From the Iowa State University Library www pages:

MS 271
Bernice K. Watt
Papers, 1910-1984
1.26 linear ft. 	

Archives of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

    * Acquisition: Papers donated by Martha W. Gaines in 1994 (Acc. #s 94-0062, #94-0084, and #94-0085)
    * Access: Open for research
    * Other formats: Personal photographs in Box 4
    * Copyright: Copyright is held by lowa State University/ Copyright of the family histories, "Kunerth Family in America" and "Theresa and Frank Starch" has been retained by the family
    * Processed by: Brent Wagner, May 1994


Biographical Note

    Bernice Lydia Kunerth was born on June 10, 1910, in Ames, Iowa,
    where her father, William Kunerth, served as a physics professor
    at lowa State College (precursor to lowa State University). She
    had one younger sister named Ruth. In 1932, she graduated with a
    combined major in foods, nutrition, and chemistry from lowa State
    College. The following year, she earned her Master of Science
    degree at Kansas State University. Until 1938, Kunerth remained in
    Manhattan, Kansas, where she served as a food/nutrition r esearch
    technician and instructor. She then went to New York and acquired
    a Ph.D. in Nutrition Chemistry from Columbia University in
    1940. After a brief stint as an assistant professor, Kunerth moved
    to Washington, D.C. to begin a career working for the U nited
    States Department of Agriculture in 1941 and married Raymond Dewey
    Watt, a 1922 graduate of lowa State College, in 1942.

    Her career with the USDA entailed nutritional research. She
    retired in 1974 as Leader of the Nutrient Data Research
    Center. Under her leadership, the information available has grown
    from two tables containing data on 13 nutrients in 275 foods to 20
    tables consisting of values for 50 nutrients and 3,000 foods. For
    her efforts, Watt has received some impressive honors: in 1969,
    the Distinguished Achievement Citation from lowa State; in 1972,
    the Borden Award for fundamental nutrition and experimental foods;
    in 1974, the Distinguished Service Award from the USDA; and in
    1980, the Elvehjem Award for Public Service in Nutrition. All of
    these scientific accomplishments coincided with her duties as a
    mother of three and volunteer work she performed in Fairfax, V
    irginia. She died on March 8, 1984.

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Another ISU site: http://www.iastate.edu/Inside/2005/0225/watt.shtml

			  February 25, 2005
		  Watt's career devoted to nutrition

March is Women's History Month, and many women added to Iowa State's
history and reputation. Among them is Bernice (Kunerth) Watt, who
devoted her career to nutritional research.

Over a long career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she
compiled data on nutrients in foods. During her tenure, that
information grew from data on 13 nutrients in 275 foods to 50
nutrients in 3,000 foods.

She was born in 1910 in Ames. Her father was on the physics faculty in
what was then known as Iowa State College.

She graduated from Iowa State in 1932 with a combined major in foods,
nutrition and chemistry. She received an M.S. from Kansas State
University (1933) and a Ph.D. in nutrition chemistry from Columbia
University (1940).

Among the recognitions Watt received were the Distinguished
Achievement Citation (1969) from Iowa State, Borden Award for
fundamental nutrition and experimental foods (1972), Distinguished
Service Award (1974) from the USDA, and the Elvehjem Award for Public
Service in Nutrition in 1980.

She died in 1984.