Gladys Branegan Chalkley

Gladys Branegan Chalkley began her career at Montana State University in 1921 when she was hired as a home economics specialist in home management and later became the head of home economics. In 1927, she introduced a course in child development and was instrumental in acquiring the Home Management House on Cleveland Street. Chalkley initiated three state educational groups: the Montana Association of University Women (1931), Montana Home Economics Association (1920) and the Montana Dietetics Association (1934). She was also one of the first MSU faculty to establish active relationships with people in other countries. In 1937-1938, she took a sabbatical for a world tour, visiting 25 countries, making contact with many universities in order to learn about their educational systems and opportunities for women. She brought back ideas and used them in her classrooms as well as giving public lectures in the community and state. She also served as a liaison between Extension service and the experiment stations, supervised the state’s high school programs and helped set up local councils for improving nutrition. After 25 years at MSU, she went to Ohio State University to serve as director of home economics. Chalkley was presented with an MSU honorary doctorate in 1957.

Gladys Chalkley was one of the first faculty at MSU to establish active relationships with people in other countries.