Marguerite Thomas Williams (born Marguerite Thomas; December 24, 1895 – August 17, 1991) was an American
geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althoug ...
. She was the first
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
to earn a doctorate in
geology
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...
in the United States.
Early years and education
Marguerite Thomas was the sixth of six children born to Henry C. and Clara E. Thomas. She attended Washington Normal School #2, now known as the
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is a public historically black land-grant university in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1851 and is the only public university in the city. UDC is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall ...
. She graduated from the two-year teacher-training program at the University of the District of Columbia (then called Normal School for Colored Girls) in June 1916, with a scholarship to
Howard University
Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...
.
Kelly Miller of Howard University delivered the address to the graduates and a song, written by Thomas for the occasion, was sung.
She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Howard University
Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...
in 1923
[ where she was mentored by African American biologist ]Ernest Everett Just
Ernest Everett Just (August 14, 1883 – October 27, 1941) was a pioneering African-American biologist, academic and science writer. Just's primary legacy is his recognition of the fundamental role of the cell surface in the development of organis ...
. While earning her Bachelor's degree, Thomas worked as an elementary school teacher. After finishing her degree, she returned to the University of the District of Columbia to teach as an assistant professor and work with the school's theater group.
Thomas was granted a leave from the University of the District of Columbia to pursue her master's degree in geology at Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
, which she completed in 1930. After completing her master's degree, Thomas married Otis James Williams, D.D.S., and took his name.
In 1942, she completed her PhD dissertation, ''The History of Erosion in the Anacostia Drainage Basin'', at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. This made her the first African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
to earn a doctorate in geology
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...
in the United States. Her dissertation was later published by the Catholic University of America Press
The Catholic University of America Press, also known as CUA Press, is the publishing division of The Catholic University of America. Founded on November 14, 1939, and incorporated on July 16, 1941,Roy J. Deferrari ''Memoirs of the Catholic Unive ...
.
Dissertation
In her dissertation, Williams sought to explore the factors that eventually lead to the erosion
Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is dis ...
observed in the Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. ...
. Little had been done in terms of examining the upper and lower regions of the river and the basin sedimentation
Sedimentation is the deposition of sediments. It takes place when particles in suspension settle out of the fluid in which they are entrained and come to rest against a barrier. This is due to their motion through the fluid in response to the ...
. The flooding of Bladensburg, Maryland, precipitated the erosion and necessitated investigation. She concluded that, in addition to natural erosion, human activities, including deforestation, agriculture and urbanization
Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly t ...
, accelerated the process.
Career
Williams spent most of her career teaching courses on geology and the social sciences. After gaining her PhD in 1942, she was promoted to full professor at the University of the District of Columbia. For a decade, from 1923 to 1933, she was Chair of the Division of Geography at the University of the District of Columbia. In addition to teaching and serving as chair, she also taught at Howard University during the 1940s. She retired in 1955.
See also
* Timeline of women in science
This is a timeline of women in science, spanning from ancient history up to the 21st century. While the timeline primarily focuses on women involved with natural sciences such as astronomy, biology, chemistry and physics, it also includes women f ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Marguerite
1895 births
1991 deaths
20th-century African-American scientists
20th-century American geologists
20th-century American women scientists
African-American women scientists
American women geologists
Catholic University of America alumni
Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni
Howard University alumni
University of the District of Columbia alumni
Scientists from Washington, D.C.
20th-century African-American women