Marguerite Gallay

Marguerite Gallay was a watchmaker who managed the Gallay assortiment factory in Le Sentier in the 1930s.

Biography

Marguerite Gallay was the daughter of John-Henri Gallay, who operated the family's assortiment factory in Le Sentier. Marguerite, like her parents, was born in Geneva but spent her life in Sentier. Marguerite was granted power of attorney, and presumably an active management position, when her father took over the factory on January 1, 1912. She was sometimes referred to as an accountant in company records.

After his death, Marguerite managed the company along with her brother Georges Gallay. On November 24, 1927, the firm was registered as a Société Anonyme, which purchased the shares of the previous company from Georges and Marguerite, though they remained on at the firm. Georges and Marguerite also started a real estate development company to build up the area of town called La Rochette in 1930.

On November 16, 1933, the Gallay factory became Branch D of the Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies. Marguerite and Georges Gallay remained on as managers and the factory remained open but it was now owned by the cartel under ASUAG.

Marguerite Gallay died on July 16, 1937. A foundation was created in her name to provide for the workers of the factory after her death, and it continued in operation until 2005.