Martha Heasley Cox (October 15, 1919 – September 13, 2015) was an American professor of English, philanthropist, and literary scholar. She is best known for founding the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies at San José State University, which became the leading archive and research center dedicated to the life and works of John Steinbeck.^[1][2]

Martha Heasley Cox was born in Arkansas in 1919. She demonstrated a passion for literature from a young age, which led her to pursue advanced degrees in English.

She earned her undergraduate degree in English from Hendrix College and went on to complete her master’s and doctoral studies in English literature at Indiana University.

Cox joined the faculty of San José State University in 1955, where she taught English and American literature. She became widely respected for her expertise in modern American authors, particularly John Steinbeck.

In 1971, she spearheaded the establishment of a research center at San José State University dedicated to Steinbeck. Under her leadership, the center grew into the world’s largest repository of Steinbeck-related materials.

• Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies
• John Steinbeck
• San José State University

• Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies