Specialist X 3^rd Class, US Navy, Marguerite Jean Betty Martin

Born: March 18, 1924, Boston, Massachusetts
Died: September 6, 2011, Albuquerque, New Mexico

It is not clear when M. Jean Betty Martin joined the US Navy as one of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). She could not have joined before she was twenty, so the most probable date is mid to late 1944 or maybe not even until 1945. Her official Naval rating was SPX3, or Specialist X, meaning that she had a civilian specialty not covered by another naval specialist rating.¹ Later in life, Jean Martin recalled that she had been doing drafting before the war and that was what she had done for the Navy.² The number three after the Specialist rating means she was a petty officer third class.³

She likely served around Washington, D.C. as that appears to be where she met her husband; they were certainly married there in October 1945.⁴ They both appeared to have been honorably discharged about this time.⁵

Marguerite Jean was born to Edward and Hazel Betty on March 18, 1924, in Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up in and around Boston with one sister seven years her junior.^6,7 Art was her passion from an early age, “My dad was a printer in Boston and he used to bring me the paper roll-ends from work. My doodling days began early and have never stopped.”⁸ In a later interview, Jean Martin remembered, “I started sketching in colored pencils, and at one time, I wasn’t that old, I looked in the mirror and tried to draw a picture of me, and my mother came in and said, ‘I can’t believe you are doing that. You’re just wasting your time.’…. They [her parents] didn’t encourage me. But I encouraged me.”⁹ Her parents’ preference for a more traditional interest in business didn’t interest her at all.

In 1941 she graduated from Dorchester Girls’ High School and attended Lassell Junior College. She wasn’t there long before she won a scholarship to the Massachusetts College of Art.¹⁰ After college, she did drafting for an insurance company until she heard the call of her country and joined the Navy.

While serving, she met Harold E. Martin and the couple was married in October of 1945.¹¹ They made their home in New Mexico, but did some moving around for her husband’s job, and had two sons and a daughter.^12,13 It was unfortunate, but one of their sons had trouble with polio.¹⁴ Due to its help with the disease, Jean Martin gave a coffee in support of the March of Dimes.¹⁵ The Martin family was one of the lucky families and their son survived, though he died young.¹⁶

Art was never far from her mind, and as the children grew, Jean Martin was able to focus more time on her art. She displayed her work at galleries across the nation as well as locally at art events like the Feria de los Artesansos for the Junior Women’s Club, in local libraries, and even in the Plaza Old Town Albuquerque.^17,18,19 She studied with many other artists, including attending the University of New Mexico in the mid-60s.²⁰ She was part of several art groups including the Nor Este Art Group and the Pinon Branch of the National League of Pen Women.^21,22 Jean Martin was also a longtime exhibitor at Weems, both the ArtFest and the gallery.²³

In 1972, Jean Martin and her husband toured the Southwest, including Colorado and Inland Mexico.²⁴ She found inspiration there to continue her work in oils and watercolors besides her drawing, and worked in all sizes, specializing in miniature landscapes.^25,26 Shortly after their tour of the Southwest they moved to the South Valley of Albuquerque to raise cattle and llamas. The Martins celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a surprise dinner party.²⁷ Jean Martin lost her husband in 2001 and broke her wrist in 2007, but nothing stopped her artwork. Something she credits to her Irish background.^28,29

Jean Martin is listed in Contemporary Western Artists, Who’s Who of American Women, and Artists of the Rockies.³⁰ She passed away on September 6, 2011.

Images & Documents

Notes:

1. “U.S. Navy Rate and Rank Abbreviations.” USS Little Rock Association. Copyright 2023. Last updated: 3 August 2022.
2. “’Her Very Own Windmill’ Gives Constant Inspiration.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 31 January 1974. sec. B p. 1.
3. See note 1.
4. “Marriage License Applications.” Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. 19 October 1945. sec B p. 6.
5. “Martin, Harold E.” Veterans’ Gravesites, ca.1775-2019. US Department of Veterans Affairs. Last Updated 1 July 2020. Lt. Martin was discharged in November, so they were probably both released about the same time due to the marriage and the end of the war.
6. “Betty.” Year: 1930; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 28A; Enumeration District: 0468; FHL microfilm: 2340690.
7. “Betty.” Year: 1940; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01676; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 15-607.
8. “’Her Very Own Windmill’ Gives Constant Inspiration.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 31 January 1974. sec. B p. 1.

9 & 10. Stevens, Amanda. “Artist Finds Inspiration in Beauty of Ordinary Life.” Albuquerque Journal Monthly Magazine: Mature Life in New Mexico. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 15 April 2007. p. 4.

11. “Marriage License Applications.” Evening Star. Washington, District of Columbia. 19 October 1945. sec B p. 6.
12. See note 8.
13. “Martin, Jean.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10 September 2011. sec C p. 3.
14. “He Needed Some Encouragement.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 21 January 1955. p. 21.
15. “Hostesses Hold Dimes Coffees.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 21 January 1955. p. 13.
16. “Martin, David.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 25 September 1996. sec. E p. 5.
17. “’Her Very Own Windmill’ Gives Constant Inspiration.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 31 January 1974. sec. B p. 1.
18. “Jean Martin Esperanza Exhibitor.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2 May 1965. sec. B p. 4.
19. “Jean Martin Showing Paintings.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1 November 1970. sec. C p. 3.
20. See note 17.
21. “Framing Demonstration Scheduled for Branch.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 2 October 1968. sec. C p. 1.
22. “Mrs. Henry Mullin to Give Demonstration.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5 March 1964. p. 11.
23. “Weems Artfest.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 3 December 1986. sec. B p. 2. See also her obituary, note 26.
24. “Local Couple Travels Inland Mexico.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 19 March 1972. sec. B p. 2.
25. See note 23.
26. “Martin, Jean.” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10 September 2011. sec C p. 3.
27. “Martin.” Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 4 November 1995. sec B p. 6.
28. “Martin, Harold E..” Albuquerque Journal: Obituaries. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 15 September 2001. sec. D p. 6.
29. Stevens, Amanda. “Artist Finds Inspiration in Beauty of Ordinary Life.” Albuquerque Journal Monthly Magazine: Mature Life in New Mexico. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 15 April 2007. p. 4.
30. See note 23.

Compiled by: A. D. McLean, MA, MLIS. Central New Mexico Community College, retired 2022.

Featured Image:

“’Her Very Own Windmill’ Gives Constant Inspiration.” Albuquerque Tribune. Albuquerque, New Mexico. 31 January 1974. Retrieved: 6 September 2023. https://www.newspapers.com/image/784298855