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Ruth Anna Marie Schmidt (April 22, 1916 – March 29, 2014) was an American
geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, alt ...
and
paleontologist Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of foss ...
who was a pioneer for women scientists. She spent most of her career in
Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S ...
, where she established a
United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...
(USGS) field office and established the first Department of Geology at the
Anchorage Community College Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring ...
, now part of the
University of Alaska Anchorage The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is a public university in Anchorage, Alaska. UAA also administers four community campuses spread across Southcentral Alaska: Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska–Susitna College, and Prin ...
. In 1964, Schmidt directed the initial assessment of the damage done to the city of Anchorage by the Great Alaska Earthquake, the largest earthquake in North American history, and the second largest earthquake ever to be recorded. She worked for the USGS in Washington, DC during the era of
McCarthyism McCarthyism is the practice of making false or unfounded accusations of subversion and treason, especially when related to anarchism, communism Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left so ...
and was investigated twice for disloyalty because of her membership in the interracial Washington Cooperative Bookshop. She was cleared both times. She earned a number of awards, honors, and letters of commendation and appreciation. After her death in 2014, she was recognized as a philanthropist.


Early life and education

Schmidt was born in
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Kings County is the most populous Administrative divisions of New York (state)#County, county in the State of New York, ...
, New York, in 1916. She graduated from Brooklyn's
Erasmus Hall High School Erasmus Hall High School was a four-year public high school located at 899–925 Flatbush Avenue between Church and Snyder Avenues in the Flatbush neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It was founded in 1786 as Erasmus Hall Aca ...
, and then attended the
Washington Square College The New York University College of Arts & Science (CAS) is the primary liberal arts college of New York University (NYU). The school is located near Gould Plaza next to the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Stern School of Business ...
of
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, ...
1932–1936, during the height of the Great Depression. She earned high marks and graduated with an AB (
artium baccalaureus Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
) in
geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...
in 1936.Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers. (1912–2015). UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. Accession number HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 7 "Transcripts college." Her family encouraged the Schmidt siblings to obtain degrees in higher education, and all of her siblings, including three sisters and one brother, earned college degrees in the 1920s. While in college, she was inducted into
Phi Omega Pi Phi Omega Pi () was a national collegiate sorority operating in the United States from 1922 until 1946 when its chapters were absorbed by several larger sororities, and merged with national sorority, Delta Zeta. History The sorority originally f ...
, earned the
Most valuable player award In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
for
hockey Hockey is a term used to denote a family of various types of both summer and winter team sports which originated on either an outdoor field, sheet of ice, or dry floor such as in a gymnasium. While these sports vary in specific rules, numbers o ...
from the Washington Square College of New York University Alumnae Association,Undated newspaper clipping. (1937?). Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers. (1912–2015). UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 1, Folder 60. "Ruth Schmidt, junior, who won the lumnae Clubmedal for being the most valuable member of the year's hockey team, has a very special fondness for fossils. Queer tastes these young athletes seem to have. In hockey she practically won all the games single-handed. But even so, she's crazy about fossils." and was celebrated in the school newspaper as "crazy about fossils." After college, she studied
comparative anatomy Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny (the evolution of species). The science began in the classical era, continuing in ...
,
biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditar ...
, and
inorganic chemistry Inorganic chemistry deals with synthesis and behavior of inorganic and organometallic compounds. This field covers chemical compounds that are not carbon-based, which are the subjects of organic chemistry. The distinction between the two disc ...
at the
Hunter College Hunter College is a public university in New York City. It is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York and offers studies in more than one hundred undergraduate and postgraduate fields across five schools. It also adm ...
of the City of New York, and trained in radiography with New York University Professor H. H. Sheldon.Sheldon, H. H. (1943). Letter of recommendation written on Auto-Ornance Corporation letterhead by Columbia University Professor of Physics H. H. Sheldon. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers. (1912–2015). UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 8. To earn money for graduate school, she worked as an x-ray technician at a private medical doctor's office and at Long Island Hospital. She also worked at the American Museum of Natural History, where she took x-rays of vertebrate and invertebrate specimens. Schmidt competed with 84 other candidates to win a $500 fellowship from New York City Panhellenic to conduct advanced study of the application of radiography to paleontology. She began her graduate studies in
Pure science Basic research, also called pure research or fundamental research, is a type of scientific research with the aim of improving scientific theories for better understanding and prediction of natural or other phenomena. In contrast, applied researc ...
at
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manha ...
in 1938, and finished her coursework in 1942. She was awarded her master's degree—the A.M. (
Artium Magister A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
)--in 1939. The title of her thesis was, "
Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" ...
Ostracod Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a class of the Crustacea (class Ostracoda), sometimes known as seed shrimp. Some 70,000 species (only 13,000 of which are extant) have been identified, grouped into several orders. They are small crustaceans, typic ...
a from
Yorktown Formation The Yorktown Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in the Coastal Plain of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It is overconsolidated and highly fossiliferous. Description The Yorktown is composed largely of overconsolidated san ...
." Beginning work on her dissertation in 1941, she completed her dissertation in 1948 and graduated with her doctorate degree in geology in 1948.


