Mary Cresswell

Mary E. Cresswell, while supervisor of home economics and school garden work at Georgia State Normal School in Athens, had been made a collaborator with the Department of Agriculture in 1911 to develop girls’ canning programs in Georgia. She was later appointed to a position in Washington, becoming the first woman to serve in the Farmers’ Cooperative Demonstration Work office. Her major task was to broaden the canning program into an all-year program for the farm home and family, with the help of state canning club leaders. This included working with farm youth in sewing, kitchen and other home subjects. At Cresswell’ suggestion, all of the women Extension workers eventually were called home demonstration agents.