Margaret Crosby

Margaret Crosby(1902 - 1972) was an American archaeologist and historian. Crosby graduated fromBryn Mawr Collegein 1922, and subsequently became involved in archaeology and ancient history, especiallyepigraphyandmetrology,earning her PhD atYale University.DuringWorld War II,Crosby joined theOffice of Strategic Services(OSS) and worked as a cryptographer for the OSS' Greek Desk, deciphering reports and materials for the Allied Forces.

Early life and education

Margaret Crosby was born inMinnesotain 1902. Margaret's father John Crosby was a friend ofUS Secretary of StateHenry L. Stimson.

Archaeological career

Dura-Europos

After graduating Bryn Mawr, Crosby studied in Europe for two years before beginning graduate work atYale University.Crosby joined the Yale dig atDura-Europos,and was the first female archaeologist to work at the site.Unlike the male archaeologists at Dura-Europos, Crosby did not receive a salary and had to pay her own travel expenses.

Athenian Agora

Crosby supervised fieldwork at theAthenian Agorawith theAmerican School of Classical Studies at Athensfrom 1935 to 1939, and was present at every digging season in those years, although digging seasons often lasted as long as five months. Crosby published numerous works on inscriptions and other findings from the Agora.

WWII and the OSS (1940-1945)

Crosby joined the Greek Desk of theOffice of Strategic Services(OSS) during the Second World War. The Greek Desk of the OSS had been created byRodney Youngand was staffed by a large number of archaeologists. She primarily worked as acryptographer,a skill which she developed while deciphering weathered Greek texts.She was a reports officer for the OSS inCairofrom June to November 1944, and accompaniedGerard Elsewhen he led the move from Cairo toCaserta,where they could be better overseen by theAllied Forces Headquarters.She later moved to Athens with the Greek Desk in November 1944 and continued working there until May 1945.

Return to the Athenian Agora (1946-1955)

After leaving the OSS at the end of the war, Crosby returned to supervise fieldwork at the Athenian Agora from 1946 to 1945.

Later life

Crosby retired in 1962 and lived inBarnard, Vermontwith her life partner, the child psychologistRuth Wendell Washburn.She died on July 30, 1972, in a nursing home inHanover, New Hampshire.