Margaret Herrick
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Margaret Florence Herrick (September 27, 1902Template:Spaced ndashJune 21, 1976),<ref name=FamilySearch-SSDI-1976>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=FamilySearch-CADeathIndex-1976>Template:Cite web</ref> also known professionally as Margaret Gledhill, was an American librarian and the executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 1971, the academy's library was named the Margaret Herrick Library in her honor.<ref name=AMPAS-FilmHistoryTrailblazer-2015>Template:Cite news</ref>
Early life
She was born Margaret Buck in Spokane, Washington, to Nathan K. Buck, an attorney, and Adda M. Buck (née Morie).<ref name=FamilySearch-USCensus-1910>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=FamilySearch-USCensus-1920>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1929, Herrick graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in library science.
Career
In 1929, Herrick became head librarian at the Yakima Public Library in Yakima, Washington. She moved to Hollywood, California, with her husband and became the academy's first librarian. She served in that capacity until 1943, during the war, when she became the interim executive director of the academy, replacing her husband.<ref name="Variety-Promotion-1943">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1945, she was offered the executive director position permanently and held that position until her retirement in January 1971.<ref name=UWashington-Alumni>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the mid-1960s, Herrick went on international tours to promote the tenth anniversary of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.<ref name=FAMENewsreel-PhilippinesOutreachTrip-1966>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Between 1963 and 1968, she visited many international film institutions.<ref name=AMPAS-FilmHistoryTrailblazer-2015 />
The Academy's extensive library in Beverly Hills, California, of material on films is named in her honor.<ref name=AMPAS-AboutHerrick-Bio>Template:Cite web</ref>
Oscar moniker
Herrick is generally credited with naming the Academy Award an "Oscar", declaring the statuettes "looked just like my Uncle Oscar".<ref name=AMPAS-OscarStatuette>Template:Cite web</ref> However, others, including Academy President Bette Davis and Hollywood gossip columnist Sidney Skolsky, have claimed they invented the name.<ref name=Dodd-WhatsInAName-2007>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=HReporter-OscarName-2015>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=AMPAS-OriginOfOscar-2015>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Bette Davis said that the statue reminded her of her husband Harmon Nelson's derrière. Nelson's middle name was Oscar.<ref name=Sikov-BetteDavis-2007>Template:Cite book</ref> However, Davis later relinquished this claim.<ref name=MotherGoddam-BetteDavis-1982>Template:Cite book</ref>
Columnist Sidney Skolsky, who had a syndicated column for over 50 years,<ref name=NYTimes-Skolsky-Obit-1983>Template:Cite news</ref> referred to the nickname, "Oscar," in his March 17, 1934, column, which is believed to be the first time the award was called the Oscar in print.
Personal life
In 1931, Herrick married Donald Gledhill, an assistant to the executive secretary of the academy.<ref name=FamilySearch-USCensus-1940>Template:Cite web</ref> She and Gledhill divorced in 1945. She married Philip A. Herrick in 1946, and continued to use his name professionally following their divorce in 1951.<ref name=UWashington-Alumni />
On June 21, 1976, Herrick died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, after a lengthy illness.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref>
See also
Works and publications
References
Further reading
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- Template:Cite thesis Template:Spaced ndash Originally presented as the author's thesis, University of Southern California, Arno Press Cinema Program, 1966.
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