{{Short description|American chemist and academic (1872–1960)}} {{Infobox person | name = Martha Doan | image = Martha Doan.jpg | birth_date = June 6, 1872 | death_date = {{death date and age|1960|4|18|1872|6|6}} | education = Purdue University<br /> Earlham College in English Literature<br /> Cornell University | mother = Pheobe MacPherson | father = Abel Doan | family = }}
'''Martha Doan''' (June 6, 1872 – April 18, 1960) was an American chemist whose contributions include research in compounds of thallium, three published work, and tenure as a professor and dean at various institutions in the US. Throughout her lifetime, she received four degrees, a B.S. and master's from Purdue, a B.L. from Earlham College, and a Sc.D. from Cornell.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Ladies in the laboratory? : American and British women in science, 1800-1900 : a survey of their contributions to research|author=Creese, Mary R. S.|date=1998|publisher=Scarecrow Press|others=Creese, Thomas M.|isbn=0585276846|location=Lanham, Md.|oclc=36386419}}</ref> She was a dean of women for two colleges, Earlham College and Iowa Wesleyan College.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to her involvement in higher education, she was involved with several national organizations that involved chemistry and science. She was awarded a certificate for Outstanding Service to Science in 1951.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gwis.org/page/honorary_members_all|title=Honorary Members - Graduate Women In Science|website=www.gwis.org|access-date=2018-02-10}}</ref> There is now a garden dedicated to her in her hometown of Westfield, Indiana, in honor of her interests in science, nature, and horticulture.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.westfield.in.gov/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=1707|title=Document Center / Who is Martha Doan? / Westfield, IN|website=www.westfield.in.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-02-10}}</ref>
== Early life == Born to Pheobe MacPherson and Abel Doan, Martha grew up in Westfield, Indiana. She was the oldest of seven children. Martha graduated from Union High School, a Quaker school.<ref name=":0" /> After high school, Martha decided to pursue a college education.
== Education and career == Martha Doan would eventually hold 4 collegiate level degrees. She earned her B.S. at age 19, from Purdue University.<ref name=":0" /> Her next year of study would be directed at the pursuit of a B.L. from Earlham College in English Literature. Afterwards, she received an M.S. from Purdue.
Her final degree came from Cornell University. During her time at Cornell, she pursued a Doctorate of Science (Sc.D.) in chemistry. Her studies were funded by the Henry W. Sage Fellowship<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bp3OAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA17|title=The Vassarion...Vassar College|date=1910|language=en}}</ref> offered to select graduate students at Cornell. Her work towards this advanced chemistry degree revolved around the research of thallium and related compounds. In 1896, the year that she received her Sc.D., she was listed as a co-author for a paper regarding the thallium related compounds, that would be published by the American Chemical Society.<ref name=":0" /> She was the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in chemistry from Cornell.<ref name=":0" />
Another publication of Martha Doan's is the ''Index to Literature of Thallium 1861-1896.'' This index was unanimously recommended to the Smithsonian Institution by a committee from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qBJLAAAAYAAJ&q=American+Chemical+Society+Martha+Doan&pg=PA221|title=Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science|last=Science|first=American Association for the Advancement of|date=1898|publisher=s.n.|language=en}}</ref> It would go on to appear in Miscellaneous Collections at the Smithsonian Institution in 1899.<ref name=":0" /> Her last publication was a translation of ''Radio Indicators and other selected topics in Inorganic Chemistry.''
In addition to being a published chemist, Martha Doan taught for a majority of her life. Her first job in teaching was at Manual Training High School, in Indianapolis. She was then offered a position at Vassar College, where she taught as an instructor for 14 years.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> After teaching at Vassar College, she went on to be both a professor and dean of women at Earlham College. She stayed at Earlham until 1926. Three years later, she became a professor and dean of women for Iowa Wesleyan College and held this position until 1937.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Her pursuits as an administrator included further developing strong teaching, research, and university extension work.<ref name=":0" />
== Recognition, honors and awards == {{More citations needed section|date=August 2024}} Her dedication to science and academia earned her several honors and awards from various institutions: {| class="wikitable" |+Recognition, Honors and Awards !Title !Institution |- |Sage Fellow |Cornell University |- |Honorary Doctorate<ref>{{Cite web |title=Purdue Alumnus 1 June 1950 — Purdue University Newspapers Collection |url=https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=ALU19500601-01.2.7& |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu}}</ref> |Purdue University |- |Alumnae Citation Award{{cn|date=December 2025}} |Earlham College |- |Certificate for Outstanding Service to Science<ref name=":2" /> |Graduate Women in Science |- |Fellow |Indiana Academy of Science |- |Member |National Association of Dean's of Women |- |Member |American Association of University Women |} {{Portal|Women|Science|Biography }}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Doan, Martha}} Category:1872 births Category:1960 deaths Category:Cornell University alumni Category:American women chemists Category:Purdue University alumni Category:Earlham College alumni Category:Vassar College faculty Category:Earlham College faculty Category:Iowa Wesleyan University faculty Category:20th-century American chemists Category:American women academics Category:Graduate Women in Science members