Mary Peters Fieser's substantial contributions to the field of organic chemistry include her work on the Harvard research team headed by her husband, Louis Fieser, and her authorship of numerous key texts and reference books in the field. She was involved in numerous important areas, including the synthesis of vitamin K, the development of an antimalarial drug, and the synthesis of cortisone and carcinogenic chemicals for medical research. For her research, publications, and skill in teaching chemistry students how to write, she was awarded the prestigious Garvan Medal in 1971.

Fieser was born in 1909 in Atchison, Kansas, to Robert Peters, an English professor, and Julia (Clutz) Peters, a bookstore owner and manager. Her father accepted a position at what is now Carnegie-Mellon University, and Fieser grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her family believed strongly in educational and professional achievement for women: Fieser's mother did graduate work in English, and...