Marjorie Lamp Mead

Marjorie Lamp Mead was awarded the Kilby Lifetime Achievement Award on October 27, 2025, honoring her 50 years of service at the Marion E. Wade Center.

Marj received her B.A. in English Literature from Wheaton College (’74), where she studied under Clyde S. Kilby. She has held several positions at the Wade Center since coming to work at the collection in 1977, including assistant curator, associate curator, and associate director. At three points during her career, Marj also served as interim director of the Wade—twelve years in total. Her leadership has been absolutely vital to the flourishing of the Wade Center. 

In addition to her B.A., Marj holds an M.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton (’06); her thesis, Making Sense of the Universe: Dorothy L. Sayers and the Way of the Intellect, was written under the direction of Mark Noll. Marj’s published works include: A Reader’s Guide Through the Wardrobe (IVP, 2005) and A Reader’s Guide to Caspian (IVP, 2008) (both co-authored with Leland Ryken); C.S. Lewis: Letters to Children (Macmillan, 1985) (co-edited with Lyle Dorsett; reissued by Simon & Schuster, 1995); and Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of Major Warren Hamilton Lewis (Harper & Row, 1982) (co-edited with Clyde S. Kilby; reissued by Ballantine, 1988); as well as numerous articles, encyclopedia entries, and chapters of books on the Wade authors, including “Generosity and Courtesy: Dorothy L. Sayers as Friend” and “Rejoicing in Truth: Dorothy L. Sayers and the ‘Good of the Intellect.’” For the last twenty years, Marj has also served as the managing editor of VII: The Journal of the Marion E. Wade Center. She has supported writers and researchers from all over the world through her publications, presentations, and editorial work.

Fall 2025 marks Marj's retirement from her work at the Wade. Over the course of her remarkable career, Marj has been a faithful steward of the Wade Center’s collections, a champion of scholarship devoted to the Wade authors, and a trusted spiritual mentor for many students, staff, faculty, and community members. We are deeply grateful for her many talents and contributions to the Wade and its work.

Photo above: Marjorie Lamp Mead with Philip Ryken and Jim Beitler