Paul Martin graduated from the University of Chicago in 1923, majoring in English and Anthropology. He continued at Chicago and focused his studies on archeology, and received his Ph.D. in 1929. He was an archeologist and worked hard conducting research, excavations and writing papers. In 1929, he accepted a position as Assistant Curator at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, and stayed there until his death moving from Acting Chief Curator to Chief Curator and eventually to Curator Emeritus.
Martin did extensive research in the Mogollon area and suggested that the Mogollon Culture was a separate, perhaps earlier development, than the Anasazi. Much of his time was spent assessing the cultural history of the Little Colorado region and searching for evidence of Mogollon impact in the area. He was awarded many titles by his associates for his achievements such as Fellow of the American Anthropological Association, Councilor and President (Central States Branch) to the Association, Fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, President-elect of the Society for American Archaeology and President the next year.
He was elected to Sigma Xi and received the seventh Alfred Vincent Kidder Award from the American Anthropological Association for outstanding contributions to American archaeology.
This picture reprinted by permission of the American Anthropological Association from American Anthropologist 78:1 1976
American Anthropologist Vol 78 [1,1976] page 90 written by William A. Longacre; University of Arizona
Written by Students in an Introduction to Anthropology Class, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota 2003.
Edited by Marcy L. Voelker, 2007