Marjorie S. Garfield, the daughter of Jessie S. and Henry S. Garfield, was born on November 30, 1904, in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her BFA (1926) and her MFA (1937) from Syracuse University. After she received her BFA, she was employed by Syracuse University and served as Professor and Head (1926-1948) of the Interior Decoration Department. She was then hired by Iowa State University and served as Professor and Head (1948-1969) of the Applied Art Department in the Division of Home Economics. She served in this capacity until her retirement in 1969.



Marjorie traveled to Guatemala in Central America and conducted extensive studies on Spanish colonial furniture. She is the author of the book, Spanish Colonial Furniture in Guatemala. Ms. Garfield was an award winning watercolor artist. Her watercolors were exhibited in many states and by the Lisbon Art Society, Lisbon Portugal. Her paintings and etchings are included in permanent collections at Iowa State University, The Syracuse New York Museum of Fine Art, the University of Manitoba, and other museums and universities across the country. Marjorie received the Christian Petersen Design Award in 1982. In 1991, Iowa State University established the Marjorie Garfield Fine Arts Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial assistance to art and design students.



Marjorie Garfield died on January 7, 1993, from heart failure in Naples, Florida.