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American editor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mary Thom (June 3, 1944 – April 26, 2013)[1] was an American feminist, writer, and editor. She was one of the founding editors of Ms. magazine, and was an editor for the magazine for 20 years.[2][3]
Mary Thom | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 3, 1944 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 2013 (aged 68) Yonkers, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Editor |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bryn Mawr, 1966 |
| Subject | Feminism, women's rights |
Thom was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1944, and raised in Akron, Ohio. Her father, Paul, was an engineer who worked in the steel industry. Her mother, Susan, was a homemaker. Thom listened to jazz and enjoyed Shakespeare, encouraged by her mother. She credited these two interests at triggering her interest in activism.[4][5]
She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1966. While there, she became involved in the anti-war and civil rights movements. She was a fundraiser for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.[4] Thom also joined the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) during this time.[5]
Thom entered graduate school in 1966 at Columbia University, in pursuit of a PhD in European history but left in 1968 after the tumultuous student strike that began there in April, 1968.[5]
After leaving Columbia, Thom stayed in Manhattan, and for the next three years, worked as an associate editor at Facts on File and, in 1971, volunteered for the newly-founded National Women's Political Caucus.[5]
Thom joined Ms. in 1972, first as a volunteer, then a researcher, and then as an editor.[5] She became executive editor in 1990. When she started working at Ms. she created an evaluation system about politicians. It was a feature in the magazine.[4] While at Ms., Thom edited the book, Letters to Ms.[5]
In 1992, Thom left Ms. as the executive editor of the magazine. She wrote a book about the history of the magazine, Inside Ms. 25 Years of the Magazine and the Feminist Movement. in 1997.[6] After she left to become a freelance writer and editor, Thom maintained an association with Ms. until 2001.[5] She also co-wrote a book about Bella Abzug with Suzanne Braun Levine.[3]
At the time of her death, she was an editor-in-chief of the Women's Media Center, a think-tank group. Gloria Steinem called her "one of the women's movement's best editors."[3]
Thom lived and worked in New York City and never married. She enjoyed motorcycles.
Thom was killed in a motorcycle accident in Yonkers, New York on April 26, 2013.[2] Thom had picked up her 1996 Honda Magna 750 from winter storage when she veered into traffic upon entering a highway. She struck a vehicle and was struck by another.[2]
The Women's Media Center now sponsors the Mary Thom Art of Editing Award.[7]
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