Mary Hefferan

Mary Hefferan (June 24, 1873 – July 20, 1948) was an American bacteriologist and community leader. She earned her PhD in zoology in 1903 in Chicago.

Life and work
Mary Hefferan was born in Eastmanville, Ottawa County, Michigan. and graduated from Central High School. She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees there in 1896 and 1898, respectively. She received her PhD in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1903 with a dissertation on bacteriology.

After completion of her PhD, she remained at the University of Chicago as the curator of the bacteriology museum and taught for seven years in the department of bacteriology. According to Laug, the board of trustees' minutes indicate that she earned $500 a year. She was also acting editor of the Botanical Gazette.

Hefferan left Chicago for Grand Rapids in 1910. In the span of five years, after the passing of her mother and brother, she moved into her deceased brother's home and gained custody of his two son, and adopted her own son, Albert. She helped with the creation of the D.A. Blodgett Home for Children in Grand Rapids, and was elected to its board of directors in 1915. For her community achievements, she was the first woman to receive the Community Chest Award in 1942 to recognize her 25 years of public service.