Garvan-Olin Medal

The Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal is an annual award that recognizes distinguished service to chemistry by women chemists. The Award is offered by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and consists of a cash prize (US$5,000) and a medal. The medal was designed by Margaret Christian Grigor.

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Any individual may nominate a single eligible chemist in one year. Nominees must be a female citizen of the United States.

The award was established by Francis Garvan and Mabel Brady Garvan in 1936 in honor of their daughter. It was initially an essay contest, that ran for seven years, as a memorial to their daughter (the American Chemical Society's Prize Essay Contest). It was solely funded by the Francis P. Garvan Medal Endowment from its establishment in 1936 until 1979. W. R. Grace & Co. assumed co-sponsorship of the award from 1979 to 1983. In 1984, Olin Corporation assumed co-sponsorship. Mabel Brady Garvan remained involved with the Award through 1967.

The Garvin-Olin Award is the ACS' third-oldest award, and the first award established to honor women chemists.

Award Recipients

• 1937 Emma P. Carr
• 1940 Mary E. Pennington
• 1942 Florence B. Seibert
• 1946 Icie G. Macy-Hoobler
• 1947 Mary Lura Sherrill
• 1948 Gerty T. Cori
• 1949 Agnes Fay Morgan
• 1950 Pauline Beery Mack
• 1951 Katharine B. Blodgett
• 1952 Gladys A. Emerson
• 1953 Leonora N. Bilger
• 1954 Betty Sullivan
• 1955 Grace Medes
• 1956 Allene R. Jeanes
• 1957 Lucy W. Pickett
• 1958 Arda A. Green
• 1959 Dorothy V. Nightingale
• 1960 Mary L. Caldwell
• 1961 Sarah Ratner
• 1962 Helen M. Dyer
• 1963 Mildred Cohn
• 1964 Birgit Vennesland
• 1965 Gertrude E. Perlmann
• 1966 Mary L. Peterman
• 1967 Marjorie J. Vold
• 1968 Gertrude B. Elion
• 1969 Sofia Simmonds
• 1970 Ruth R. Benerito
• 1971 Mary Fieser
• 1972 Jean'ne M. Shreeve
• 1973 Mary L. Good
• 1974 Joyce J. Kaufman
• 1975 Marjorie C. Caserio
• 1976 Isabella L. Karle
• 1977 Marjorie G. Horning
• 1978 Madeleine M. Joullié
• 1979 Jenny P. Glusker
• 1980 Helen M. Free
• 1981 Elizabeth K. Weisburger
• 1982 Sara Jane Rhoads
• 1983 Ines Mandl
• 1984 Martha L. Ludwig
• 1985 Catherine C. Fenselau
• 1986 Jeanette G. Grasselli
• 1987 Janet G. Osteryoung
• 1988 Marye Anne Fox
• 1989 Kathleen C. Taylor
• 1990 Darleane C. Hoffman
• 1991 Cynthia M. Friend
• 1992 Jacqueline K. Barton
• 1993 Edith M. Flanigen
• 1994 Barbara J. Garrison
• 1995 Angelica M. Stacy
• 1996 Geraldine L. Richmond
• 1997 Karen W. Morse
• 1998 Joanna S. Fowler
• 1999 Cynthia A. Maryanoff
• 2000 F. Ann Walker
• 2001 Susan S. Taylor
• 2002 Marion C. Thurnauer
• 2003 Martha Greenblatt
• 2004 Sandra C. Greer
• 2005 Frances H. Arnold
• 2006 Lila M. Gierasch
• 2007 Laura L. Kiessling