This article is about the American college professor. For the American brothel owner, see Adeline Miller.
Addie Dickman Miller, ca. 1893.
Adaline "Addie" Dickman Miller (July 26, 1859 — 1936) was an American college professor, a founder of the town of Ruskin, Florida, and the co-founder and vice-president of the town's Ruskin College. She patented a design for a dish washer and she was president of two different temperance organizations in Oregon.
Adaline "Addie" Dickman was born in West Union, Iowa, to John Dickman and Lydia Jane (Newton) Dickman.[1] She was raised on a farm in a nearby town.[2] Although she had only intermittent schooling, she became a teacher at the age of 15.[2] She went on to study at Western College (now Leander Clark College), focusing on Latin and the sciences and continuing to teach during her vacations.[2] She graduated with a B.S. in 1881.[3]
On leaving Western College, she took a position as chair of history and literature at Avalon CollegeinAvalon, Missouri, later also teaching German.[2] At the end of her first year, she married George McAnelly Miller, a former Chicago prosecuting attorney[4] and professor of ancient languages at Avalon College.[2]
In 1883, Addie and George moved to Oregon, where both took positions at Philomath College in the town of Philomath.[2] Addie taught German and superintended the young women's department, while George was the college president.[2] In 1886, when George ran for Congress, Addie took over as acting college president.[2]
For a few years, Addie edited the women's section of West Shore, a Portland periodical.[2] She also published a series of "Letters to Our Girls" in eastern magazines.[2] In 1890, she invented and patented a dishwashing machine.[5]
In 1907, the Millers and their four children moved to what is now Ruskin, Florida, where on August 7, 1908, Addie set up a post office; this date is taken to be the town's official founding day.[4][6] There in 1910 the Millers founded Ruskin College, an outgrowth of the British Ruskin Hall Movement, which foregrounded socialist principles of the dignity of labor.[7] Addie was vice-president of Ruskin College and George was president.[6] By 1913 their school had 160 students. In 1919, the college burned down, although the Millers' house was spared and is now on the National Register of Historic Places; it currently houses the Ruskin Woman's Club.[6]
^"Adaline D Dickman Miller". Findagrave website. Note that this web page includes a photo of Miller's gravestone, where her first name is spelled "Adaline" rather than "Adeline", as it is rendered in some sources.
^ abcdefghijklWillard, Frances E., and Mary A. Livermore, eds. A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-Seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks Of Life. Moulton, 1893, p. 503.
^Annual Catalog of the Officers and Students and the Announcements of Leander Clark College for the Academical Year Ending June 16, 1886. Cedar Rapids: Mallahan, 1886, p. 64.
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