Margery N. Sly

Margery died too young at 68 after a brief battle with cancer. The eldest of William Leggett Sly and Barbara Coe Sly's three daughters, Margery was born in Kingston NY. The family had moved to Ridgefield CT by the time she entered first grade, and she graduated from Ridgefield HS in 1975. She attended Dickinson College in Carlisle PA for her undergraduate studies in German and History, including a year abroad at the University of Salzburg, Austria (BA 1979). Margery earned an MA in American History and an MS in Library Science at Case Western Reserve (1981), and worked her entire life as an archivist until retirement two years ago.
Margery's commitment to family ran deep. She was predeceased by her parents who she visited regularly and sailed with for many summers on the schooner American Eagle out of Rockland ME. She is survived by two sisters, one in Falls Church VA, Carol (Steve Marshall) and their sons John Marshall (Reston VA) and Neal Marshall (Washington DC), and a second sister in Chester NJ, Patty (Bob Chernow) and their daughters Robin Chernow (Rockland ME), Melissa Chernow, and son Jack Chernow (London England). A committed and proud aunt to all five nieces and nephews, she made a point of connecting regularly around their interests, and reliably joining in family activities and holiday celebrations. She hardly missed a family member's graduation, and honored the nieces' and nephews' accomplishments with enthusiasm and pride.
Margery interned at the National Archives in DC while in graduate school. Her first position was at the University of Missouri-Columbia, working on their Western Historical Manuscript Collection. Her mother was happy when she moved out of tornado alley. From 1982 to 1987 she worked at Clemson University, putting together the collection of US Senator Strom Thurmond's papers and more, and collaborating on the design of the new building that was under construction to house them. The regions lakes and trails delighted her but she missed New England. She moved on to Smith College in Northampton MA where she stayed until 1997 as the Coordinator of Special Collections and College Archivist. A family favorite accomplishment of hers while there was her work on Gloria Steinem's papers, as in some cosmic way it balanced her work on Thurmond's. Partly to be closer to her parents, her next position was at the Presbyterian Historical Society, Presbyterian Church USA, in Philadelphia. She rose from Manager of Special Collections and Preservation to the Deputy Executive Director, from 1997 to 2010. The collection's deep trove of papers and letters from the founding fathers of the United States was a favorite part of that period of her career. She enjoyed travel to both Lexington KY and Montreat NC while working on broader collections of the church's history. At the end of 2010, Margery moved to a new role as the Director of Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries in Philadelphia. While there she was instrumental in the planning of the new Charles Library and the move of its collections to modern, new spaces with enhanced preservation and access capabilities. She supervised employees, student assistants, grant writers and volunteers. She taught graduate students in courses on Archives and Management for close to ten years. After retiring in June of 2023, she carried on in the role of a consultant for a half dozen varied projects including the Vesper Boat Club and Head of Schuylkill Regatta, and an architectural firm in RI putting together concepts and facility needs for a purpose-built State Archives building.
Active in Society of American Archivists (SAA) from her first days in the profession, she gave presentations, prepared papers, and served on boards including as president of the SAA Foundation Board. She was named as a Fellow of the Society in 2013. Margery reviewed grants for the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations. She served as treasurer and then president for the Academy of Certified Archivists. At one point, as a consultant she traveled to Cuba to recover papers for a collection, returning with great stories and photos. She consulted on exhibits, and helped researchers on a wide variety of books, articles, and last minute details for obituaries. Her resume notes her interaction with thousands upon thousands of volumes, and archives and manuscripts measured in linear feet. She traveled regionally to assess and move boxes of acquisitions and donations. Oh, the boxes she moved and the papers she sorted through and put in order during her life boggle the mind.
A longtime resident of Haddon Township NJ, she was active in her local church, Trinity Presbyterian in Cherry Hill, taking on a wide variety of roles beginning with serving on Session as an Elder. Later Margery served as Clerk of the Session for 10 years, and was a charter member of the Strategy Committee serving as its chair for many years. She served on both the Finance and Stewardship Committees for over 15 years, and also on the Whole Life Giving Committee. She was elected to serve two 3-year terms on the church's Personnel Committee. And as the Chartered Organization Representative, Margery was the liaison to all of Trinity's Scout Packs and Troops for close to two decades.
She read voraciously and broadly, frequenting her local library and never missing the city-wide One Book, One Philadelphia annual offering. Overall favoring historical works, she was also well versed in sci-fi so she could converse with a nephew; in science and nature books to share with a brother-in-law; and of course in writings on baseball because the family has strong feelings there. She supported the Atlanta Braves while at Clemson, the Red Sox during her time in Massachusetts, and the Phillies for over two decades, attending games with a niece and nephew, as well as dear friends. She tended small gardens in her yard that favored iris, poppies and mums, and enjoyed visits to Longwood Gardens during all seasons.
She was able to squeeze in some retirement travel before her diagnosis, including a trip to the British Isles and Ireland, and a trip to Greece, both focused around religious history and famous libraries. There were many more adventures planned, and another schooner sailing booked for August. That she will be missed is a huge understatement. Donations in her honor can be made to a charity of your choice.
Relatives and friends will gather Saturday September 13th from 10 to 11:45 in Trinity Presbyterian Church, 499 Marlton Pike E, Cherry Hill, NJ. Funeral service Saturday 12pm. Interment private.