Margareta Akermark
Margareta Akermark (1913–1983) was a Swedish-born film curator and librarian at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. For over 37 years with the Museum, she assembled a library of 1,000 films, which were the basis of the Museum's circulating collection, one most important international collections outside of government-owned archives,[citation needed] and was instrumental in the development of university film programs throughout the United States.
Early life and education
[edit]Akermark was born in 1913[1] in Gothenburg, Sweden.[2] Akermark studied art at the Teckniska Skolan in Stockholm and at the Slttjdfbreningen in Gothenburg, with further studies in art and languages in France, Belgium, and England.[citation needed] She moved to the United States in the early 1940s.[3]
Career
[edit]Akermark joined the museum in 1941.[2] In 1965, she was promoted to Associate Director of the Museum of Modern Art Film Library,[4] under Willard Van Dyke, from formerly being in charge of the Library's circulating film program and Executive Secretary of the department.[5][2] The circulating film program that was established by Akermark[6] served more then 2,300 schools, film groups, and other organizations with in the mid-1960s, according to Akermark quoted in The New York Times.[7]
She originated the weekly "Films at Noon" series and directed film programs coordinated with major museum exhibits such "The Family of Man".[8]
She contributed articles on films to a number of American as well as Swedish publications. She served on the founding executive committee of the American Federation of Film Societies in 1954.[9]
In 1978, she was awarded the Mayor's Award of Honor for contributions to arts and culture.[1][10]
Akermark died in 1983.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Koch, Joanne (1983). "Back Page: Margareta Akermark, 1913-1983". Film Comment. 19 (4): 80–80. ISSN 0015-119X.
- ^ a b c "Margareta Akermark named acting director of the department of film" (PDF). Museum of Modern Art. February 19, 1974. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2018.
- ^ Cloninger, Sally J. (1974). "Margareta Akermark at the Museum of Modern Art". Journal of the University Film Association. 26 (1/2): 17–18. ISSN 0041-9311.
- ^ "Notes". Journal of the University Film Association. 27 (2): 48–48. 1975. ISSN 0041-9311.
- ^ Giller, Doris (1965-10-05). "N.Y.'s Museum of Modern Art Only Closes on Christmas Day". The Montreal Star. p. 25. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
- ^ Gent, George (May 15, 1970). "Museum: Mother of Film Generation". The New York Times.
- ^ Thompson, Howard (June 1, 1964). "Library of Films Is Back in Business". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "Margareta Akermark, Headed Art Museum's Film Program". The New York Times. May 21, 1983. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
- ^ "Form Federation of 600 Groups to Coordinate Activities," Motion Picture Daily, July 14, 1955, p.2.
- ^ Shepard, Richard F. (November 18, 1978). "Mayor to Give Arts Awards to 20". The New York Times.
External links
[edit]- Interview with Willard Van Dyck and Margareta Akermark, 9 June 1972, Smithsonian Institution Archives