Agnes Fay Morgan and early nutrition discoveries in California

Agnes Fay Morgan (1884-1968) and several other California pioneers in nutrition contributed much to the early increase in basic knowledge of nutrition and foods. Dr. Morgan became a member of the faculty in the division of Nutrition at the University of California at Berkeley in 1915. Her academic retirement was in 1954, but she remained active and productive even to the time of her death in 1968. The hallmark of her career was the high standards she established both in training home economists and nutrition investigators and in gaining widespread public recognition of the importance of good nutrition. Also,, she was imaginative and productive in significant research. Such work was directed to the nutrients of California foods and the effects on food values resulting from heat processing and storage. Other major early nutrition scientists in California included Ruth Okey, H. M. Evans, H. S. Olcott, S. Lepkovsky, H. J. Almquist, T. H. Jukes, and E. L. R. Stokstad. Their contributions included major accomplishments in the discovery and/or characterization of vitamin E, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, and vitamin K.