Fairfax T. (Fairfax Throckmorton) Proudfit

Fairfax Throckmorton Proudfit was an American dietitian and teacher whose work helped shape the study of nutrition for nurses and patients in the early twentieth century. Records tied to later editions of Dietetics for Nurses identify her as an instructor and clinical dietitian at Memphis General Hospital, as well as a consultant in dietotherapy for several Memphis medical and public health organizations.

She is best known for Dietetics for Nurses and Nutrition and Diet Therapy, books that were revised, reprinted, and used over many years. Her writing focused on making nutrition practical for clinical care, especially for nurses learning how diet could support recovery, prevention, and long-term health.

Some local historical sources describe her as an especially important early figure in Southern dietetics, but the broad outline that is easiest to confirm is her lasting influence through teaching and textbooks. A verified portrait was not clearly available from the sources I could confirm, so no profile image is included.