Margaret Kaneb ’25 wins seventh annual McCormick Library Bookplate Contest

Congratulations to Margaret Kaneb ’25, the winner of this year’s Groton School Library Bookplate contest.

 

Margaret’s linotype print incorporates elements from a stained glass window in Chaplain Allison Read’s classroom in the Schoolhouse. The wreath at the heart of the original design memorializes Phillips Brooks, a founding trustee of Groton School. His friend, Sarah Wyman Whitman, a noted artist and book designer from 19th century Boston, gifted this work of hers to the school following his death in 1893. 

 

The bookplate design brings the arts-and-crafts style of the original into alignment with this 21st century “window” into the library, and elegantly fulfills other design requirements of the contest. Margaret cleverly embeds her initials (a requirement of the contest) into the wreath, substitutes “Groton School Library” for the Brooks dedication and incorporates the graduation year (another requirement) where the alpha and omega symbol appears in the original.  

 

Each year, the Art Department invites select Sixth Form students to submit a design for consideration. Library Director Mark Melchior and Art Department Head Jenn Ho were thrilled with Margaret’s idea for the design after seeing the initial submissions, and Ms. Ho worked closely with Margaret on the final version of the print. 

 

“The process of bringing a bookplate design to life each year is always a pleasure,” Ms. Ho said, “and this year was no exception.”

 

Margaret joins an elite group of seven previous contest winners: Sophie Park ’19, John Donovan ’20, Zoe Park ’21, Wren Fortunoff ’22, Mei Matsui ’23, and co-winners, Zimo Liu and Marlene Ma ’24. A copy of each of their original prints appears in the Schoolhouse hallway near the school store.