Anna M. (Anna Maria) Cooley

Anna Maria Cooley was an American home economist and textbook writer, born in 1874 and active during the years when home economics was becoming a formal academic discipline. She taught for decades at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she served as a professor of household arts and helped train generations of teachers.

She is best known for clear, practical books on food, clothing, shelter, and teaching methods, including Teaching Home Economics and works written with Helen Kinne. Her writing focused on making domestic subjects teachable, organized, and intellectually serious without losing sight of everyday usefulness.

Beyond the classroom, Cooley also held leadership roles in the profession, including serving as president of the New York State Home Economics Association. Today, her books offer a window into how educators of the early 20th century thought about the home, schools, and the value of practical knowledge.