Born: 13 March 1926, United States
Died: 16 October 2006
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Martha Jane Bergin
The following was written by Nina Baker and is excerpted from the book From Alchemy to Transport Phenomena: A Global History of Women in Chemical Engineering.
Martha J. Bergin Thomas, BSc, PhD, MBA (1926-2006) graduated in chemistry from Radcliffe College (1945) and went to work for Sylvania Electric Products (which became General Telephone & Electronics Corporation (GTE) in 1959). She remained with them for her four decade career, during which she gained a PhD from Boston University (1953) and an MBA from Boston’s Northeastern University (1983). She established GTE’s first phosphor plants, rose to be their head of the Phosphor Research and Development Section in 1970 and then director of technical services of the GTE Electrical Products Group. Thomas held 24 patents for improving lighting technology and manufacturing, one of her most important contributions being the development of a white phosphorus powder coating for fluorescent tubes for a more natural light. All while raising four daughters with her scientist husband.