Margaret Vandercook


Margaret O'Bannon Womack Vandercook was an American writer of children's literature.

Personal life

Daughter of Joel Mayo Womack and Nannie Gibson Womack, she was born in Louisville, Kentucky, where she attended both public and private schools. In 1900 she married John Filkin Vandercook, who later became the first president of the United Press Association. He died in 1908. They had one son, John Womack Vandercook. Margaret spent her summers in Leonardo, New Jersey and winters in Gramercy Park, New York, but during her husband's lifetime she also spent several years living in Europe.

Professional life

Margaret Vandercook did not become a professional writer until after her husband's death, but has since been described as the queen of Camp Fire writers, writing 21 Camp Fire novels under her own name as well as the pseudonym "Margaret Love Sanderson." The pseudonym of Margaret Love Sanderson was also used by Emma Keats Speed Sampson, author of the Miss Minerva books. In addition to the Camp Fire Girls series, Margaret is also known for her other girls series books which include the Ranch Girls series, Red Cross Girls series, and Girl Scouts series. Additional works include stories, articles and poems for Harper's Bazar, Delineator, Pearson's Magazine, Book News Monthly, Paris Modes, and many other publications. She was also a member of the Louisville Kentucky Authors' Club.

Works

'The Camp Fire Girls' series

The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill

The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows

The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World

The Camp Fire Girls Across the Seas

The Camp Fire Girls' Careers

The Camp Fire Girls in After Years

The Camp Fire Girls on the Edge of the Desert

The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail

The Camp Fire Girls Behind the Lines

The Camp Fire Girls on the Field of Honor

The Camp Fire Girls in Glorious France

The Camp Fire Girls in Merrie England

The Camp Fire Girls by the Blue Lagoon

The Camp Fire Girls at Half Moon Lake

'The Ranch Girls' series

The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge

The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold

The Ranch Girls at Boarding School

The Ranch Girls in Europe

The Ranch Girls Home Again

The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure

The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire

The Ranch Girls and the Silver Arrow

The Ranch Girls and the Mystery of Three Roads

'Red Cross Girls' series

The Red Cross Girls in the British Trenches

The Red Cross Girls on the French Firing Line

The Red Cross Girls in Belgium

The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army

The Red Cross Girls with the Italian Army

The Red Cross Girls Under the Stars and Stripes

The Red Cross Girls Afloat with the Flag

The Red Cross Girls with the U.S. Marines

The Red Cross Girls with Pershing to Victory

The Red Cross Girls at the National Capital

'Girls Scouts' series

The Girl Scouts of Eagle's Wing

The Girl Scouts in Beechwood Forest

The Girl Scouts of the Round Table

The Girl Scouts in Mystery Valley

The Girl Scouts and the Open Road

Other works

The Loves of Ambrose

Poems Past and Present