Background
Babcock was born in East Worcester, New York to William Wayne Babcock and Sarah Jane Butler.
Babcock was born in East Worcester, New York to William Wayne Babcock and Sarah Jane Butler.
Babcock was born in East Worcester, New York to William Wayne Babcock and Sarah Jane Butler. She was educated in the public schools of New York then received degrees from Welles College in New York, Philadelphia National School of Oratory and, in 1890, the American Academy of Dramatic Artist
She taught at the university for 46 years, beginning in 1892. While there she established the University Theater, originated the first college dramatic club in the United States, directed over 800 plays and occasionally taught. Babcock was studying and teaching at Harvard University when she met noted Utahn and daughter of Brigham Young Susa Young Gates who, impressed by Babcock"s work as a summer course instructor in physical culture, convinced her to move to Salt Lake City.
She established UU"s first physical training curriculum, of which speech and dramatics were part for several years.
After a separate speech and drama department was formed, she headed that. She wrote five books on speech and elocution, and was a renowned traveler and lecturer.
In addition to her professional interests in drama and elocution, she was also a crusader against wasp-waist corsets. She was also famed in Utah for her success in bringing big-name talent to the state.
She died at the age of 87.
Honorary member of National League of American Penwomen
Honorary member of Pi Delta Pi.
