Draft:Margareta Akermark

Margareta Akermark (1913-1983) was a Swedish-born film programmer and librarian at the Musuem of Modern Art. 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, which was one most important international collection outside of governmentowned archives, and was instrumental in the development of university film prorgams throughout the US.

Early life and Education

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Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, 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.

Career

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Akermark joined the museum in 1942. In 1965, she was promoted to Associate Dircector of the Museum of Modern Art Film Library, under Willard Van Dyke, from formerly being in charge of the Library's circulating film program and Executive Secretary of the department.[1] The circulatin film program served more then 2,300 schools, film groups, and other organizations with in the mid-1960s, accoridng to Akermark quoted in The New York Times.[2]

She organized the SWEDISH FILM and the SPANISH FILM series shown at the Museum, originated the weekly "Films at Noon" series and directed film prorgams coordinated with major Museum exhibits such "The Family of Man."[3]

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.[4]

In 1978, she was awarded the Mayor's Award of Honor for contibutions to arts and culture.[5]

References

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  1. ^ https://www.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/3551/releases/MOMA_1965_0127_123.pdf
  2. ^ "Library of Films Is Back in Business". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  3. ^ "TimesMachine: Saturday May 21, 1983 - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  4. ^ "Form Federation of 600 Groups to Coordinate Activies," Motion Picture Daily, July 14, 1955, p.2.
  5. ^ Koch, Joanne (July–August 1983). "Margareta Akermark, 1913-1983". www.proquest.com. Retrieved 2024-07-07.