Career

Schmidt was a pioneer for women in the sciences throughout her career. When WWII broke out, many male graduate students were drafted into military service. Because of the shortage of teaching and research assistants, Schmidt was recruited by Columbia University Professor A. K. Lobeck to serve as an assistant, the first female graduate student to teach all-male classes at Columbia. She taught science and military map-making. Schmidt was also interested in civil rights for ethnic minorities, and when she lived in Washington, she joined the Washington Cooperative Bookshop because of its mission of racial inclusion.Transcripts of hearing October 25, 1950. (1950). Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 14. Her membership in this organization, which was branded as communist by U.S. Attorney General Tom C. Clark in 1947, led to two investigations against Schmidt by the Department of Interior. She was cleared both times. Schmidt traveled widely throughout her career as a geologist. Her
passports A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the perso ...
Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 1, Folder 10. bear the stamps of two dozen countries, including
Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , religi ...
,
Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest co ...
,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, t ...
, Aruba, Australia,
Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...
,
Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establishe ...
,
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar language, Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechuan ...
, the
Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubou ...
,
Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
,
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
,
Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, Japan,
Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...
,
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
,
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
, Switzerland, the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, and the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...
(USSR). She also traveled across the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
, and lived in several states as part of her work for the USGS. Schmidt traveled extensively throughout Alaska too, and crossed the Arctic Circle numerous times both in Alaska and elsewhere.


United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Schmidt began working for the
United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...
(USGS) in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, in early 1943, postponing the completion of her doctoral dissertation until 1948. She worked in various positions for the USGS until 1963. From 1946 through 1948, she conducted research on
radiography Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical radiography ("diagnostic" and "therapeuti ...
,
paleontology Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of fos ...
, and micro-paleontology for the Paleontology and Stratigraphy Branch of the USGS.Schmidt, Ruth A. M. (1974). Job application for the state of Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers. (1912–2015). UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 26. Beginning in 1948, and continuing through 1950, Schmidt worked for the top secret
Military Geology Unit The Military Geology Unit was a unit in the United States military during World War II. It was established on June 24, 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor.Terman, Maurice, 1998, ''Military Geology Unit of the U.S. Geological Survey during World W ...
of the USGS, preparing "engineering geology reports, (classified) for heCorps of Engineers on suitability of areas in European and Pacific Theaters for construction and alignment of roads, airfields, and location of construction materials." She was one of the few women geologists to be hired to do this work, which was classified and required a security clearance. In 1949, Schmidt received routine clearance under the new loyalty investigation program that had been instituted by
President Harry Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
through
Executive Order 9835 President Harry S. Truman signed United States Executive Order 9835, sometimes known as the "Loyalty Order", on March 21, 1947. The order established the first general loyalty program in the United States, designed to root out communist influence ...
. From 1950 to 1952, Schmidt worked for the Geological Division of the USGS, organizing the Lexicon Project (map names) in Washington, and the Paleotectonic Map Project in Denver, CO. From 1952 until her departure for Alaska in 1956, she worked for the Mineral Classification Board, cataloging minerals for all US federal lands. In 1956, Schmidt transferred to Alaska to establish a field office for the U.S. Geological Survey in
Anchorage Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring ...
, where she was the division geologist until 1963. She was "in charge of all technical and administrative matters pertaining to classification of federal lands egardingoil, gas, coal, and other locatable minerals." Letters in the Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers collectionEberlein, Don. (1961). Letter dated December 15, 1961. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 26.Schmidt, Ruth A. M. (1961). Letter to David M. Hopkins dated October 6, 1961. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 26. indicate that by 1961, Schmidt had become unhappy doing office work for the USGS, and she asked for a transfer to the USGS Oceanography Division or the Geological Division so that she could conduct geological research. Her request to transfer to the Geological Division was declined by Don Eberlein, with the reason given that "the big push is for hearty new male PhD's with training and experience in regional geologic mapping and potential such that they may be expected to qualify as project chiefs in a reasonably short period of time." In this letter, Eberlein suggests that Schmidt "learn to live with the job emotionally" and to work on research in her "spare time." In 1963, after twenty years of service, Schmidt resigned from the USGS so she would not have to leave Alaska where she had purchased a home in the city of Anchorage and a small plot of wetlands outside of town upon which she had built a cabin. She had also become involved in the local and Alaska community, having co-founded the Alaska Geological Society in 1957–58 and serving as its first president.


