A Lasting Thank You

Margaret Chamberlain in 1932

When asked in 2001 how she felt about joining the JBS Class of 1932 her junior year, the late Margaret Chamberlain Hamilton said, "It was like Dorothy arriving in the Land of Oz. I loved the things I saw. I was scared. I didn't have any idea how I was going to make it." But Margaret ended up thriving at JBS, rising quickly through the ranks to become the "speaker of the class" at graduation.

After graduation she enrolled at Washington University, but was forced to drop out at the end of the first semester due to her father's death. Twenty-two years later, in 1954, Margaret returned to Washington University as a full-time student. She said that JBS had "lit a small flame inside," inspiring her to pursue her college education, learn about the real world and gain some degree of competence so she could qualify for an interesting job.

She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Psychology in 1957 and 1960, respectively. She also completed a portion of the work toward her PhD. Margaret went on to work for the Special School District in a pilot program for children with learning challenges.

According to Margaret, her entire life was changed by attending JBS. She never forgot the caring faculty who inspired her and the challenging, progressive education she received. She credited the Burroughs faculty with opening her mind.

"There was not one book Mr. Neville ever mentioned that I didn't read," recalled Margaret. "Plus, Dr. Haertter taught me three years of math in one year with such skill that I never felt unprepared."

Class of 1932 – John Burroughs School

In appreciation for the education she received at Burroughs, Margaret and her late husband, Hugh Hamilton, established a charitable gift annuity at Burroughs. In addition to giving the Hamiltons a fixed amount of income each year for the remainder of their lives, the annuity ultimately funded the Margaret Chamberlain Hamilton Memorial Scholarship (Hugh passed away in 2002; Margaret in 2007) which provides tuition support for one Burroughs student each year.

When asked about her reasons for establishing the scholarship at JBS, Margaret said, "Burroughs gave me confidence in my own capacity to move forward, and it is my favorite charity, period. The nicest thing about it is that I can say ‘thank you.'"

Make a Lasting Impact
Through the years, alumni, parents, grandparents and friends of JBS have made a profound impact on the learning experience of Burroughs students through estate planning. To learn more, simply contact Ginger Imster at 314-993-4045, ext. 256 or gimster@jburroughs.org.