On Campus

Marjorie Farquharson—Librarian, Teacher, Storyteller, Friend—Retires After 33 Years at DCD

By Beth Conners and friends

After 33 years at the helm of the DCD Library, Marjorie “Marge” Farquharson will be missed by all who enjoyed her book recommendations and her contagious love of reading. Marge had a passion for books, for technology, and for ideas, and by generously sharing those passions, she made a huge difference and indelible impact on the lives of both the children and the adults with whom she worked.

Marge joined the faculty in September 1987 as assistant librarian, and the following year took over the role of head librarian. Before DCD had its present entrance, students, parents, and visitors entered the school through a set of double doors. Immediately to the right was the head of school’s office, and to the left was the library, with the curved librarian’s desk at the front. In the morning, Marge was one of the first people to greet the students, each of whom she knew by name. She also knew most of the parents, and she cheerfully directed visitors to their destinations.

In so many ways, Marge was the hub of the school, even when the entrance was relocated to the ground floor. Everyone used the library: students asked for help with their research, different grades met daily for reading and animated discussion, parents asked for guidance in choosing books for their kids, and all day, people would stop to chat with the librarian. Marge made time for everyone, and she was unfailingly cheerful.

Marge built a strong collection of literature for DCD’s young readers. Recognizing that technology was the way of the future, Marge worked to create an online borrowing system for DCD, replacing the old “card in the back of the book” method. Her interest in technology led to her own professional development and interest in coding, and for many years she offered free coding classes for students after school.

Marge’s interests and passions shaped much of her work at DCD. She is an ardent reader—a true bibliophile—and was a key person in starting the DCD Faculty Book Club. Marge often enjoyed hosting present and former faculty in her home to discuss their latest read. Marge is also an expert quilter. She was instrumental in getting a school quilt project going. She engaged a friend of hers, Rosemary Bawn—a nationally known quiltmaker—to design a quilt for DCD’s Centennial in 2005. A group of faculty quilters identified the DCD traditions they wanted to be represented on the quilt. The quilters who completed the project along with Marge were Spanish teacher Susie Jackson, Head of School Sonia Valentine, and second-grade teacher Nancy Zoller. The quilt hangs in the Lowell Center today.

Marge has many other creative outlets as well, including Nantucket basket-weaving and cross stitch and embroidery. After longtime faculty member Janine Saint-Louis retired, Marge taught embroidery in the Middle School arts program.

Many years into her tenure as librarian, Marge was asked to teach Middle School English along with her library duties. She enjoyed being in the classroom and sharing her love of literature and writing with the eighth-graders. She worked with them on their Smooth Talk speeches, as well. Marge also co-taught Facing History and Ourselves to the eighth grade. Even after she no longer taught the course, she never lost her passion for discussing current events with students. Many students remembered Marge in their speeches as someone who had an impact on them.

As time went by, Marge left teaching Middle School English to teach a fourth-grade reading group along with her library duties. Marge enjoyed the literature for this group,

especially the stories of Medieval times. For many years, she served as Queen of the Medieval Feast to woodworking teacher Gerry Clifford’s King.

Gerry fondly remembers his admiration for Marge’s work in the library. “At the heart of all this orchestrated activity one would find Mrs. Farquharson. Brimming with her own love of books and good literature, Marge possessed the ability to pair the right work with any given student. While checking out books for students at her desk, I would often hear Marge animatedly giving an overview to a student, a sort of figurative push off the dock, sending student, book, and boat off to some new adventure. Here, one would witness true passion. Here, one would notice the patience, care, and attention given to those with a flickering flame of interest until the roar of discovery was firmly set. Here, one would see Learning Is a Way of Life in its full-life form. Here, one would see a brilliant teacher in Marge Farquharson, so totally at home in her work, and her love for it shining through.”

Marge and Gerry shared a love of storytelling and often would do storytelling assemblies for the DCD students. Marge was known for always ending her assemblies with the line: “And now the story is yours…,” encouraging the children to create and share their own stories.

In 2016, when the new Double English program was created, Marge served as co-teacher with Beth Conners. Marge spent three years following the first Double English cohort through Middle School, creating and fine-tuning the curriculum with Beth. Marge was fiercely committed to seeing her students succeed and even postponed retirement for a year so that she could see them through eighth grade and celebrate their accomplishments.

“Establishing a new program is never easy, and Marge was instrumental in its success,” shared Beth Conners. “My favorite memories of those days are of Marge and the students and I laughing together and truly enjoying our time reading together. She is always so passionate about bringing out the best of kids’ abilities. She is tireless.”

Susie Jackson, a longtime colleague and friend, recalled, “For Marge, the needs and concerns of the children always took priority. When meeting with the student groups who came to the library on a daily basis, Marge succeeded in providing them with a space of comfort, welcome, and safety. This nurturing environment allowed children to ask questions without fear of being judged, as well as stimulating them to regard reading for pleasure as a positive activity. She was always willing to spend additional time with any student who needed assistance with research or who might be having trouble finding just the “right” book to take home and read outside of school. Dedham Country Day has a tradition of presenting an annual award for” kindness, curiosity, and love of learning” to a Lower School student. It is my feeling that this award should also be presented to Marjorie Farquharson for her invaluable contributions to our school.” Longtime colleague, friend, and library assistant Kathy Felcon said, “DCD as a community has benefitted from Marge’s knowledge, kindness, warmth, and humor. She taught thousands of classes, which included library classes, reading classes, Facing History, English and Double English classes, and even art classes. Every single class benefited from her energy and passion. Marge shared countless stories and books over the years. All of her contributions have helped generations of DCD students learn and grow. We will miss all of that.”

Thank you for your 33 years of service to DCD, Marge. And now the story is yours...