McPharlin, Marjorie Batchelder, 1903-1997

Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin was born in Winnetka, Ill. on Nov. 15, 1903. In 1922, she entered the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and received a diploma in teacher training in 1925. She received her M.A. in 1934 and her Ph. D. in 1942 from Ohio State University. She taught art at Florida State University, Ohio State University, and the University of New Mexico. Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin first became interested in puppetry in 1928. She spent her life working as a producer, writer, and teacher of puppetry. She published The Puppet Theatre Handbook (N.Y. Harper & Bros.) in 1947; Rod-Puppets and the Human Theatre (Columbus, Ohio State University Press) in 1947; and Puppets and Plays (Harper) in 1956. She met Paul McPharlin in 1938 on a study tour of puppet theaters. Marjorie and Paul married in the summer of 1948. Tragically, Paul died of a brain tumor six months later. In 1952 she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and worked with the Museum of International Folk Art, helping produce various programs on puppetry. In 1960, the U.S. State Department sent her to Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, and Russia to lecture as an American Specialist on American Puppet Theater. In 1963, she received a Fulbright to teach puppetry in India.

Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin was born in Winnetka, Illinois on November 15, 1903. Her family moved to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1905 and she graduated from high school in 1921. In 1922, she entered the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, and received a diploma in teacher training in 1925. She received her M.A. in 1934 and her Ph.D. in 1942 from Ohio State University. She taught art at Florida State University, Ohio State University, and the University of New Mexico.

Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin first became interested in puppetry in 1928 when she participated in a puppet show at a summer art camp in Monterey, Massachusetts. She spent her life working as a producer, writer, and teacher of puppetry. She published The Puppet Theatre Handbook (N.Y. Harper & Bros.) in 1947; Rod-Puppets and the Human Theatre (Columbus, Ohio State University Press) in 1947; and Puppets and Plays (Harper) in 1956.

She met Paul McPharlin in 1938 on a study tour of puppet theaters. Marjorie and Paul married in the summer of 1948. Tragically, Paul died of a brain tumor six months later. In 1952 she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where she made furniture and did other freelance projects. She also worked with the Museum of International Folk Art, helping produce various programs on puppetry.

In 1960, the U.S. State Department sent her to Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, and Russia to lecture as an American Specialist on American Puppet Theater. In 1963, she received a Fulbright to teach puppetry in India.