University of Alaska Anchorage

Schmidt began teaching classes as a part time lecturer and adjunct in 1959 at the Anchorage Community College, which was incorporated into the
University of Alaska Anchorage The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is a public university in Anchorage, Alaska. UAA also administers four community campuses spread across Southcentral Alaska: Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska–Susitna College, and Prin ...
(UAA) in 1962. She was the first geology professor at the university, and for a time, she was the only geologist. Women geologists were very rare at the time of Schmidt's appointment to the position, and Schmidt is credited for being a pioneer for women scientists. She founded the Department of Geology served as its first chair, and in 1970, designed and oversaw the construction of the geology laboratory. She was recognized as a distinguished lecturer, and then was promoted to
associate professor Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''. Overview In the '' North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is ...
in 1970. In this position, she taught geology, environmental education, landscapes and resources of Alaska, geomorphology, and paleontology, in addition to doing other work expected of a professor including student advising and curriculum development. She worked for UAA for 25 years until her retirement from teaching in 1984. In 1964, she and four others were in the middle of the frozen-over Portage Lake boring holes in the ice to gather sampling data when the Great Alaska earthquake struck. After a harrowing experience finding a way off the ice, which had buckled while the water underneath was churning, she was chosen to lead the Engineering and Geological Evaluation Group, a group of 50 scientists, to assess the areas of damage in Anchorage prior to the start of rebuilding.


