Marquis, Don, 1878-1937

American humorist and author.

American journalist, author, humorist.

Author and humorist Don Marquis was born in Illinois, and worked as a journalist in Washington, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. After moving to New York, he got his own column at the New York Sun, and invented a series of unique characters made from equal parts humor and melancholy. His most famous characters were Archy, the free verse poet transmigrated to a cockroach, and Mehitabel, the enigmatic cat, whose adventures remain popular. A versatile humorist who strove to achieve more serious success, he also wrote novels, plays, and short stories, but the popularity of Archy and Mehitabel was so great Marquis felt it deflected attention from his better work.

American humorist, poet, dramatist.

Author and playwright.

Edward Anthony (1895-1971) was born in New York City and joined the staff of the Bridgeport Connecticut Herald shortly after high school. He served in the war and was stationed at Camp Merritt from 1918-1919. After the war he worked for the New York Herald until 1923 when he became associate editor of Farm and Fireside e, a Crowell magazine. In 1928 he directed the publicity for Herbert Hoover's Presidential campaign. Shortly after Anthony married Esther H. Howard and had one son, Richard.

Afterward the campaign he contined to work for Crowell, first on staff at American Magazine and then serving as the press service director of the Crowell group of magazines from 1930-1942. In 1942 he was publisher of Woman's Home Companion for ten years and then continued as publisher of Collier's From 1949-1954.

After leaving Collier's, Anthony joined the Seventh Company, Inc., a New York statistical research organization, as public affairs counsellor. Anthony was also a consultant to American Girl Magainze for 25 years and acted as director of public relations for the War Advertising Council during World War II.

In addition to working in publishing Athony wrote short stories, plays, magazine articles, verse, and books. He collaborated with big names in the animal field, Frank Buck, Clyde Beatty, and Henry Trefflich, wrote a detailed biography of Don Marquis, an autobiography, and eleven other books. Three of his books were made into movies.