Hall of Fame
Mary Adams
by Helen Hatton
The Hall of Fame Award honours those pioneer Home Economists — women who very often paved the way for the rest of us — women who achieved professionally and yet still took the time and had the energy to look around and lend a hand to newer Home Economists. These women started our "Old Girls" network, which is alive and thriving today. Furthermore, while it is our profession that initially binds us together, personal love and respect keep us coming back. It's why we're all here tonight to honour Mary Adams.
Mary has been a role model for many Home Economists. She is someone who has always been available in her quiet and dependable way, to help and advise individuals and groups over the years. On untold occasions she has helped Home Economists find available positions in appropriate companies.
Mary Davidson Adams, born in St. Stephens, New Brunswick, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Mount Allison University. She taught high school for seven years in Nova Scotia, and co-authored two Home Economics textbooks, “Homemaking for Young Canadians” and “The Science of Homemaking”; books I'm sure are familiar to many of you! If you still have a copy of Homemaking, for heaven's sake, hold onto it...it's bound to become a cult classic!
It began this way: Ruth Binnie was to be the editor of Homemaking for Young Canadians while Mary and Anna Dunn were to write the book. The authors-to-be decided it would be prudent to move to Digby, teach at the same school and share an apartment while they wrote the book. This worked well and they finished the project in reasonable time.
The writing project now over, co-author Anna immediately turned her sights on the new school staff member, Joe Campbell, and married him 1 year later. Our Mary went to school principal, Colin Purdy, and said, "Well, you found a husband for Anna. Now what about a man for me?" Shortly thereafter, Purdy announced to Mary, "I've just hired Jack Adams, the man you're going to marry!"
Eventually, Mary began homemaking in earnest! Mary and Jack moved to Toronto, and from 1957 to 1964 Mary was the Director of the Home Service Department at Maple Leaf Mills. During those years she co-produced “The Treasury of Newfoundland Dishes” with the Newfoundland Home Economics Association.
Mary also produced a new edition of the Purity Cook Book, with Kay Hodgins (experienced from Canada Packers) handling the meat sections and Marjorie Flint (describing herself as "miscellaneous") handling all the rest.
This project really tested their friendship, for every Friday afternoon the three Home Economists had a meeting where that sat and tore apart each other's recipes and ideas. But it worked well for all concerned; the book was published, and friendships are still intact!
She began freelancing in 1965, working for the Ontario Hog Producers' Association, and the indomitable Katherine Caldwell Bayley's consulting company, Ann Adam Homecrafters. Daughter Catherine was born on Valentine's Day in 1967.
In 1981 Mary began work for the Credit Counselling Services of York Region where she stayed until 1988. I asked her about the new direction professionally, and Mary replied, “I got tired of changing the quantity of salt in the recipes and wanted something different. Credit counselling gave me a whole new perspective on people that I had never thought about before. Sometimes these people simply had a run of bad luck, and others were just irresponsible. Mostly, however, it was bad luck rather than bad planning”— a very compassionate view.
Mary has been a member of CHEA since 1950 — except for one year out in protest — and was recruited for THEA by Marjorie Flint. She was Recording Secretary in 1959-1960. She first started working for THEA in 1972 as Executive Secretary, a job title that subsequently changed to Executive Director, a position she held for 22 years. While working for THEA, Mary became the first Registrar of OHEA and was responsible for OHEIB Membership and Administration. During most of that period Mary also found time to edit and produce the multi-paged monthly newsletter.
As well, she has been a member for 32 years (including positions of Recording Secretary and Regent) in the I.O.D.E. Royal Tour Chapter, a Chapter which participates in the Canadian Citizenship for New Canadians.
In 1986 Mary was the first recipient of the Marjorie Thompson Flint Award. This award is given from time to time to a THEA member who has made a distinct and sustained contribution to the Association and has outstanding accomplishments in the profession of Home Economics. Marjorie Flint commented: “Mary's biggest contribution is her ability to connect people with the Association in a major way and keep them involved!”
She ran THEA with a gentle but firm hand, and was always ready to listen to any thoughts or feelings about our Home Economics associations, or the profession, or well, just about anything! She always knew the answer or had good advice; and furthermore, she is kind, generous and always returns phone calls!
Wendy Sanford said “Mary is one of the jewels in our profession who has given so much to so many. Her quiet, efficient and confident manner has been a role model, impressing those both in and beyond the Home Economics profession. Those of us who have had the privilege to know and work with Mary have appreciated her insight and highly respect her recommendations.”
I am pleased to present this Award to Mary Adams, our wonderful colleague and friend.