The Great Alaska Earthquake

The Great Alaska Earthquake was the most powerful earthquake recorded in North America, and the second most powerful to be recorded in history. Hitting Alaska about 5:30 pm on March 27, 1964, the earthquake registered 9.2.Wessells, Stephen M. for the United States Geological Survey. (2014). "1964 Quake: The Great Alaska Earthquake." https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/1964-quake-great-alaska-earthquake. Accessed July 31, 2018. The damage was immense. The
tsunami A tsunami ( ; from ja, 津波, lit=harbour wave, ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater exp ...
that followed devastated coastal communities from Alaska to northern California. Landslides demolished entire neighborhoods, railroads and highways were destroyed, and major utilities such as gas mains, electrical grids, and phone systems were obliterated. The USGS estimates that 143 people were killed, and thousands were more displaced. Property damages amounted to $2.3B in 2013 dollars. On the day of the earthquake, Schmidt was leading a research team of three
University of Alaska Anchorage The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is a public university in Anchorage, Alaska. UAA also administers four community campuses spread across Southcentral Alaska: Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska–Susitna College, and Prin ...
students and a
U.S. Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 United States National Forest, national forests and 20 United States Nationa ...
scientist on Portage Lake, a glacial lake bounded by the
Portage Glacier Portage Glacier is a glacier on the Kenai Peninsula of the U.S. state of Alaska and is included within the Chugach National Forest. It is located south of Portage Lake and 6 km (4 mi) west of Whittier. Portage Glacier was a loca ...
near Anchorage, Alaska. The crew had driven an
Arctic Cat Arctic Cat is an American brand of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles manufactured in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The company was formed in 1960 and is now part of Textron Inc. Arctic Cat designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terra ...
snowmobile A snowmobile, also known as a Ski-Doo, snowmachine, sled, motor sled, motor sledge, skimobile, or snow scooter, is a motorized vehicle designed for winter travel and recreation on snow. It is designed to be operated on snow and ice and does not ...
onto the frozen lake and were drilling holes in the three feet of ice to measure the depth of the water and to study sedimentation processes. They had just finished drilling a borehole near the center of the lake when the earthquake struck. Heather Saucier, a journalist who studied Schmidt's scientific career and who interviewed Mike Mitchell, one of the students on the Portage Lake, reports that Schmidt and the others fought to keep their balance as the water under the ice sloshed back and forth, rocking the ice. The movement of the ice was later measured at five feet. Booming sounds immediately followed the earthquake, which lasted for nearly five minutes, and the team witnesses
avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and ear ...
s on the mountains surrounding the lake. The flying snow reduced visibility to 10 feet. Led by Schmidt, the group attempted to head for the nearest shore on their snowmachine, but fissures in the ice, open water, and the continued rocking prevented them from reaching shore. Eventually, they abandoned the snowmachine and began to walk in a different direction to get off the ice, tied together by a rope in case one of them slipped into a fissure in the ice. Once they made their way to shore, they discovered a cabin occupied by an
Alaska Railroad Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
worker's family and were able to contact authorities by radio. The next day, a helicopter rescued them from the cabin and Schmidt and others began the work to assess the impact of the earthquake. Saucier and Denison state that Schmidt was appointed to serve as the federal coordinator for the Engineering and Geological Evaluation Group, and led a team of 50 scientists to assess the damage and to make recommendations for the future rebuilding of the city of Anchorage. However, a letter from then Governor William A. Egan thanking Schmidt for her "dedication and foresightedness"Egan, William A. (1964). Letter dated May 20, 1964. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 4, Folder 16. indicates that the federal government was not initially involved. On a job application dated 1974, Schmidt indicates that she was the coordinator and the geologist in charge of the project, and that the position ended because the "federal government took over." Additionally, the "Guide to the Anchorage Engineering Geology Evaluation Group papers", written by Megan K. Friedel, states that the group of scientists was sponsored by the Alaska State Housing Authority and the City of Anchorage,Friedel, Megan K. (2010). Guide to the Anchorage Engineering Geology Evaluation Group papers, 1964. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections. HMC-0051. https://archives.consortiumlibrary.org/collections/specialcollections/hmc-0051/ not the federal government. Friedel also notes that the scientists included geologists,
soil scientists Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former t ...
, federal and state engineers, and scientists from private companies. There was significant conflict between Schmidt and the Anchorage Engineering and Geological Evaluation Group that she led and downtown business leaders and real estate developers. Business leaders and developers published angry letters in the
Anchorage Times The ''Anchorage Times'' was a daily newspaper published in Anchorage, Alaska, that became known for the pro-business political stance of longtime publisher and editor, Robert Atwood. Competition from the The McClatchy Company, McClatchy-owned '' ...
, a local pro-business newspaper. While Schmidt and the other scientists wanted to carefully study the damage and to identify future risks, developers and other business leaders wanted to charge ahead with the rebuilding process. The scientific group led by Schmidt was able to complete its study and published its final report on May 8, 1964, roughly a month after the earthquake occurred. Schmidt donated the documents related to the report in 1981 to the UAA/APU Archives and Special Collections at the University of Alaska Anchorage.


Consultancy work

On January 1, 1964, Schmidt launched a geological consulting service from her home located at 1040 C Street in Anchorage, AK. Her business license lists the name as R A M Schmidt, PhD. On a job application dated 1974, she notes that she worked as a "consulting geologist oprepare reports on wells from he
North Slope North Slope can refer to: * Alaska North Slope, a region encompassing the northernmost part of the U.S. state of Alaska * North Slope Borough, Alaska, a borough in Alaska whose boundaries roughly coincide with that of the region * North Slope, Tac ...
,
Gulf of Alaska The Gulf of Alaska (Tlingit: ''Yéil T'ooch’'') is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island in the west to the Alexander Archipelago in the eas ...
, other areas; engineering geology reports, building sites, ndroad construction for clients." It was in this capacity that she led the Anchorage Engineering and Geological Evaluation Group to study the effects of the Great Alaska Earthquake. In May 1964, Governor William A. Egan wrote Schmidt a letter to thank her for her "dedication and foresightedness" on this project. In 1974–1975, she was an
environmental consultant Environmental consulting is often a form of compliance consulting, in which the consultant ensures that the client maintains an appropriate measure of compliance with environmental regulations. There are many types of environmental consultants, bu ...
to the
Governor of Alaska A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
on the construction of the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) is an oil transportation system spanning Alaska, including the trans-Alaska crude-oil pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines, and the Valdez Marine Terminal. TAPS is one o ...
(TAPS). For this work, she traveled up and down the TAPS to inspect environmental impacts, restoration work, and the condition of the work camps. Governor Jay Hammond awarded her a State of Alaska Commendation "for serving the interest of the people of the State of Alaska as a member of the Pipeline Coordinators Office during construction of the Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline," on June 13, 1977.


