Martha Austin Phelps was an American chemist who conducted research in measuring metal concentrations and developed several analytical protocols to do so. She also worked on the early development of ester synthesis. In between conducting research, she worked as school teacher teaching chemistry and physics. She finished her career as an activist in women's academic clubs. Her chemistry career lasted approximately 10 years, resulting in 15 publications, which set her apart as one of the most skilled female chemists within the first generation of women chemists in the United States.
Martha was born in Georgia, Vermont on February 13, 1870. She grew up in Easthampton, Massachusetts where she graduated high school. She earned her B.S. degree from Smith College in 1892. Prior to enrolling in graduate school at Yale University, she taught as a science teacher in New York and Massachusetts.[1] She started graduate school in 1896 and graduated with her Ph.D. in chemistry in 1898. After completing her Ph.D., she continued working for her Ph.D. advisor, Andrew Gooch in the Kent Chemistry Laboratory for one year and then transferred to the Rhode Island Experiment Station where she worked as an assistant chemist in 1900.[1] From 1901-1904, she went back to being a science teacher and taught chemistry and physics at Wilson College.[1] In 1904, she also married Issac King Phelps, who was working as a chemistry instructor at Yale and George Washington University at the time.[2] In 1908, the couple moved to Washington D.C. where Martha went to work for the Bureau of Standards as a chemistry researcher and Issac went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Martha ceased working as researcher in 1909.[1] Martha was one of the first female scientists to be employed by the Bureau of Standards.[3] After 1909, she began her activist work in women's education clubs until retirement. Martha and Issac lived in Washington D.C until 1923, until they moved to New Haven, Connecticut where Martha eventually died on March 15, 1933.[1]
Work in Scienceedit
Martha spent much of her scientific career interested in the quantitative analysis of various elements. Specifically, she studied the composition of ammonium phosphates in magnesium, zinc, and cadmium. Her study of ammonium phosphates was later used as a tool in her later analytical work.[3] Martha spent much of her research career developing several analytical procedures for metal estimations and separations, with a special focus on gravimetric estimations of manganese and magnesium.[4] Her other work included the analysis of prehistoric bronzes without major disruption to the metal composition and the study of organic esters.[1][4]
While in graduate school at Yale, she worked for Andrew Gooch in the Kent Chemical Laboratory. Throughout her time in graduate school, she published nine papers in the American Journal of Science and in Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie for her work in analytical chemistry. Four of the nine papers she published individually and the other five in collaboration with Gooch.[4] After her marriage to Issac King Phelps in 1904, she collaborated with her husband to study ester synthesis. The work resulted in six more publications. In total, she published fifteen papers throughout the span of her ten year career as a chemist.[4]
Image of elemental arsenic.
Martha's work is primarily recognized for her development of a protocol estimating arsenic as ammonium magnesium arsenate. The paper detailing the procedure was published in 1900. The protocol became a standard method of arsenic estimation in quantitative analysis studies and was written into textbooks for several years.[4]
Awardsedit
From 1897-1898, she was granted a graduate scholarship to pursue her PhD. Upon completion of her PhD, she was granted one of Yale's University Fellowships to continue work in Gooch's laboratory until 1899.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefJoan., Siegel, Patricia (1985). Women in the scientific search : an American bio-bibliography, 1724-1979. Finley, K. Thomas (Kay Thomas), 1934-. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN0810817551. OCLC 11236036.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Cattell, James (2016). American Men of Science: A Biographical Dictionary. BiblioLife. p. 369. ISBN9781359133540.
^ abCreese, Mary R. S. (1998). Ladies in the laboratory? : American and British women in science, 1800-1900 : a survey of their contributions to research. Creese, Thomas M. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN0810832879. OCLC 36386419.
