 and came to Oregon Agricultural College in 1911 as professor and head of the Department of Foods and Nutrition. She was appointed Dean of the School of Home Economics in 1917 and served in that capacity until her retirement in 1950. In 1948, she acted as a consultant in home economics colleges in Korea and China. Ava Milam married Jesse C. Clark in 1952. She died in 1976. Milam Hall on the Oregon State University campus is named in Ava Milam's honor. Alumnus Jesse Claude Clark graduated from Oregon Agricultural College in 1904 and joined the staff of the YMCA in Portland. In 1907, he married Julia Fuller (a 1906 OAC graduate) and they had 3 children; she died in 1951. During his 40-year career with the YMCA, he spent 12 years in Shanghai, China and several years as general secretary of the Seaman's Y in New York City. After his retirement in 1944, he became director of the Northern Baptist Assembly summer conference center at Green Lake, Wisconsin. He returned to Oregon in 1952 and married Ava Milam. He died in 1956 after a brief illness.

From the description of Ava Milam Clark and Jesse C. Clark photographic collection, ca. 1890-1968. (Eugene Public Library). WorldCat record id: 54757482

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