Helen Mandeville Martin (1889–1973) was an American geological researcher and educator for the Michigan Geological Survey. She is known for her geological maps of which have been utilized by industries in Michigan for use in their mineral resource sector. She was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 1988 after years as a state geologist for the Michigan Department of Conservation in Michigan.
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Personal life
Martin was born in North Dakota in 1889. She attended the University of Michigan in 1908 where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in geology. She would later return to the University of Michigan where she acquired her Master's degree in the same area of study. She would spend the majority of her life in Michigan until she retired in 1958.
Career
Upon acquiring her Bachelor's degree Martin spent nine years as a professor at the University of Michigan. In this period between 1908 and 1917, she would teach both geology and physiography.
After receiving her Master's degree in geology, Martin she worked for several oil companies, however, Martin's most recognizable accomplishments came as a state geologist in the Geological Survey Division of the Michigan Department of Conservation. As a member, she would develop several geological maps displaying the topography of the Michigan area. Two of the more widely used maps that she created were the centennial geological map of Michigan and the surface formation map of Michigan. These geological maps were vital in the economic development of Michigan in the mid-1900s in the field of mineral resource extraction. She would remain a member of the Geological Survey Division for 30 years until she retired on December 1, 1958. She would, however, remain very active in the geological community until she died in 1973.
Martin's impact on women in geology
Martin has helped women take a big step in geology, which was historically known as a male-dominated science.