The History of Marguerite Henry Available in Marguerite, Misty & Me

Several years ago, I started thinking it would be interesting to see if I could discover the hidden history of Marguerite Henry and Misty of Chincoteague. I’ve been a big fan my whole life. For the past two years, I’ve been traveling the country in the footsteps of Marguerite Henry, meeting people who knew her, locating the homes where she lived, and tracing her writing career. I jaunted off to Chincoteague last summer for Pony Penning Week, and met a fantastic crowd of horse—I mean—pony lovers. The result: my equestrian memoir Marguerite, Misty and Me.

Writing this Julie and Julia-esque horse girl memoir has been a homecoming, both literally and figuratively. Years ago, my mom worked with a woman who rode Misty of Chincoteague. I learned how to ride horses in the fields of Wayne, Illinois, which is where Marguerite Henry lived when she penned her famous books Justin Morgan Had a Horse, King of the Wind, Misty of Chincoteague and Stormy, Misty’s Foal, to name a few. My Midwestern horse connections and geographical knowledge of the area have been integral to the research.

I’ve spent countless hours reading historical documents such as personal letters between Marguerite and her editor, fan mail and even unpublished manuscripts (she wrote a book on Miniature Horses that was never published, which is a shame as she teamed up with a National Geographic photographer for the images—so cute!).

Who was Marguerite Henry really?

When I first started this journey, I thought, “I hope she is a good person.” You know how you hear celebrity gossip and it’s disappointing to know a favorite actor or sports star has a reputation for being a jerk in real life? My Marguerite expectations have been exceeded. She was amazing. Marguerite, Misty and Me contains example after example, but I’ll share just a couple here that touched my heart.

Marguerite replied to nearly every fan letter she received. As I pored over dozens of files of fan mail at the University of Minnesota’s Kerlan Collection, which is home to the Marguerite Henry Collection, I repeatedly saw the abbreviation “ans.” in the margins of fan letters. While writing this book, I’ve connected to multiple people who’ve said, “I wrote a letter, and she wrote me back!” One Virginia woman I feature prominently in Marguerite, Misty and Me even got a phone call! She and Marguerite became friends via the telephone and would frequently talk over the course of years.

Once a blind child wrote a fan letter, and Marguerite enlisted the help of Braille organization in Los Angeles so she could reply in Braille. She was living near San Diego in Rancho Santa Fe, California. This was before Google was a thing. Think about that. Marguerite’s commitment to her fans and children in general was wholehearted.

Uncovering the history of Marguerite Henry has been a joy. Your horse lover support has been and continues to be so appreciated. I hope when you read Marguerite, Misty and Me you will fall in love with Misty of Chincoteague and the author who penned her tale, all over again.

Your turn: Did you grow up reading Marguerite Henry books like Misty of Chincoteague? If so, which one was your favorite?

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