Loyalty hearings


Washington Cooperative Bookshop

During the
McCarthy era McCarthyism is the practice of making false or unfounded accusations of subversion and treason, especially when related to anarchism, communism and socialism, and especially when done in a public and attention-grabbing manner. The term origina ...
, Schmidt was investigated twice for possible disloyalty to the US government. At issue was her involvement with the Washington Cooperative Bookshop, a retail store in Washington, DC, that sold books, records, magazines, and art. Persons who joined the cooperative as members received a discount on purchases. The Bookshop advocated for racial equality between African Americans (then called
Negro In the English language, ''negro'' is a term historically used to denote persons considered to be of Black African heritage. The word ''negro'' means the color black in both Spanish and in Portuguese, where English took it from. The term can be ...
es) and whites during a time when Washington was largely racially
segregated Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of humans ...
, and sold books on African American topics, records featuring black musicians, and sponsored lectures, social activities, and concerts for interracial audiences. On December 5, 1947, the ''
Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large na ...
'' published a list of organizations that Attorney General
Tom C. Clark Thomas Campbell Clark (September 23, 1899June 13, 1977) was an American lawyer who served as the 59th United States Attorney General from 1945 to 1949 and as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1949 to 1967. Clark ...
had branded as subversive and/or communistic.Stokes, Dillard. (December 5, 1947). "91 Groups Branded Subversive by Clark; Loyalty Board Gets List: Selection Includes Movements Branded Totalitarian, Fascist and Communistic." ''Washington Post'' No. 26,104: 1, 10. The list came to be known as the
Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations The United States Attorney General's List of Subversive Organizations (AGLOSO) was a list drawn up on April 3, 1947 at the request of the United States Attorney General (and later Supreme Court justice) Tom C. Clark. The list was intended to be a c ...
, or AGLOSO. This was the first time the list was made public, although parts of the original list, compiled in 1943, had previously been leaked. The list was based on secret information, and the organizations listed were not given opportunities to see the evidence that led to their listing, nor were they able to refute the allegations. The list was created after
President Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...
issued
Executive Order 9835 President Harry S. Truman signed United States Executive Order 9835, sometimes known as the "Loyalty Order", on March 21, 1947. The order established the first general loyalty program in the United States, designed to root out communist influence ...
that established a loyalty review process to ensure that no one who was disloyal to the US government would be federally employed. The Washington Cooperative Bookshop was included on the 1947 list that was published in the ''Washington Post;'' the Bookshop was categorized as Communistic''.'' The reasons given for the listing included sale of communist literature and the fact that the Bookshop hosted speakers thought to be communist or subversive. Of particular concern in Schmidt's case was the sale of the magazines ''
The New Masses ''New Masses'' (1926–1948) was an American Marxist magazine closely associated with the Communist Party USA. It succeeded both '' The Masses'' (1912–1917) and ''The Liberator''. ''New Masses'' was later merged into ''Masses & Mainstream'' (1 ...
''; literature associated with the
American Youth Congress The American Youth Congress (AYC) was an early youth voice organization composed of youth from all across the country to discuss the problems facing youth as a whole in the 1930s. It met several years in a row - one year it notably met on the law ...
; pamphlets and other material published by the
American Peace Mobilization The American Peace Mobilization (APM) was a peace group established in 1940 to oppose American aid to the Allies in World War II before the United States entered the war. It was officially cited in 1947 by United States Attorney General Tom C. Cl ...
, and Schmidt's attendance and participation in lectures such as that by Edwin C. Randall about the political implications of atomic energy. Schmidt said this about why she became a member:
I became a member of the Washington Cooperative Bookshop in August 1945 ... Since my arrival in Washington during the war (I came in early 1943) I had been disturbed by the segregation of negroes, and the unequal treatment they received in the capital of our country. I felt that such a situation was bad for this country, particularly when we were waging a war for equal rights, and against discrimination. In 1945, towards the end of this war, I happened to read Richard Wright's BLACK BOY—and this incensed me to the point of wanting to do something besides talk about it. I had heard of the Bookshop, probably from a folder I may have picked up in the store, as I frequently browsed in the bookstores along 17th street on the way to the Virginia buses on K Street. As I have always approved of cooperatives ... I decided to join this cooperative bookshop that claimed to be interracial.


