Marie Tharp
Storyboard Text
- Ypsilanti, Michigan
- I was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan on July 30th, 1920. My father worked for USDA where collected samples and reasearched them. I often helped him which influenced my interest for map making. My fathers job made my family move often so i went to 17 different schools before even graduating high school.
- I began college as a music major, and graduated with a music and english degree. During my times women were deterred from getting a job where males dominate. My chances were slim at getting the job I wanted but during WW2 many men were sent off to war so this was my opportunity to secure my dream job.
- After graduating college and getting my masters, I worked as a research assistant at the Lamont Geological Laboratory in Columbia University in New York. This is where i met my long term research partner Bruce Heezen, a geology graduate student.
- Before 1950s, the ocean floor was a mystery. I myself was a oceanographer but wasn't allowed on voyages, because I was a woman, to map the sea floor which was considered a flat plain. That didn't stop me from contributing to the success of mapping the ocean sea floor which after all had many crevices and ridges.
- After many years, I still was working at the University of Columbia where I retired in 1983. I opened up a map making business from my home. Throughout my career my work was never credited due to my gender, and it wasn't until 1996-1997 where I was honored as one of the best cartographers of the 20th century.
- Before I leave this earth as I age into my 80s, I want to leave behind my legacy of being a pioneer for woman scientist. A work field that is dominated by men, I was able to be recognized and credited for my work and was able to pave a way for future woman cartographers and society to adventure into the unknown sea.
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