Margaret Barclay Wilson

Margaret Barclay Wilson (1863–1945) was a professor of physiology and honorary librarian at Hunter College, where she rose from starting as a tutor in 1887. During wartime, she was an advisor for New York City on food economy as well as being a fellow at the New York Academy of Medicine.

Early life Wilson was born in Scotland on August 28, 1863. Her hometown was Dunfermline, where she lived until moving to the US at seven years old with her family. Her Scottish connections would serve her well later. She started at Hunter College as a tutor (1887–93), then instructor (1893–1904), then associate professor (1904–1910), to a professor.

Collections Wilson's collections were donated to preeminent institutions. Her Collection of Books on Foods and Cookery in over 30 languages was given to the New York Academy of Medicine. The collection is known as the Dr. Margaret Barclay Wilson Collection. Left to the academy was the "crown jewel" of the collection: one of the oldest cookbooks now in the Western world. She also left her collection of antiquities to Johns Hopkins archaeology museum, in connection with her fellow Hunter College educator, Helen Tanzer.