Marie Tharp was born on July 30, 1920, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the only child of Bertha Louise Tharp, a German and Latin teacher, and William Edgar Tharp, a soil surveyor for the United States Department of Agriculture. … See more

After his retirement, William Tharp and the rest of the family moved to a farm in Bellefontaine, Ohio, where, shortly after, Marie graduated from high school. Influenced by her … See more

After Heezen's death, Tharp continued to serve on the faculty of Columbia University until 1983, after which she operated a map-distribution business in South Nyack during her retirement. Tharp donated her map collection and notes to the Map and Geography Division … See more

Like many women scientists of her era, Marie Tharp was recognized mainly later in life. Her awards include:
• 1978 - National Geographic Society’s Hubbard Medal See more

By 1948, Tharp had spent four years in Tulsa and was looking for her next career step. She moved to New York City and initially sought work … See more

Before the early 1950s, scientists knew very little about the structure of the ocean floor. Though studying geology on land was cheaper and easier, the overall structure of the … See more

In 1948, she married David Flanagan and moved with him to New York. They were divorced by 1952. See more