Author, genealogist and community leader, Margery Matthews is the voice of historic preservation in Foster.  Her childhood was spent on the family dairy farm in Moosup Valley where she attended the Moosup Valley School.  After much moving about with the Marine Corps, she and her husband, Tom returned home in 1963.  Margery earned a masters degree in Library Science from URI and became the librarian at Ponaganset High School.

     Her devotion to historical research led to publication of Foster and the Patriot's Dream (1976), Churches of Foster, A History of Religious Life in Rural Rhode Island (1978) and Peleg's Last Word, a documented account of Foster's hunted Ram Tail Mill.  Her column for the Foster Preservation Society's newsletter has resulted in the publication of So I've Been Told and By My Kin.

     A lifelong interest in genealogy and Foster's cemeteries led Margery to record and preserve 134 of 140 graveyards.  She also initiated historical tours for 4th graders at the Isaac Paine School.  Her knowledge and research were invaluable in preparing RIHPHC's Foster, Rhode Island and enriched the National Registers nomination for Moosup Valley.

     From 1976 to 1978 Margery was the first woman Town Council President.  She has also been President of the Tyler Library in Moosup Valley and serves on its Board.  Recently Margery was a member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee for the new Comprehensive town plan.