“[ Winnie ] has been a crucial motivation and model for keeping curiosity and conversation going through a diverse range of texts and topics .”
My first collaboration with Winnie Feng was back when the school was planning for its 2001 Golden Jubilee Celebration . Winnie had recently formalized the school ’ s archival records , creating a system basically from scratch — no small task — and was an incredible resource as we scoured for photos , written material , and artifacts that told the story of a school on the cusp of turning 50 . Winnie was such a pleasure to work with : incredibly insightful , kind , someone who clearly loved the school , the boys , and her work . Fast forward 10 years and we would again collaborate , this time on a committee to produce a book in celebration of the school ’ s 60th anniversary . A member of the 60th anniversary committee , Winnie provided the concept for the book ’ s title and theme . She proposed the story be told by “ The Timeless Boy ” through the lens of a Saint David ’ s boy , one that is ageless with lasting values and a guiding aspiration : that they be good men .
In many respects , Winnie strikes me as the timeless librarian , a person who possesses wisdom , an ever-creative , curious mind , and who is always innovating , contributing , and enduring . As she retires this June , let ’ s page through some chapters of her Saint David ’ s experience , represented by the multiple hats she has worn over 22 years : Archivist , Upper School Librarian , Chair of the Saint David ’ s Faculty Book Club , and Co-Chair of the Alumni Parents Council .
“[ Winnie ] has been a crucial motivation and model for keeping curiosity and conversation going through a diverse range of texts and topics .”
The Ferragamo ( Upper School ) Library
Chapter One : Archivist “ I love structure .”
Winnie and her husband , Michael , came to Saint David ’ s as parents of Andrew ’ 99 , who entered the school in the fifth grade . As a volunteer for her son ’ s previous school , Winnie had learned all about archives , and so , she began gathering and organizing Saint David ’ s records . Volunteering for former Upper School Librarian Thea Osborne , she structured the fledgling archives into Record Groups for easy access and retrieval of materials . She also organized the first and only independent school archives seminar , which she hosted in the Hume Library , sharing with 19 schools best practices for maintaining the integrity of a school ’ s archival records . Eventually , she would grow 6 linear feet of archival material to more than 100 linear feet . No small feat , that ! The school will forever benefit from the effort , attention to detail , and expertise Winnie brought to ensuring the preservation of the historical record of Saint David ’ s School .
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