Margaret Thomas, a pioneering photojournalist who broke gender barriers at The Washington Post and captured defining moments of American history over four decades, died on June 6 at her home in Hume, Virginia. She was 84. The cause of death has not been disclosed, according to her niece, Teri Mathews.
Born Margaret Frances Sandahl on December 21, 1941, in Moose Lake, Minnesota, Thomas was the youngest of three children. She initially studied painting at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design before shifting her focus to photography, earning a master of fine arts degree from Ohio University in 1965. Within seven months of completing her graduate studies, she was hired by The Washington Post in 1966, becoming the paper’s first female staff photographer.
Her early career was marked by resistance and skepticism from male colleagues, some of whom reportedly urged against her hiring. Subjected to a six-month probation largely spent in the darkroom, Thomas persevered with determination and earned support from veteran photographer Tom Kelley. She recalled challenging moments such as being pushed to the back of crowded scenes during assignments; using a tactic inspired by Margaret Bourke-White, she would drop to her knees and maneuver through photographers’ legs to capture images from unique angles.
Throughout her career, Thomas covered a wide range of significant events, including the civil unrest following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, congressional hearings, and international conflict zones such as Bosnia and Haiti. She also photographed global summits and presidential politics, frequently assigned to the White House during the Reagan administration. Known for carrying multiple cameras and equipment, Thomas was noted for her physical endurance and resourcefulness, even famously using a small ladder to secure vantage points during major events.
Her commitment to her craft brought numerous accolades, including multiple awards from the White House News Photographers Association, notably the photographer of the year prize in 1987. However, the demands of photojournalism took a physical toll, leading to repetitive strain injuries that forced her to undergo medical treatment and ultimately influenced her decision to step away from full-time work.
In the years following her active career, Thomas pursued academic interests, earning a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2007 with a dissertation on the history of women in news photography. Her professional archive is preserved at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Even in retirement, she continued to photograph equestrian events near her Virginia home.
Margaret Thomas was married to David Thomas from 1967 until his death in 2021. She leaves no immediate survivors. Reflecting on her work, she once described photojournalism not just as a profession but as “a gift and a special calling,” underscoring her lifelong dedication to visual storytelling.