Martin Ridge, 80; Directed Research at Huntington Library
Martin Ridge, 80, director-emeritus of research at the Huntington Library in San Marino and a noted scholar on the American West, died Sept. 22 at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Ridge had been in failing health for some time, but the cause of death was not announced.
Born in Chicago, Ridge graduated from Chicago State University in 1943 and served in the U.S. Maritime Service during World War II. After the war, he earned his master’s degree and doctorate at Northwestern.
He had taught at what is now San Diego State University (1955-66), Indiana University (1966-77) and Caltech (1980-1995). He joined the Huntington Library as a senior research associate in 1977.
In addition to teaching, Ridge was past president of the Western History Assn. and the Historical Society of Southern California. He also served for 11 years as editor of the Journal of American History.
He retired as the Huntington’s director of research in 1992.
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