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Marguerite Noble, 1910-2007

MG 92

Biographical Note

Marguerite Noble was an important Arizona novelist, teacher and community member. She was born on January 29, 1910, in Roosevelt, Arizona and her parents were Dan and Mindy Parker. She attended elementary and secondary school in Punkin Center and Florence, respectively. Marguerite was also known as "Dickie", a nickname she acquired in childhood. According to her daughter, Dickie was a boy that Marguerite liked and was teased about. Marguerite was an alumnus of Tempe Normal School and Arizona State University (B.A. and M.A.). She married Henry Rogers Buchanan in 1936 and they had two children, Roger (1940) and Cynthia (1942). As a widow, Marguerite met and married her second husband, Charles F. Noble in 1975. Mrs. Marguerite Noble passed away on January 1, 2007.

Scope and Content Note

Mrs. Noble is probably most well known for her novel, Filaree, published by Random House in 1979. The book is told from the point of view of a pioneer woman at the turn of the century in the American Southwest. Her relationships with her husband, her children and the land represent an often overlooked perspective of the time. In the words of Don Dedera, a writer and close friend of Marguerite, "Filaree author tells how women, not John Wayne, won the West." Notes from the writing of the novel and unpublished manuscripts are in our collection. We also have original versions of Marguerite’s articles, essays, and contributions to local and state publications like the Payson Round Up, and Arizona Highways. Materials from Marguerite’s career as a teacher and enthusiastic representative of Arizona history, down to photographs of her in her signature bonnet and old fashioned dress can be found in this collection.

A large component of the Marguerite Noble Collection is the work of her son and daughter as well as the history of other members of her family. Marguerite’s daughter, Cynthia Buchanan (Cowley) is a playwright (Cabrona) and novelist (Maiden). Cynthia’s experiences in the literary world played a role in the publishing of Filaree and correspondence between the mother and daughter shows the supportive nature of their relationship. Marguerite’s son Roger is a talented photographer and his work is featured prominently in this collection. His published and unpublished photographs of everyday people and Arizona landmarks show the deep affinity that he has for this region. Marguerite spent a good portion of her adolescence in the home of George and Roxie Cline, her aunt and uncle, and expresses her love and gratitude in stories and photographs depicting their contributions to their community. Marguerite is descended from Cynthia Ann Parker, the large pioneer family that settled in east Texas during the 1830’s, much of her family history research is included in the collection.

Overall, this collection contains the artifacts of an observant writer, a proud mother, and an Arizona historian. News clippings, photographs, letters, notes, newsletters, awards/certificates, manuscripts, screen plays, articles, and short stories tell the story of the things that mattered most to Marguerite Noble.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

All photocopies of original materials are made by staff. We reserve the right to refuse copy services based on physical condition and possible damage to the materials.

For preservation purposes, if microfilm copies are available, patrons will use the microfilm first.

Under Arizona Revised Statute 39-141, public records used for commercial purposes have additional requirements. Please contact the Arizona State Archives for further information.

Copyright

It is the researcher’s responsibility to determine the copyright status of materials he or she uses. The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records is not legally or financially responsible for any copyright infringement by researchers.

Many documents held by the Arizona State Archives come under the Public Record law (ARS 41-1350). Documents created by the government are not copyrighted. The United States of America Copyright Law (P.L. 94-553, effective Jan. 1, 1978) extends statutory rights of authority to unpublished works which were previously protected by literary property rights under common law. Such works do not have to be registered with the Copyright Office to receive protection under the law.

Access Terms

Accession Number

A-2008-006.

Administrative Information

Credit Line

Bibliographic citations must cite the title of the record group(s), the box or volume number, the History and Archives Division and the name of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records in full. Please use the following example:

Governor George W.P. Hunt to Ely Sims, November 21, 1919, Box 14, Office of the Governor, RG 1, History and Archives Division, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

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