Margaret Santiago
Margaret Santiago | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1931  Spartanburg |
| Died | 17 March 2018 (aged 86–87) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Singer, museum professional, registrar |
| Employer | |
| Position held | registrar (1977–1991), supervisor (1970–1977) |
Margaret Santiago (1931 – March 17, 2018) was an American museum registrar. Santiago, who worked at the National Museum of Natural History, was the first African-American to work as a registrar for a major scientific museum, and a co-founder of the African American Museums Association (later the Association of African American Museums).[1]
Career
[edit]Santiago began working at the Smithsonian in 1960 as a clerk typist.[2] She was promoted to assistant supervisor in accessions and specimen control at the National Museum of Natural History in 1963.[2] By 1970, she was the supervisor of that unit.[2] In 1977, Santiago became the first African-American to work as a registrar for any major scientific museum, a position she held until her retirement.[3][4]
Santiago was a co-founder of the African American Museums Association (later the Association of African American Museums).[1] Santiago retired from the Smithsonian in 1991, after a thirty year career.[5][6]
Personal life
[edit]Santiago was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1931.[1] As a young woman, she sang at Macedonia Baptist Church in Spartanburg, and on a radio program in Washington, D.C. In 1987, she released an album titled, "MarGueritte S. Soulful Gospel."[7] (She was called MarGeuritte by friends.)[7]
Santiago was married and had at least three children.[7]
She also lived in Puerto Rico and Atlanta, GA.[1]
Santiago died on March 17, 2018.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e DeBardelaben, LaNesha. "Remembering Margaret Santiago..." (PDF). Association of African American Museums. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Niekrasz, Emily (2020-06-10). "Wonderful Women Wednesday: Margaret A. Santiago". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
- ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (2003). Black Firsts : 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events (2nd, revised and expanded ed.). Canton, Michigan: Visible Ink Press. p. 615. ISBN 1-57859-142-2. OCLC 51060259 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Niekrasz, Emily (2020-06-10). "Wonderful Women Wednesday: Margaret A. Santiago". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- ^ "National Headliners". Jet. 79 (18): 10. 18 February 1991.
- ^ Niekrasz, Emily (2020-06-10). "Wonderful Women Wednesday: Margaret A. Santiago". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- ^ a b c "Spartanburg native leaves position at Smithsonian". GoUpstate.com. Feb 4, 1991. Retrieved 25 March 2021.