Margaret Storrs Grierson

Margaret Storrs Grierson (1900–1997) was born in Denver, Colorado. She received her A.B. from Smith College in 1922 and her Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College in 1929. She taught at Bryn Mawr from 1925 to 1930 and then joined the Department of Philosophy at Smith, where she taught until 1936. Later she became the Executive Secretary of the Friends of the Smith College Library, College Archivist, and first Director of the Sophia Smith Collection.

In 1940, Grierson succeeded Nina Browne as Smith College Archivist, and in 1942 was appointed both Executive Director of the Friends of the Smith College Library and Director of the newly-formed Sophia Smith Collection, a special project of the Friends, the purpose of which was to document the historical experience of women in the United States and abroad.

Working closely with historian Mary Ritter Beard in defining the scope and mission of the Sophia Smith Collection, Grierson corresponded tirelessly and enthusiastically with prospective donors and traveled extensively to obtain its initial holdings, which include many stellar collections that continue to contribute immeasurably to the historical record. Grierson held her pivotal positions at Smith for over twenty years, attending to them with characteristic zeal and dedication until her retirement in 1965.