Ella Frances Miles was born February 1886 in Chicago. She began high school in Omaha, Nebraska and finished in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She did her college work in Ontario and graduated from McDonald Institute at Ontario Agriculture College. She then taught in the public schools from 1907-1908 and 1908-1909 and the fall term 1909-1910. During the summer of 1909 she did special work in Teachers College at Columbia University. In 1910 she accepted a position at Kansas State College where she was an instructor in Domestic Science (now Home Economics) beginning January 1910 and the college years 1910-1911 and 1911-1912 and the fall term of 1912-1913.
Ella married Edwin G. Schafer, a member of the Agronomy staff at Kansas State University, August 1912. In September, 1913 they moved to Pullman where Edwin became Professor of Farm Crops at WSC and Agronomist in Washington Agricultural Experiment Station. Mrs. Schafer made her home in Pullman for forty-five years until her death in October, 1958. In Pullman Ella maintained an interest in students on campus. Her three children, two sons and one daughter, are all graduates of WSU. Ella was a member of Ingleside Club, a member and past president of the Women’s Faculty Club at WSU and active in her church.
The Ella Miles Schafer Scholarship Fund was established at Washington State University by Ella’s husband and their children, George M. Schafer ( now deceased), Judith S.C. Hiss, and John F. Schafer, in memory of their wife and mother.
Award Requirements
Because of Ella Miles Schafer’s long time interest in home economics, those considered eligible for Ella Miles Schafer Scholarships shall be full-time, regularly enrolled undergraduate students at Washington State University majoring in home economics.