Harlem, New York (January 29, 1922 -August 9, 2018) 96 yrs

Marguerite Farmer was an artist of many disciplines and media. She achieved excellent levels of skill in sewing, knitting, crocheting, drawing, painting, photography and ceramics. Farmer earned a Master of Library Science degree and teaching credential at Wayne State University in 1972. She moved to San Diego in 1984. She joined the San Diego Public Library system in 1986. Soon, she became the librarian at the Valencia Park Branch. She revitalized the formerly underutilized branch. She significantly increased readership. Farmer encouraged community activity and awareness. She started the Black History and Literature collections. Additionally, she initiated the Spanish language collection. Her efforts resulted in greatly increased circulation and community use of the small branch before her retirement in 1992. Marguerite’s legacy to San Diego includes the Valencia Park Branch Library. This branch, renovated and named Malcolm X Library, opened in 1996. It exists today as the only public library named after Malcolm X in the United States.