Margaret Herrick

Margaret Herrick was an influential American librarian and executive who served as the executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for over three decades. Her visionary leadership transformed the Academy Awards into a globally recognized institution and she oversaw the establishment of the Academy Foundation and the Margaret Herrick Library, one of the world's premier film research archives. Her tenure was marked by significant expansion of the Academy's influence and its commitment to preserving film history.

Early life and education

Born Margaret Virginia Buck in Spokane, Washington, she moved to Los Angeles with her family during her youth. She pursued her education at the University of Washington, where she developed a passion for literature and research. After graduating, she furthered her studies in library science, a field that would define her professional trajectory. Her early career included positions at the Los Angeles Public Library system, where she honed her organizational skills and knowledge of archival management before her pivotal move into the film industry.

Career at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Herrick began her association with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1931, initially hired as a librarian to organize its small collection of books and scripts. She quickly demonstrated exceptional administrative talent, leading to her appointment as executive director in 1943, a position she held until 1971. During her tenure, she professionalized the Academy Awards ceremony, negotiating its first television broadcast contract with NBC in 1953, which vastly increased its audience and cultural footprint. She was instrumental in creating the Academy Foundation in 1944 to oversee the organization's educational and cultural programs, and she championed the growth of the Academy's library into a world-class research center, which was later renamed in her honor. Herrick also navigated the Academy through complex periods including the Second World War and the rise of the Hollywood studio system.

Legacy and honors

Herrick's most enduring physical legacy is the Margaret Herrick Library in Beverly Hills, a preeminent archive housing millions of items related to film history, including photographs, posters, and manuscripts. For her service, she received an Academy Honorary Award in 1962, a rare honor for a non-filmmaker. The Academy's headquarters building, located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, was officially named the Fairbanks Center for Motion Picture Study in honor of Douglas Fairbanks, but its library remains a testament to her foundational work. Her influence is felt annually during the Oscars, whose global prestige she helped cement, and through the Academy's ongoing support for film preservation and scholarship via institutions like the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Personal life

She was first married to Donald Gledhill, an assistant secretary at the Academy, in 1928; the marriage ended in divorce. In 1934, she married Philip Herrick, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, and took his surname professionally. The couple resided in Los Angeles and were active in the city's social and cultural circles. Herrick was known among colleagues for her formidable intellect, sharp wit, and unwavering dedication to the Academy's mission. She passed away in Los Angeles in 1976, leaving behind a transformed institution that continues to shape the global film industry.

Category:American librarians Category:Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences executives Category:1902 births Category:1976 deaths