Dr. Lillian J. Martin
Granddaughter of Frederick S. Martin
“It is important to salvage the old people, for it not only increases their happiness but helps them find themselves.” ~Dr. Lillian J. Martin, June, 4, 1930
At the age of seventy-nine, Dr Lillien J. Martin, a former resident of Olean, and a nationally known educator, visited Portville en route to Poughkeepsie to attend the fiftieth reunion of her class at Vassar College. Dr. Martin left Olean before she was twenty years old.“Olean has changed decidedly”, she said, "and certainly much for the better."
The following article was published at that time, June 4, 1930.
“Happiness in Age” that is the problem which has been solved by Dr. Lillien J. Martin of San Francisco, California, widely known Psychologist, and former resident of Olean, who was now visiting Miss Lilla Wheeler of Portville. Born of conservative pioneer family of Olean, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Martin, Dr. Martin has been acclaimed one of the foremost psychologists in the country and has the distinction of opening the fires to child guidance clinic in America. Although she is seventy-nine years old, she has never let her age hamper her in the happiness she has sought.
Early this year, Dr. Martin caused nation wide interest when she left unaccompanied for Russia to study conditions there. She taught school in Omaha following graduation from Vassar and finally became a member of the faculty of Leland Stanford University. When she became sixty-five years, the age at which Stanford retires its professors, she refused to give up her activity and instead became more active than ever. She started by taking a trip around the world, writing a book about it on her return and following that by going on a lecture tour. She continued her studies as eagerly as a college junior. She then opened a psychology clinic in San Francisco, Ca., the first ever to be known in existence and its fame is known throughout the country.
”Salvaging Old Age” is Dr. Martin’s idea and one which she carries out. “It is important to salvage the old people,“ Dr. Martin said today, “for it not only increases their happiness but helps them find themselves.”
From the industrial point of view, forty years is the height in business and then one becomes a member of the scrap heap. Dr. Martin maintains that the old are always useful, and that pensions for employees in most cases are unnecessary, for happiness is found when one is working. From her point of view, an old person, whom employers believe, too old for any more use in their business, is still valuable and she has solved this problem many times by having elderly people find themselves and continue their work on the same basis as before.
“Russia alone is salvaging herself, “Dr. Martin stated, “and other countries are going to be greatly influenced by her success or failure. Dr. Martin’s trip to Russia was mainly to carry out the slogan she herself adopted, “Salvaging Oneself” and she is greatly interested in the government being manufactured there, as she termed it. She admired Russia’s courage and paid tribute to the Communists for their ideas in advancing together, not trying as other countries to follow the leader.
A woman of great integrity and magnetic personality, Dr. Martin had adapted herself to work which defines her psychology. Her sense of humor and her keen understanding would cause any child to be attracted to her, to tell her all his secrets and in that way she can determine laxity in child training.
She has created harmony in many homes by “salvaging old age.” Whether rich and retired, or county wards struggling on a mere pittance to live, she has helped them carry on by salvaging that which has been a barter in their happiness. She stated the exceptions where they had allowed themselves to get out of touch, mentally and spiritually and were living in the past. She has eliminated grandparents, who stood in the way of happiness of children and parents and found happiness for the old in a manner which they had been struggling for years to get.
The Martin family was one of the oldest families in Olean and to Dr. Martin’s grandfather, Frederick Stanley Martin, goes the credit of establishing the first church in Olean, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Mr. Martin used strong language, so his granddaughter stated, in endeavoring to organize a congregation here.
The Masonic property on Laurens Street, formerly the Strong property, was originally the Martin home. Dr. Martin’s father was interested in many local industries and owned several farms in this locality. The City Club on North Street, was erected by Dr. Martin’s father.
Dr. Lillien J. Martin
