Martin V. Ridge (1923-2003) attended Chicago State University, served in the US Maritime Service, and then received his PhD at Northwestern University in 1951. He taught at Westminster College, San Diego State University, and Indiana University, where he also served as editor of the 'Journal of American History.' In 1977 he became director of research at the Huntington Library and, while there in 1981, joined the teaching staff at the California Institute of Technology. Ridge exercised vast influence in the history of the American West and authored, edited, or coedited 17 books and over forty articles. He served on the editorial boards of over a dozen journals. Ridge was elected to the American Antiquarian Society in 1982. A symposium was held in his honor on his retirement in 1992.