In Memoriam: Alta Newman Lane, 1927-2018

Alta N. Lane, professor emerita of family and consumer sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, passed away last month. She was 91 years old.

Before coming to Baylor, Dr. Lane taught at Memphis State University from 1971 to 1976 and at the University of Northern Iowa from 1978 to 1980. She joined the Baylor University faculty in 1981 when she became the coordinator for the interior design program in the department of family and consumer sciences. Her research focused on the study of architectural and furniture history. She retired from Baylor in 1997, with the designation of professor emerita.

“Our interior design students and faculty are indebted to Dr. Alta Lane for her foundational work in establishing the ID program at Baylor,” said Dr. Rinn M. Cloud, chair and professor of family and consumer sciences in the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University. “Due to her hard work and dedication to this field, numerous students have graduated from our program and gone on to work in prominent architecture and design firms throughout the U.S. and abroad, allowing her legacy to extend well beyond this campus.”

A native of Grand Bay, Alabama, Dr. Lane held a bachelor’s degree from what is now the University of Memphis and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.