Margot Gayle Timeline

1908 Sarah Margaret McCoy born in Kansas City, MO; During childhood "moved from one automobile city to another." Adopted French name Margot in high school in Windsor, Ontario

1930 Graduated from University of Michigan

1932 Married William Thomas Gayle, Jr.

1933 Earned master's degree in bacteriology from Emory University

1934-37 Worked with League of Women Voters in Atlanta to eliminate the poll tax

1941-45 Director, Civil Defense Volunteer Office, Washington, D.C.

1945-48 CBS scriptwriter, New York City

1953-56 Director of public relations, New York City Department of Commerce and Public Events

1953-61 Democratic state committeewoman, Manhattan district leader

1956 New York delegate of Democratic National Convention

1956-58 Public information officer, New York City Planning Commission

1957 Candidate for New York City Council

1959 Chairwoman, Village Neighborhood Committee to Save the Jefferson Market Courthouse

1965 Active in creation of New York City Landmarks Law, took the only photograph of the bill signing

1966 One of the founders of the Victorian Society in America

1970 Founder of Friends of Cast Iron Architecture, instrumental in drawing attention to SoHo

1974 Author, Cast-Iron Architecture in New York: A Photographic Survey, with Edmund V. Gillon, Jr.

1975–92 Columnist, “Changing Scene,” New York Daily News Sunday Magazine

1981-84 Member, New York City Art Commission

1988 Author, Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture, with Michele Cohen

1998 Author, Cast-Iron Architecture in America: The Significance of James Bogardus, with Carol Gayle

1998-99 Co-chair, Neighbors Restoring the Historic Yorkville Clock

2008 Celebration of Margot's 100th birthday in May; she passes away in September

Please consider donating to the Chapter's Margot Gayle Fund for Preservation of Victorian Heritage to help the Chapter continue Margot's work.