Marge, 1904-1993

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A cartoonist best known as the creator of Little Lulu, "Marge" was born Marjorie Lyman Henderson, the first of three daughters of Bertha Brown and attorney Horace Lyman Henderson. She grew up on a farm in Malvern, Penn., attended the Friends' School in West Chester, and graduated from Villa Maria Academy in 1921. She and her sisters drew throughout childhood and while still in high school she sold cartoons to the Philadelphia Ledger. An early mentor was Ruth Plumly Thompson, author of many Oz books following the death of L. Frank Baum in 1919, and Marge illustrated many of Thompson's writings. By 1929 Marge had produced two regular features: "The Boy Friend" and "Dashing Dot," while also writing humorous articles, some of which she illustrated.

In 1935 she was asked by the Saturday Evening Post to invent a successor to a single panel cartoon called "Henry." Marge devised a mischievous little girl, initially christened "Little Lulu Moppet" by the editors, who first appeared in February 1935 and ran weekly for the next ten years. Merchandizing and advertising campaigns soon followed, especially in 1944 when Marge signed a contract with Kleenex. In 1943 the first of the twenty-eight animated cartoons appeared, followed by the first comic book, initially drawn and written by Western Publishing staff cartoonist John Stanley. By the late 1940s Marge continued to manage a merchandizing empire, approving all Lulu appearances although she only drew Lulu for the Kleenex campaign. In 1971 she sold her rights to Western and moved to Ohio, where she died in 1993. Marge was married to Clarence Addison Buell, a Bell Telephone executive; they had two sons.

From the description of Papers, 1856-1994 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232009246

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Ohio State University. Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. Marjorie Henderson Buell 1904-1993 biographical file. Ohio State University Libraries
creatorOf Marge, 1904-1993. Papers, 1856-1994 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Marge, 1904-1993. [Little Lulu scrapbook]. Michigan State University Libraries, Main Library
creatorOf Marshall, Alice Kahler,. Women illustrators and photographers graphics collection, 1800-1987. Penn State Harrisburg Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Marshall, Alice Kahler, person
associatedWith Thompson, Ruth Plumly, 1893- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Artists as authors
Businesswomen
Caricatures and cartoons
Cartoonists
Cartoons and comics
Children
Comic books, strips, etc.
Comic strip characters
Horses
Little Lulu (Fictitious character)
Women cartoonists
Women-owned business enterprises
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1904

Death 1993

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Ark ID: w60c59nr

SNAC ID: 47006005