Margaret Keyes, who served for 37 years on the faculty at the University of Iowa, died on October 14 at a care center in Iowa City. She was 97 years old.
Professor Keyes was a native of Mount Vernon, Iowa. She graduated from Cornell College in Mount Vernon in 1939 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She then taught in Iowa public schools for 11 years. In 1951, Professor Keyes earned a master’s degree in home economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That same year, she joined the faculty in the department of home economics at the University of Iowa.
Professor Keyes later earned a Ph.D. in interior design and housing at Florida State University. She was the author of three books including Old Capitol: Portrait of an Iowa Landmark (University of Iowa Press, 1988) and Nineteenth Century Home Architecture of Iowa City (University of Iowa Press, 1993).
Dr. Keyes remained on the faculty at the University of Iowa until 1988, when at the age of 70 she was named professor emerita. She earned honorary doctorates from Cornell College and Coe College.