Marion Lepley Martinson (1897-1992) -- student

A talented home economics professor and graphic designer, Marion Lepley was born in the small community of Beaman, Iowa. Following her graduation from Conrad-Beaman High School, she attended Iowa State College [Iowa State University]. She completed her Bachelor's degree in home economics in 1922 and joined the faculty of Miles High School (Miles, Iowa) as a home economics teacher. She remained there until 1924, and that same year, Lepley became employed at Bedford High School (Bedford, Iowa) as its home economics teacher. She continued in this position through the spring of 1926. During summer breaks from her high school teaching appointments, Lepley attended school at the Art Institute of Chicago (1924, 1925).

In September 1926, Lepley joined the department of applied art at Iowa State College as an instructor. She received campus accolades with a fellowship in applied art (1926-1927) and served as a university instructor from 1927-1944. While employed, Lepley completed her Master's degree in applied art (1931) with Joanna M. Hansen serving as her major professor. Lepley's graduate thesis was titled The Important Characteristics of Contemporary Art and Their Influence Upon Decorative Textiles Suitable for Wall Hangings, Draperies and Upholstery. She attended both sessions of the Stone City Art Colony (1932, 1933), as did her colleague, Hansen.

Lepley's summers away from the Ames community afforded other professional opportunities. She served as a summer school instructor at Western Kentucky State Teacher's College (Bowling Green, KY) during 1936 and taught at Texas Technological College [Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX] during the summer of 1948. She was a member of the home economics curriculum committee at Iowa State and was in charge of its basic design course. Lepley was a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and the American Home Economics Association (now known as AAFCS). She remained on faculty at Iowa State College until the summer of 1950, when she married Albert Martinson of Harcourt, Iowa. The couple settled in Webster County, and later relocated to Columbia, Missouri for her teaching appointment at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Lepley joined the campus' home economics department as an assistant professor of interior design. She served as faculty from August 1956 until her retirement in September 1967. The couple then moved to Laguna Hills, California. Following her husband's death in 1976, Lepley returned to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where she remained and died there in June 1992.

Untitled, date unknown. Image provided by Peter Lorelli, Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Signature on the painting.

Interior Design faculty, Fall 1965.
(C:5/1/15 Box 4)
Courtesy of University Archives, University of Missouri at Columbia.