1950 hearing

In 1947, while she was working for the USGS, Schmidt completed a routine loyalty review under
Executive Order 9835 President Harry S. Truman signed United States Executive Order 9835, sometimes known as the "Loyalty Order", on March 21, 1947. The order established the first general loyalty program in the United States, designed to root out communist influence ...
, and received notification that she was cleared in 1949. In 1950, the issue of her membership in the Washington Cooperative Bookshop again came to the attention of the Department of Interior Loyalty Board, triggered, Schmidt thought, because she had applied to work for the Atomic Energy Commission. She was officially charged with disloyalty to the US government in a letter dated August 15, 1950.Compton, E. L., Secretary, Interior Department Loyalty Board. (1950). Letter alleging disloyalty to US government and right to a hearing. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 12. By that time, the Bookshop had closed due to financial pressures caused by the continual harassment by the federal government, but as Schmidt wrote to a friend, "those who were members still have to answer individually the charges against the organization." Schmidt hired an attorney, David Cobb, to represent her. Upon Cobb's suggestion, Schmidt wrote to former professors, graduate school colleagues, friends, and co-workers to request that they submit a notarized affidavit testifying to her integrity, her loyalty to the US government, and her views about communism. There are carbon copies of 17 such letters of request among Schmidt's papers in the UAA/APU Archives and Special Collections. The letter from her dissertation adviser and professor of geology at Columbia University states: "She has always been devoted to her science, geology, and as far as I have been aware not been interested in anything else." Her request for a hearing was accepted, and a three hour hearing occurred on October 25, 1950, chaired by
Mastin G. White Mastin Gentry White (January 1, 1901 – July 25, 1987) was a judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims from 1982 to 1987. Born in Van Zandt County, Texas, White received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Texas School of Law in ...
, a solicitor for the Department of Interior. There were four members of the Loyalty Board present; five witnesses spoke on Schmidt's behalf. At the hearing, Schmidt acknowledged that she had "been a member of and sympathetically associated with the Washington Bookshop Association." Asked what other organizations she belonged to, Schmidt responded:
I have a list—the Washington Association of Scientists, Geological Society of Washington, Paleontological Society of Washington, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists (SEPM), American Registry of X-Ray Technicians, Red Cross, Community Chest, Blue Cross, and Sigma Xi.
On January 15, 1951, E. L. Compton, Secretary of Interior Department, sent Schmidt a letter that cleared her, stating that "no reasonable ground exists for believing that you are disloyal to the Government of the United States."


1954 hearing

In 1954, Schmidt received another letter from the Department of Interior advising her that she was again being investigated, this time under the authority of
Executive Order 10450 President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450 on April 27, 1953. Effective May 27, 1953, it revoked President Truman's Executive Order 9835 of 1947, and dismantled its Loyalty Review Board program. Instead it charged the heads o ...
.McKay, Douglas. (1954). Letter from the Department of Interior Secretary. Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 19. Also online at https://archives.consortiumlibrary.org/files/2017/08/uaa-hmc-0792-1954HUAC-charges.pdf The letter, dated April 7, 1954, and signed by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Douglas McKay, directed her to respond to charges of membership in a "totalitarian organization" that she knew had been listed as Communistic, and being sympathetically associated with a list of 21 persons, nine of them suspected of being Communists. Schmidt again hired David Cobb to be her attorney. In her written response to the charges, dated April 30, 1954, she re-submitted much of the same testimony about the Washington Bookshop that she had submitted in 1950. She explained her relationships to the 21 people, saying that she knew some of them as passing acquaintances, while some were social friends. Some of the people she said she did not recall or had only partial recollection of them.Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 20. https://archives.consortiumlibrary.org/files/2017/08/uaa-hmc-0792-1954HUAC-DOI-review.pdf The Department of Interior Secretary Douglas McKay answered her letter on June 28, 1954: "A review of your answers to charges and supporting documents discloses that your denials and explanations do not constitute sufficient grounds to reinstate you. As a consequence, your request for a hearing on the charges will be granted." The hearing was scheduled for July 14, 1954. Schmidt was again cleared of the charges.


