Margaret Storrs Grierson
Encyclopedia
Margaret Storrs Grierson (June 29, 1900–December 12, 1997), archivist
and philosophy professor, was the founder and first director of the Sophia Smith Collection
at Smith College
. In this capacity, she traveled extensively, in the United States and abroad, assembling manuscript
s that document the history of women.
. Her father was railway executive Lucius Seymour Storrs
and her mother was Mary Cooper Storrs, daughter of Job Adams Cooper
, sixth Governor of the State of Colorado. Grierson had one sibling, a brother, Lucius ("Luke") Seymour Storrs, Jr.
Because of her father's career, the family moved several times during Grierson's childhood. She attended seven schools before entering Misses Masters' School, Dobbs Ferry, New York
.
During her subsequent professional years at Smith, Grierson developed an enduring friendship with professor Marine Leland that lasted until Leland's death in 1983.
On December 7, 1938, she married Sir Herbert Grierson
, Rector of the University of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
in 1930, and taught philosophy at Smith College until 1936. In 1940, she became the college archivist, and in 1942, she also became the executive secretary of the Friends of the Smith College Library. in 1942, she became the first director of the Sophia Smith Collection
at the college. Until her retirement in 1965, Grierson simultaneously held the three positions.
She was awarded the Smith College Medal in 1968.
Grierson died of cancer in 1997 in Leeds, Massachusetts
.
.
Archivist
An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have long-term value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media...
and philosophy professor, was the founder and first director of the Sophia Smith Collection
Sophia Smith Collection
The Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College is an internationally recognized repository of manuscripts, photographs, periodicals and other primary sources in women's history. It was founded by Margaret Storrs Grierson in 1942 to be the library's distinctive contribution to the college's mission...
at Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
. In this capacity, she traveled extensively, in the United States and abroad, assembling manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s that document the history of women.
Personal life
Grierson was born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. Her father was railway executive Lucius Seymour Storrs
Lucius Seymour Storrs
Lucius Seymour Storrs was a geologist, financier, and notable railway official. He was president of the Connecticut Company, the American Electric Railway Association, the Los Angeles Railway Association, and the New England Investment and Security Company.-Personal life:Storrs was born in...
and her mother was Mary Cooper Storrs, daughter of Job Adams Cooper
Job Adams Cooper
Job Adams Cooper was a U.S. Republican Party politician. He served as the sixth Governor of the State of Colorado from 1889 to 1891.-Early life:...
, sixth Governor of the State of Colorado. Grierson had one sibling, a brother, Lucius ("Luke") Seymour Storrs, Jr.
Because of her father's career, the family moved several times during Grierson's childhood. She attended seven schools before entering Misses Masters' School, Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
.
During her subsequent professional years at Smith, Grierson developed an enduring friendship with professor Marine Leland that lasted until Leland's death in 1983.
On December 7, 1938, she married Sir Herbert Grierson
Herbert John Clifford Grierson
Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson was a Scottish literary scholar editor and literary critic.-Life and work:...
, Rector of the University of Edinburgh, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Career
Grierson returned to Northampton, MassachusettsNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
in 1930, and taught philosophy at Smith College until 1936. In 1940, she became the college archivist, and in 1942, she also became the executive secretary of the Friends of the Smith College Library. in 1942, she became the first director of the Sophia Smith Collection
Sophia Smith Collection
The Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College is an internationally recognized repository of manuscripts, photographs, periodicals and other primary sources in women's history. It was founded by Margaret Storrs Grierson in 1942 to be the library's distinctive contribution to the college's mission...
at the college. Until her retirement in 1965, Grierson simultaneously held the three positions.
She was awarded the Smith College Medal in 1968.
Grierson died of cancer in 1997 in Leeds, Massachusetts
Leeds, Massachusetts
Leeds is a neighborhood in the western portion of the city of Northampton, Massachusetts, United States, bordering Williamsburg--along the Mill River—and Florence....
.
Legacy
The Grierson Scholars program was launched in the late 1990s, partially funded by the National Endowment for the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
.