中田いくみ / キッシングドール　 Ikumi Nakada / Kissing Dolls 33.5×24.5 cm / 2016 / oil on paper

I have finally had a breakthrough! Thanks to a special collection at the Univ. of Oregon, nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv04805, I now have more info on one of my favorite illustrators! Marguerite Norris Davis was born Aug 3, 1890 in Chicago. She married Allen Davis April 15,1915 and they moved to Portland, Oregon in 1920. The 1930 Federal Census in Portland tells that she had a son named Allen N, age 12, born in Illinois and a daughter named Lucibel, age 2 1/2, born in Oregon. She wrote poetry, non-fiction and children's stories for several newspapers and magazines (including "Collier's" and "St. Nicholas"), and illustrated many school and nonschool books for children. She was also a consultant and writer for the magazine "The Women's Home Companion" for 13 years. She illustrated or co-illustrated many of "The Children's Own Reader's" series and two of the "Story Series for Health" books published by Ginn and Co., in the 1920's and 1930's. Ginn also used her illustrations in some of their readers written by Walter Taylor Field. Macmillan Co. used her illustrations in several nonschool books published in the 1930's and early 1940's, including several of Elizabeth Coatsworth's books. She was active in garden clubs and in the Camp Fire Girls, establishing early Camp Fire groups in Chicago, Columbus OH, and Oregon; leading while being a professional staff member and board director. She was very active in civic clubs and organizations, and often served as an officer. She died Jan 11, 1978 in Portland OR at age 87. My first and favorite! - The discovery: "The Children's Own Readers 'Friends' Primer" by Mary E. Pennell and Alice M. Cusack, 1936, Kansas City, Missouri. Illustrator Marguerite Davis. “The Children’s Own Readers - Book One” by Mary E. Penell and Alice M. Cusack, 1929, illustrated by Marguerite Davis. Also starring Jimmy Dale and Beverly. Illustrated by Marguerite Davis. “Summer Fun” copyright 1932, by J. Mace Andress and Annie Turner Andress. Ginn and Company. A health textbook for lower grades. “The Field Fourth Reader” by Walter Taylor Field, published by Ginn and Co., 1925. Illustrated by Marguerite Davis and Rodney Thomson. An on-line book: "Tirra Lirra, Rhymes Old and New" by Laura E. Richards, published by Little, Brown and Co., 1932 and 1955, illustrated by M. Davis, found at www.archive.org/details/tirralirrarhymes027501mbp “Skipping Along Alone” by Winifred Welles, illustrated by Marguerite Davis. The MacMillan Co., 1931. My bibliographic check list (following citation) names 11 other non-textbooks Marguerite illustrated. "Price Guide and Bibliographic Check List for Children's & Illustrated Books 1880 - 1960." Compiled by E. Lee Baumgarten, published by E. Lee Baumgarten Books of Martinsburg, WV. 1996 Edition.