Margaret Woodbury Strong will

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: RITSpec-0001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains one photocopy of Margaret Woodbury Strong's last will and testament. In her will, Strong provided for the creation of a museum to publicly display her collection of dolls, toys, and household objects.

Dates

Creation: 1973

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical Information: Margaret Woodbury Strong

Margaret Woodbury Strong was born in Rochester, New York on March 20, 1897. Her family was wealthy, traveled often, and very fond of collecting. Later in life, Margaret herself would become a prolific collector. At age 23 she married attorney Homer Strong and became an avid golfer, gardener, and a competitive flower arranger. After her husband's death in the late 1950s, Margaret turned to collecting.

Within ten years, her collection had grown to over 27,000 dolls and a lesser number of household objects. Margaret often showed her collection to friends, but wanted to publicly display her treasures. In 1968, she obtained a charter for the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum of Fascination. Unfortunately, she died in her sleep one year later on July 17, 1969. In her will, she bequeathed her estate to the museum. The Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum opened in 1982 in downtown Rochester. Later the museum changed its name to the Strong National Museum of Play, and today, it is simply The Strong.