Finding aid for the Cleveland Dietetic Association Records

History of the Cleveland Dietetic Association

The Cleveland Dietetic Association (now known as the Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) was formed in 1915 by Lula Graves, Supervisor of Dietitians at Lakeside Hospital, to promote the employment of trained dietitians or had dietary departments. Grave's plan was to organize a new profession. Membership was widely promoted and soon not only included hospital dietitians but economic teachers and restaurant managers.

The Association proceeded slowly until 1923 when E.M. Geraghty assumed the presidency. She helped increase its activities by limiting membership to hospital dietitians. Gradually, by 1927 the emphasis on training created the first internship program, "School of Dietetics", at Lakeside Hospital. Members gained experience in the diet kitchen, diabetic clinic, administration problems and seminars. In 1934 the Association adopted the rules of the Ohio Dietetic Association Constitution. This re-opened membership to all dietitians and set regulations for officers, elections, committees, dues, and meeting requirements.

Throughout the 1940's publicity and recruitment programs were begun and reacher to the high school level. In 1949, the Association presented a panel discussion on diabetic diet management. Its success established a close working partnership with the Diabetes Association of Great Cleveland.

The Association continued to broaden its activities through participation in the Civil Defense program during the 1950's. Volunteer workers were trained to cook large-scale meals for emergency hospitals. Disaster feeding programs, such as Disaster Relief, Emergency Food Shelf, and Water Purification were planned in cooperation with the Boy Scouts with little equipment provided.

An effort was made to educate the public in two ways during the 1960's. Listings and descriptions of nutrition books were made available to the Cleveland Public Library. Also a Dial-A-Dietitian committee was formed in 1964. The program was designed to answer nutrition questions in a responsible manner. Its overwhelming popularity caused the Association to reduce other aspects of its publicity campaign.

Throughout the 1970's the Cleveland Dietetic Association continued to increase involvement within each of its committees. Awards and scholarships were granted to productive interns. Each year the Mayor of Cleveland designated Nutrition Week, and encouraged Clevelanders to work on the promotion of healthier eating habits. Dietitian speakers and university lecturers were scheduled to speak on topics such as diet therapy, nutrition, and health. Tours were arranged of health facilities in the Cleveland area, and annual Food and Health Fairs were planned in promotion of nutritious recipes for hospitals and homes.

Click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Dietetic Association

Scope and Content

The Cleveland Dietetic Association Records, 1936-1979, consist of minutes of the executive and regular general business meetings; correspondence; reports; financial records; constitution and bylaws; committee minutes for health and service programs; publications; mailing lists; certificates; and newspaper clippings.

The collection relates not only to the Associations internal administration but also to its work with outside agencies such as, Veteran's Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital, University Hospitals, and Stouffer Management Food Systems Divisions of Litton Industries in promoting good dietary practice. Other materials relate to its work in college education in dietetics with Baldwin-Wallace College, Case Western Reserve University, Notre Dame College and Ursuline College.

The collection also includes material covering the Association's involvement during the Cold War when it formed a Civil Defense committee and taught the preparation of large-scale meals. In this it worked with the Cleveland Academy of Medicine disaster-relief committee, and the Boy Scouts. Also documented is the organization's close connection with the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland and their development of more efficient and responsible hospital care to diabetes patients.

The collection should also be of interest to researchers in women's history for, as a predominantly female organization, the Association made an impact on Cleveland's business community. Through publicity and media exposure it grew to become a leading educator. Cleveland Nutrition Week is designed annually and nutrition awareness has spread from schools to hospitals and homes.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult

MS 5432 Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Records

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3972 Cleveland Dietetic Association Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Cleveland Dietetic Association in 1984.

Processing Information

Processed by Eileen M. Reiling in 1985.

Detailed Description of The Collection