Margaret Cooke McKelvie was born on 15 July 1900 in Govan. Her father was Alexander McKelvie, a shipwright. She attended Govan Higher Grade Public School and Bellahouston Academy Higher Grade Public School. She entered the University of Glasgow aged 17 and was an arts student from 1917-1921 . In her first year she studied Latin, French and Elementary Latin. The following year, 1918-1919, she studied Higher French, Higher Latin and Ordinary Italian. In her third year, 1919-1920, she studied Logic (ordinary), Junior Honours French and Junior Honours Latin. In her fourth and final year, 1920-1921, she studied Honours Latin and Honours French. She was awarded a certificate of distinction in the Honours Latin class, 1920-1921. Margaret McKelvie graduated on 19 November 1921 with an MA 2nd class honours degree in Latin and French. She became a teacher of French, her first job being at Shawlands Academy in 1924.
Miss McKelvie's name still appeared in the General Council Register in 1994, although indicating that the address was out of date.
From the guide to the Papers of Margaret Cooke McKelvie, 1900-, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1915-1924, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
