Martha Carmichael Oliphant

Martha Carmichael Oliphant was born September 17, 1935 in Providence, RI to Leonard Carmichael and Pearl Kidston Carmichael. The family moved to Medford, MA in 1938 and Martha attended Shady Hill School and the Windsor School; she was a 1957 graduate of Wellesley College with a B.S. in Zoology.

After college, she joined her parents in Washington, DC. She worked as a research biologist at the National Institute of Mental Health and published research on squirrel monkeys, contributing to the book A Stereotaxic Atlas of the Squirrel Monkey's Brain (NIH, 1962).

Over the years, Martha was an active volunteer with the All Hallows Guild, Children’s Hospital, the Christmas Shop, the Flower Mart, the Herb Cottage, the Junior League of Washington, the Smithsonian Ladies Board, the Thrift Shop, the Washington Antiques Show, and the Washington Home. She was a member of Chevy Chase Club and the Sulgrave Club.

Her 1962 marriage to S. Parker Oliphant of Washington, DC (1927–2001) produced two sons, Leonard Carmichael Oliphant (Anne-Louise) and Samuel Duncan Oliphant (Laurie). She was dedicated to her family, loved to read and watch British television shows, and enjoyed spending time on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Her survivors include her two sons and daughters-in-law and her grandchildren, Emily Oliphant, Duncan Oliphant, and Benson Oliphant.

A memorial service will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, a remembrance can be made through a donation to All Hallows Guild of the Washington National Cathedral.