5 Little-Known Facts About Marguerite Henry

What would have been Marguerite Henry’s 120th birthday took place last month, and when I shared a “Happy Birthday, Marguerite” post on Instagram, it caused quite a stir in a good way. People reached out to me via private messages to tell a story about their beloved author, and that post received tons of saves and shares. I thought I’d dig a little deeper on the blog. Enjoy this list of 5 little-known facts about Marguerite Henry. And if you’re a hardcore Marguerite Henry fan like me, you need to read my memoir Marguerite, Misty and Me: a Horse Lover’s Hunt for the Hidden History of Marguerite Henry and her Chincoteague Pony.

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1. Before there were horse books, Marguerite Henry books were about countries.

In the 1940s Marguerite wrote children’s books about several different countries in the Pictured Geography series. From Canada to Chile, Argentina to the West Indes, and beyond, Marguerite whisked elementary aged readers off to faraway places through her words. The hardcover series of books illustrated by Kurt Wiese can still be found in used book shops and sellers on Amazon, such as this book on Alaska.

2. Marguerite was a Midwesterner who went to high school (and college) in Milwaukee.

Riverside University High School claims another notable alum besides Marguerite Henry. Colleen Dewhurst, the actress who played Marilla Cuthbert in the 1980s version of Anne of Green Gables also attended the high school (which is still a school today, 100 years after Marguerite’s time on campus.) Marguerite attended what was Milwaukee State Teachers College which has since become the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

(Pssst! Hey, if you’re a horse bookworm too, snag my list Top 10 Must-Read Horse Books.)

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3. Marguerite Henry met her husband on a fishing trip in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

In Something About the Author, Marguerite wrote she was on a fishing trip with her two older sisters and their men (one was married, the other engaged) when she met Sidney who was also there with family. She recalled how, “it was almost like a reunion . . . before we had even met! We fished by day and danced by moonlight to the music of a volunteer pianist on a piano that could have stood tuning.”

If you love all things Misty, enjoy Misty of Chincoteague: Rereading a Classic Horse Book as an Adult.

4. Marguerite Henry always loved horses–can you relate?–but didn’t get her first one until middle age.

At the peak of Marguerite’s horse life she owned a Morgan named Friday, Misty of Chincoteague (who needs no introduction) and a burro named Jiggs who was the inspiration as she wrote the book Brighty of the Grand Canyon. Perhaps her stories are so relatable and enduring because she understood the longing of having a horse of one’s own.

5. Marguerite was very generous with her equines and let local children ride Misty (and Jiggs).

I first found out about this through one of my mom’s friends. When she was a little girl, she went to the Henry’s house in Wayne, Illinois and rode the celebrity pony! (Read more about that in this blog post Misty of Chincoteague Photo.) She was not the only one to have ridden Misty. I’ve since met a handful of former neighbors of Marguerite who also told of riding the pinto pony with the map of the United States on her withers.

That’s a wrap on five fun (and little-known) facts about Marguerite Henry. Hope you enjoyed it. If you know other facts, please reach out! Leave a comment, by all means! And I guarantee if you love MH like I do, you will learn so much about her and Misty of Chincoteague in my Marguerite Henry biography, Marguerite, Misty and Me.

CLICK HERE to shop Marguerite, Misty and Me.

Question: What fact about Marguerite Henry did you find most surprising? What Marguerite Henry books did you love?

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