Margaret Medcalf
Margaret first joined the State Library in 1955 when she was appointed to the Archives staff, later travelling overseas to study archives management and earning great respect throughout her career for her expertise. She rose to become Principal Librarian of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History in 1972, a position she held with great interest as a Western Australian history enthusiast. During her time at the State Library Margaret instigated many invaluable developments, perhaps the most notable of which was her 1974 Oral History program for the Battye Library, considered a major development of national significance. Margaret consulted widely on State and local government archival projects, and was invited to report on the establishment of the Northern Territory Archives Authority for that government. Holding a keen interest in biography and bibliography, Margaret spoke on these subjects at numerous conferences of the Library Association of Australia. To this day, Margaret is a committed member of the Friends of the Battye Library and the Royal WA Historical Society, which made her a Fellow in 1995. A long-time member of the Australian Library and Information Association, Margaret was also named a Fellow of this organisation in 1986.
Margaret was Acting State Librarian following the retirement of Robert Sharman and the appointment of Lynn Allen in 1989. She retired from the State Library in 1989, after 17 years as Principal Librarian of the Battye Library and many more years of significant service to the Library Board of Western Australia. In this same year she was granted Honorary Life Membership to the Australian Society of Archivists. Margaret was appointed as the Library Board's Visiting Scholar and named as a Board Fellow in 1991.
Page last updated: Tuesday 22 November 2011