^ abcdefAmerican chemists and chemical engineers. Miles, Wyndham D., 1916-, Gould, Robert F. Washington: American Chemical Society. 1976–1994. ISBN0964025507. OCLC 2180182.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
January 01, 1970
martha, austin, phelps, american, chemist, conducted, research, measuring, metal, concentrations, developed, several, analytical, protocols, also, worked, early, development, ester, synthesis, between, conducting, research, worked, school, teacher, teaching, c. Martha Austin Phelps was an American chemist who conducted research in measuring metal concentrations and developed several analytical protocols to do so She also worked on the early development of ester synthesis In between conducting research she worked as school teacher teaching chemistry and physics She finished her career as an activist in women s academic clubs Her chemistry career lasted approximately 10 years resulting in 15 publications which set her apart as one of the most skilled female chemists within the first generation of women chemists in the United States Contents 1 Biography 2 Work in Science 3 Awards 4 ReferencesBiography editMartha was born in Georgia Vermont on February 13 1870 She grew up in Easthampton Massachusetts where she graduated high school She earned her B S degree from Smith College in 1892 Prior to enrolling in graduate school at Yale University she taught as a science teacher in New York and Massachusetts 1 She started graduate school in 1896 and graduated with her Ph D in chemistry in 1898 After completing her Ph D she continued working for her Ph D advisor Andrew Gooch in the Kent Chemistry Laboratory for one year and then transferred to the Rhode Island Experiment Station where she worked as an assistant chemist in 1900 1 From 1901 1904 she went back to being a science teacher and taught chemistry and physics at Wilson College 1 In 1904 she also married Issac King Phelps who was working as a chemistry instructor at Yale and George Washington University at the time 2 In 1908 the couple moved to Washington D C where Martha went to work for the Bureau of Standards as a chemistry researcher and Issac went to work for the U S Department of Agriculture Martha ceased working as researcher in 1909 1 Martha was one of the first female scientists to be employed by the Bureau of Standards 3 After 1909 she began her activist work in women s education clubs until retirement Martha and Issac lived in Washington D C until 1923 until they moved to New Haven Connecticut where Martha eventually died on March 15 1933 1 Work in Science editMartha spent much of her scientific career interested in the quantitative analysis of various elements Specifically she studied the composition of ammonium phosphates in magnesium zinc and cadmium Her study of ammonium phosphates was later used as a tool in her later analytical work 3 Martha spent much of her research career developing several analytical procedures for metal estimations and separations with a special focus on gravimetric estimations of manganese and magnesium 4 Her other work included the analysis of prehistoric bronzes without major disruption to the metal composition and the study of organic esters 1 4 While in graduate school at Yale she worked for Andrew Gooch in the Kent Chemical Laboratory Throughout her time in graduate school she published nine papers in the American Journal of Science and in Zeitschrift fur anorganische und allgemeine Chemie for her work in analytical chemistry Four of the nine papers she published individually and the other five in collaboration with Gooch 4 After her marriage to Issac King Phelps in 1904 she collaborated with her husband to study ester synthesis The work resulted in six more publications In total she published fifteen papers throughout the span of her ten year career as a chemist 4 nbsp Image of elemental arsenic Martha s work is primarily recognized for her development of a protocol estimating arsenic as ammonium magnesium arsenate The paper detailing the procedure was published in 1900 The protocol became a standard method of arsenic estimation in quantitative analysis studies and was written into textbooks for several years 4 Awards editFrom 1897 1898 she was granted a graduate scholarship to pursue her PhD Upon completion of her PhD she was granted one of Yale s University Fellowships to continue work in Gooch s laboratory until 1899 4 References edit a b c d e f Joan Siegel Patricia 1985 Women in the scientific search an American bio bibliography 1724 1979 Finley K Thomas Kay Thomas 1934 Metuchen N J Scarecrow Press ISBN 0810817551 OCLC 11236036 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Cattell James 2016 American Men of Science A Biographical Dictionary BiblioLife p 369 ISBN 9781359133540 a b Creese Mary R S 1998 Ladies in the laboratory American and British women in science 1800 1900 a survey of their contributions to research Creese Thomas M Lanham Md Scarecrow Press ISBN 0810832879 OCLC 36386419 a b c d e f American chemists and chemical engineers Miles Wyndham D 1916 Gould Robert F Washington American Chemical Society 1976 1994 ISBN 0964025507 OCLC 2180182 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Martha Austin Phelps amp oldid 1183339355, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
