Marguerite Thomas Williams was the first African American to earn a doctorate in geology in the U.S.
She studied how flooding and human activity sped up erosion of the land.
Fun fact: During her career, only 3% of the 11,000 geologists were women. Today, the Marguerite T. Williams Award honors her contributions and is given to mid-career scientists making an impact in earth and planetary surface studies.
Marguerite T. Williams is a pioneer among geoscientists in recognizing how human activity and landscape management impact erosional processes and the risks of natural flooding.
Join us in celebrating the legacy of Marguerite on her 130th birthday.
December 24, 1895 – August 17, 1991
See our video reel for Marguerite Thomas Williams