Honors and awards

Ruth Schmidt received many certificates, honors, awards, commendations, and letters thanking her for her service, her loyalty to professional organizations, and her notable achievements. These include:Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 3. * Alaska
Audubon The National Audubon Society (Audubon; ) is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organ ...
: certificate in recognition of outstanding dedication to conservation and 12 years of service as Program Chair of Anchorage Audubon Society, May 21, 1998; President's Award, January 18, 1996 * Alaska Center for the Environment: in honor of her work towards the foundation of Alaskan conservation, October 5, 1985 *
Alaska State Parks Alaska’s state park system is managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The system contains over 120 units spanning 3,427,895 acres, making it far larger than any other state park system in ...
Volunteer Service Award, June 4, 1985 *
American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an American international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsi ...
(AAAS): elected to be a Fellow, May 31, 1968 *
American Association of Petroleum Geologists The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) is one of the world's largest professional geological societies with more than 40,000 members across 129 countries as of 2021. The AAPG works to "advance the science of geology, especially as ...
: certificate honoring 45 years membership, May 2002; same for 40 years in 1997; same for 25 years 1982 *
American Civil Liberties Union The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States". ...
(ACLU), Anchorage Chapter: Special Certificate of Recognition, October 28, 1994 * American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG): certificate to recognize 40 years of service received in 2003; Silber Anniversary Certificate recognizing Schmidt as a Charter member and Emeritus member September 30, 1988 *
Arctic Institute of North America The Arctic Institute of North America is a multi-disciplinary research institute and educational organization located in the University of Calgary. It is mandated to study the North American and circumpolar Arctic in the areas of natural scie ...
: elected Fellow, September 23, 1985; life member certificate January 28, 1991 *
Common Cause Common Cause is a watchdog group based in Washington, D.C., with chapters in 35 states. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican, who was the former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in the administration of President ...
: certificate of appreciation and letter from founding chair
John W. Gardner John William Gardner (October 8, 1912 – February 16, 2002) was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) under President Lyndon Johnson. He was a strong advocate for citizen participation and founded Common Cause; he became known as ...
, October 13, 1995 *
Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the m ...
,
United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...
Service Award: in recognition of 20 years of service in the Government of the United States, December 31, 1963 *
Geological Society of America The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. History The society was founded in Ithaca, New York, in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitch ...
(GSA): elected to be a Fellow, November 16, 1963 *
Geological Society of America The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. History The society was founded in Ithaca, New York, in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitch ...
(GSA): 50-year Fellow, October 9, 1996 *
International Geological Congress The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology. About The IUGS was founded in 1961 and is a Scientific Union member of the Inte ...
: Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions, July 19, 1989 along with letter from Secretary-General Bruce B. Hanshaw *
President Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again ...
: letter of thanks for participating in at the Table roundtable discussions on women's issues, July 5, 1996 *
Public Citizen Public Citizen is a non-profit, progressive consumer rights advocacy group and think tank based in Washington, D.C., United States, with a branch in Austin, Texas. Lobbying efforts Public Citizen advocates before all three branches of the Uni ...
: certificate of Recognition for Contributing Member (n.d.) *
Society for Sedimentary Geology The Society for Sedimentary Geology is an international not-for-profit, scientific society based in Oklahoma. It is commonly referred to by its acronym SEPM, which refers to its former name, the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists ...
(SEPM): certificate of "Recognition and Appreciation for your Loyalty to SEPM for 60 years of membership", July 22, 2002; certificate honoring the same for 65 years, July 23, 2007 *
State of Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
Commendation "for serving the interest of the people of the State of Alaska as a member of the Pipeline Coordinators Office during construction of the Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline," signed by Governor
Jay Hammond Jay Sterner Hammond (July 21, 1922 – August 2, 2005) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who served as the fourth governor of Alaska from 1974 to 1982. Hammond was born in Troy, New York and served as a Marine Corps fighter pilot ...
, June 13, 1977 * The Living Room Floor Map and Debating Society "informs all Persons that between 1969 and 1972 Ruth Schmidt was a charter member of a group of Alaska Conservation Valiants who diligently pursued and developed the initial major themes for ANCSA nowiki/>Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act">Alaska_Native_Claims_Settlement_Act.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act">nowiki/>Alaska Native Claims Settlement ActSec. 17d2 land withdrawals and the subsequent Presidential Proclamations for Alaska National Monuments and National Wildlife Refuge">List of National Monuments of the United States">National Monuments and National Wildlife Refuges," December 1, 1978 * Who's Who of American Women, 22nd edition 2000/2001 Millennium Edition * Who's Who in Frontier Science and Technology, First Edition, 1984/85


