Scope and Contents note
The Marguerite Norris Davis Papers consist mainly of correspondence, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and several folders of travel brochures and souvenirs. The collection spans the years 1921-1977; the bulk of the materials range from the 1940s to the 1960s.
The correspondence series contains personal letters, as well as one copy of a letter to the Writer's Digest. The manuscript series contains drafts of several different journal submissions, arranged in alphabetical order by title. Also included in the series are typed drafts of several different journal submissions, arranged in alphabetical order by title. Also included in the series are typed drafts of some original pieces sent to Reader's Digest by Davis, a typed draft of a Marguerite Davis biography, and four folders of newspaper clippings containing articles written by her. Four loose-leaf binders list sales records for manuscripts submitted by Davis to various publications, and a spiral binder contains miscellaneous personal notes.
The magazine tearsheets (215) consist of articles on the city of Chicago. The travel brochures/souvenirs section contains travel memorabilia from British Columbia, California, Oregon, and Washington. The most extensive section covers Northern California (principally Oakland and San Francisco), and Southern California (mainly Los Angeles and Disneyland). Much of the Northern California materials pertain to the Men's Garden Club, in which Davis and her husband were involved. The miscellaneous series contains clippings, a small pamphlet, a Christmas card folder by Current, and a 1923 publication of a conference dedicated to Dr. Esther Lovejoy, who was the subject of several articles by Davis.
Dates
- Creation: 1921-1977
Creator
- Davis, Marguerite (Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use note
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical/Historical note
Marguerite Norris Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 3, 1890. She wrote children's stories and verse as well as non-fiction pieces for such national publications as Collier's and St. Nicholas. She was a consultant and writer for the Women's Home Companion for thirteen ears, and was also a regular contributor to the Portland Oregonian newspaper. She married Allen Davis on April 5, 1915, and became a Portland, Oregon resident in 1920.
For several years Davis wrote for the Multnomah Press, reporting news as well as contributing weekly columns titled "Ma Muses" and "Meet Your Neighbors." She also coauthored (with Cecil R. Tulley) the book The Building of a Community, a history of the Multnomah-Hillsdale-West Portland area. It was published by the Oregon Historical Society in 1976.
Davis was a Camp Fire Girl in the early years of the organization, and remained active in the group. She organized and led one of the earliest groups in the Chicago area, and also arranged the first Camp Fire Girls group in Columbus, Ohio. Beginning in 1936, Davis was associated with Camp Fire Girls in Portland as a leader, board member and professional staff member. She also assisted with training, music, and the organizing of groups, as well as serving as a Board Historian.
In addition to the above, Davis was a member and program chairman of the Multnomah Woman's Club, an active member and program chairman of the West Hills Horticultural Society, and served as president of the University of Oregon Mothers' Club in 1947-1948. As a member of the Daughters of Civil War Veterans, she engaged in writing the history of members' ancestors' war service. Davis was appointed a member of the Oregon State Civil War Centennial Commission by then-governor Mark Hatfield, and was also appointed to the Advisory Council of the National Civil War Centennial Commission by Major General U.S. Grant III. She served as secretary to both groups.
Davis died January 11, 1978, in Portland, Oregon at the age of eighty-seven.
Extent
2 linear feet (4 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Marguerite Norris Davis (1890-1978) was a writer of children's stories. The collection contains correspondence, literary manuscripts, tear sheets, and newspaper clippings.
Arrangement note
Collection is organized into the following series: CorrespondenceLiterary Manuscripts (Typed drafts)Reader's Digest SubmissionsShort BiographyNewspaper ClippingsSales Records for ManuscriptsMiscellaneous NotesMagazine tear sheetsTravel Brochures and SouvenirsMiscellaneous
Processing Information
Collection processed by staff.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- Title
- Guide to the Marguerite Davis papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Lisa Lynch
- Date
- 2007
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
