By Cyanne Cueva
Image credit courtesy of EGU Blogs, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Special to The Enterprise
On December 24, 1895, Marguerite Thomas (later marrying into the last name Williams) was born to Henry and Clara Thomas. Growing up near Washington, D.C., Marguerite was the youngest of six siblings. Not much is known about her early life and childhood, other than her curiosity and passion for the natural and geosciences began at an early age. She would later go on to be the first African American to receive a Doctorate in geology in the United States, and one of the first scientists to critically examine human influence on natural processes such as erosion.
Marguerite Thomas Willimas’ higher education began with a two-year teaching program at the Normal School for Colored girls, which was later renamed to Miner Teachers College, and eventually University of the District of Columbia. She was an excellent student and graduated in 1916 with a scholarship to Howard College. Thomas Williams graduated in 1923 from Howard College with a bachelor’s in science and mentorship from Dr. Everett Just, a prominent biologist and science writer. She then went on to earn her Masters in Geology from Columbia university in 1930 and married her husband soon after graduation.
In 1942, at the Catholic University of America, Marguerite Thomas Willimas published her dissertation, The History of Erosion in the Anacostia Drainage Basin, making her the first African American person to receive a doctorate in geology in the U.S. As the name suggests, her research focused on the major flooding and erosion that occurred in the early 1900s at the local Anacostia drainage basin near Bladensburg, Maryland. Through carefully executed field work, Thomas Williams revealed that human activities such as deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization had sped up the natural geological process of erosion. Thomas Williams’ findings cemented her as one of the first geoscientists to critique human impact on flooding, erosion, and land.
Despite discrimination she faced as a married African American woman in a male dominated field, Marguerite Thomas Willimas accomplished much in her career. Thomas Williams served as Chair of the Division of Geography from 1923 to 1933 at Columbia University, where she became a full-time professor in 1942, all while teaching night courses at Howard University. She inspired and influenced the development of the Marguerite Microtunnel Boring Machine (MTBM), studies on studies of fluvial sediments on Mars, and countless other scientists.
Underrepresentation of women of color in the geosciences remains a current issue, but hopefully thanks to pioneers such as Marguerite Thomas Williams, more young scientists are able to pursue their passions.
Explorit's coming events:
Keep the kids entertained with Explorit’s Winter Workshops! Offered Dec. 23, 27, 30 and Jan. 3, these one day workshops offer fun science activities and crafts. Designed for those in Grades K-2nd, registration is $40 Members/$50 Non-Members. For mor information and to register visit: https://www.explorit.org/camps.
Winter Break hours: Dec. 23, 1-4pm; Closed Dec. 24 and 25, Dec. 27 10am-2pm; Dec. 30 1-4pm; Dec. 31 10am-2pm; Closed Jan. 1; Jan. 2, 10am-2pm. Regular hours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Explorit is open Fridays from 1-4pm and Saturday and Sundays from 10am-2pm. The current exhibit is “Blast Off! A Journey Through Our Solar System”. Admission is $5 per person, free for Explorit Members and those aged 2 and under.
Consider Explorit for your end of year giving and help to educate and inspire the scientists of tomorrow: https://www.explorit.org/donate
Give the gift of science this holiday season. An Explorit Membership grants the recipient free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours, discounts on events, summer camps and workshops, and gives you ASTC benefits to visit other museums throughout the world. To purchase or for more information visit https://www.explorit.org/membership or call Explorit at 530-756-0191.
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