The Mabel E. Rugen Papers contain a wealth of information which documents the early years of the University of Michigan's physical education program for women, professional education for teachers of physical education, and the important contributions Rugen made in a field previously dominated by men. The collection has been divided intellectually into eight main series: Correspondence, Research Papers, Health Education Projects and Studies, School of Education, School of Public Health, Course Materials, Associations, and Topical.
Mabel E. Rugen was born May 13, 1902, in Glenview, Illinois. After receiving her B.S. in physical education from the University of Wisconsin in 1925, she worked as a physical education teacher in the Glenview Public Schools. She then went on to New York where she earned a M.A. (1929) and a Ph.D. (1931) from New York University in physical education.
Rugen first taught health, physical education and biology in the elementary and secondary schools of Kansas, New York and New Jersey. In 1930, she secured a position at the University of Michigan as Assistant Professor of Physical Education for Women. Soon after, she was promoted to Associate Professor of Physical Education and Health Coordinator for the University High School (both appointments were in the School of Education). As associate professor, Rugen taught student teachers in the directed teaching program for physical education. In 1941, she joined the faculty of the newly formed School of Public Health as Assistant Professor of Health Education, while retaining her position at the School of Education. In 1946 she was promoted to full Professor of Health Education in both the School of Education and the School of Public Health. Rugen held this joint appointment until her retirement in 1970.
Rugen's primary focus during her years at the university was teaching. During her long career she taught both undergraduate and graduate students and directed many masters theses and doctoral dissertations. Rugen played an active part in the development of guidelines and requirements for both undergraduate and graduate programs.
During her tenure at the university, Rugen also became actively involved with state projects that sought to monitor and improve the health of both children and adults. Her leadership in organizations such as the Michigan Joint Committee on Health Education and the Michigan Curriculum Program in the 1930s made her a nationally known figure in the field of public health. The Community Health Service Project (CHSP) (1942-1946), in which Rugen was involved from its beginning, provided instruction in health education to high school students. The CHSP sought to provide basic health skills primarily to high school women in the hopes that they might choose to become nurses.
Mabel E. Rugen belonged to more than twenty local and national organizations and is the author of over ninety articles, book chapters and brochures relating to the fields of physical education and public health.
