Background
Guthrie, Mary Jane was born on December 13, 1895 in New Bloomfield, Missouri, United States. Daughter of George Robert and Lulu Ella (Loyd) Guthrie.
Guthrie, Mary Jane was born on December 13, 1895 in New Bloomfield, Missouri, United States. Daughter of George Robert and Lulu Ella (Loyd) Guthrie.
She graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor"s degree in 1916 and a master"s degree in 1918, then earned her Doctor of Philosophy in zoology at Bryn Mawr College in 1922. While working towards her Doctor of Philosophy, Guthrie served as a zoology instructor and demonstrator. Returning to Missouri after earning her Doctor of Philosophy, Guthrie spent the majority of her career at her alma mater, becoming an assistant professor in 1922, associate professor in 1927, and full professor in 1937.
Guthrie was known for her writing about zoology. She wrote several textbooks on the subject that were widely used. Guthrie left the University of Missouri for Wayne State University in Detroit in 1950, and stayed there until her 1960 retirement.
In 1951 she was given a concurrent appointment at the Detroit Institute for Cancer Research.
Despite her success, Guthrie was denied funding because of her gender, including one instance where she was not funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association Anatomists, American Society Naturalists, American Society, Zoologists, Genetics Society American, American Association University Professors, Sigma Xi. Member editorial board Journal Morphology, 1944-1947.