Margaret Herrick
Margaret Florence Herrick (September 27, 1902 – June 21, 1976), also known as Margaret Gledhill, was an American librarian and the long-time executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 1971, the Academy’s library was renamed the Margaret Herrick Library in her honor.
She was born Margaret Buck in Spokane, Washington, to Nathan K. Buck, an attorney, and Adda M. Buck. She earned a degree in library science from the University of Washington in 1929 and became head librarian at the Yakima Public Library in Yakima, Washington.
Herrick moved to Hollywood with her husband and became the Academy’s first librarian. She served as librarian from 1936 to 1943. During World War II, she was the Academy’s interim executive director, replacing her husband. In 1945 she became the permanent executive director and held that role until her retirement in January 1971.
In the mid-1960s, Herrick conducted international tours to promote the tenth anniversary of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, visiting many film institutions around the world.
She is often credited with naming the Academy Award “Oscar,” saying the statuette reminded her of her Uncle Oscar. However, other claims exist regarding the origin of the nickname, including remarks by Bette Davis and columnist Sidney Skolsky.
Personal life: Herrick married Donald Gledhill in 1931; they divorced in 1945. She then married Philip A. Herrick in 1946, and kept his name professionally after their divorce in 1951.
Margaret Herrick died on June 21, 1976, in Woodland Hills, California, after a lengthy illness.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:55 (CET).