“Writing History as a Way of Life”: The Life and Work of Margaret Marie Garritsen de Vries

Abstract

The name of Margaret Marie Garritsen de Vries may not be the first that pops into people's minds when thinking about the International Monetary Fund. It is through her work, as the long-standing official Fund historian, that those interested in the Fund's history will travel through. An operational economist during the first part of her career, her turn to history was the avenue through which she could continue it. Leaving a lasting impression on her colleagues, her institution, and the economics profession overall, she reaped recognition of her role in furthering the status of women in the profession, receiving prestigious awards, and through memorial funds set up in her name. The primary aim of this article is to piece together a brief biography. Studying the life of a woman economist turned historian in an international organization brings to light her contribution as an economist working in a predominantly man's field—international monetary and financial issues. This article explores her work as a historian—the main area of work for which she gained recognition—and draws out some of the particularities of women's work in an international organization during this period.