Death and legacy

Schmidt retired from teaching in 1984 after 25 years and continued consulting as a geologist until 2000. She suffered from
dementia Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affe ...
in her later life, and died at the age of 97 on March 29, 2014. Her obituary notes that a celebration of life was held. While living and also after her death, Schmidt was a
philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
. In her will, she donated significant funds to 22 charities, most of them located in Alaska. She created the Schmidt Charitable Trust, originally named in honor of her parents, Edward and Anna Range Schmidt, that provides financial assistance for Alaskan students of any age who study earth sciences; special preference is given for Alaska Native students and other ethnic minorities. She donated regularly to the American Civil Liberties Union, the Anchorage chapter of the Audubon Society, and to Anchorage area cultural organizations, social service organizations, and to conservation groups. She also contributed to Common Cause, a national non-partisan pro-democracy group and to Public Citizen. In 1998, she made an anonymous donation of $10,000 to the Alaska Museum of Natural History. After her death, Trustees for Alaska, a
non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
that works to foster the well-being of Alaska's natural environment, was happily surprised that Schmidt had left a bequest to their organization. In 1960, Schmidt had purchased 4.8 acres of wetland in what was then an outlying area of the city of Anchorage.Ruth A. M. Schmidt papers, 1912–2015. UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives and Special Collections, University of Alaska Anchorage. HMC-0792. Box 2, Folder 4. She paid $2000 for the land. By 2012, when Schmidt donated the land to the Great Land Trust, who in turn donated it to the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department, the land was valued at nearly $300,000. Schmidt was a pioneer for women in the sciences, and acted as an enthusiastic mentor, role model, and colleague for women students. She is credited with laying "the foundation of the geoscience curriculum" at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Schmidt was posthumously inducted into the
Alaska Women's Hall of Fame The Alaska Women's Hall of Fame (AWHF) recognizes women natives or residents of the U.S. state of Alaska for their significant achievements or statewide contributions. It was conceived by the board of directors of the Alaska Women's Network (AWN) i ...
in 2015.


References


External resources


Who was Ruth Schmidt?
UAA/APU Archives—Omeka
Ruth A. M. Schmidt ''curriculum vitae''
(resume) UAA/APU Archives—Omeka
Photographs of Ruth A. M. Schmidt
UAA/APU Archives—Omeka
Objects Schmidt used in her work as a geologist
UAA/APU Archives—Omeka
Ruth Schmidt obituary
Legacy.com
1964 Alaska Earthquake damage photos
USGS.
The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunamis—A Modern Perspective and Enduring Legacies


Prologue Magazine ''Prologue'' was a publication of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The publication's articles are based on NARA's holdings and programs and material from the regional archives and the presidential libraries across the U ...
, National Archives
Executive Order 9835
, Executive Orders Harry S. Truman, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Ruth A. M. 1916 births 2014 deaths American paleontologists American women geologists Women paleontologists United States Geological Survey personnel People from Brooklyn Columbia University faculty Columbia University alumni New York University alumni University of Alaska Anchorage people Scientists from Alaska 20th-century American geologists 20th-century American women scientists Philanthropists from New York (state) Scientists from New York (state) Erasmus Hall High School alumni 20th-century American philanthropists 21st-century American women