Marie Schubert Explained

Marie Schubert (1890-1983) was an American commercial artist and an illustrator of children's books in the early 20th century.

Personal life

Marie Tancre Schubert was born on July 23, 1890.^[1] Her mother Catherine Bicknell Schubert (born Tancre), was born in Alabama. Her father, Wenzel Joseph Schubert was from South Moravia in what is today the Czech Republic.^[2]

Schubert attended the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. Some of her correspondence with an earlier schoolmate, Bertha Ballou, is documented in an online history of Ballou.^[3] Schubert's letter from October 30, 1924 notes that her commercial artwork included department store advertising, Christmas cards, and book covers.

In 1917, Schubert married Karl Rathvon,^[4] with whom she had a son, Norman, born in Washington, DC in 1920.^[5] Schubert and Rathvon divorced in 1923.^[6] Her later published works are often attributed to Marie Schubert Frobisher.

In July 1919, Schubert applied for membership in the American Legions USS Jacob Jones Post 2.^[7]

In 1922, Schubert was reported in the Washington Times as being a purchaser of land for home building in Lyons Park, a suburb along the Washington-Virginia Railway.^[8]

Schubert died in November 1983.^[1]

Creative work

Standalone books illustrated

• Jingles: A Reader for Beginners. By Alice Rose Power. Harr Wagner Publishing Co. 1924.^[9]
• Roody and his Underground Palace. By Elsie M. Alexander. 1928.
• Exciting Adventures of Mister Gerald Fox. By Ben Field. 1928
• Indians: Wild and Cruel. By Dennis H. Stovall. Whitman Publishing Co. 1929.
• Cowboys Rough and Ready. By Dennis H. Stovall. 1929
• Pirates, Fierce and Bold. By Dennis H. Stovall. Whitman Publishing Co. 1929.
• Children's Songs for Every Day. By Bernice Frost. American Book Co. 1931.
• Minnie: The Little Fish Who Lived in a Shoe and other Tales. By Ethel Clere Chamberlain. Charles E. Graham. Illustrations by Nell Witters, Marie Schubert, and Julia Green. 1931.^[10]
• Mary Jane in Italy. By Clara Ingram Judson. 1933.
• The Frost King, or The Power of Love. By Louisa May Alcott. Grosset & Dunlap. 1939.
• Wee Willie Winkie, An Officer and a Gentleman. By Rudyard Kipling.

Books illustrated from Stratemeyer Syndicate series

• Honey Bunch: Her First Visit to the Zoo, 1932.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Big Adventure, 1933.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Big Parade, 1934.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Little Mystery, 1935.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Little Circus, 1936.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Little Treasure Hunt, 1937.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Little Club, 1938.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Trip in a Trailer, 1939.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Trip to a Big Fair, 1940.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Twin Playmates, 1941.
• Honey Bunch: Her First Costume Party, 1942.
• The Bobbsey Twins at the Circus. 1927.
• The Bobbsey Twins Solve a Mystery. 1934.
• The Bobbsey Twins in Eskimo Land. 1936.
• The Bobbsey Twins in a Radio Play. 1937
• The Bobbsey Twins at Indian Hollow. 1940.
• The Bobbsey Twins on the Pony Trail. 1940.
• The Bobbsey Twins in Echo Valley. 1943.

Books written and illustrated

• The Sky is Falling on Henny Penny. 1928.^[11]
• Children's Stationery: Noah's Ark Picture Book. 1930.^[12]
• Famous Paintings and Their Stories. Grosset & Dunlap. 1934.^[13]
• Minute Myths and Legends: Dramatic moments in the affairs of the gods, arch-demons, goddesses, demi-gods and heroes of this and other worlds Grosset & Dunlap. 1934.^[14]
• Mother Goose Primer. 1934.

Notes and References

1. Social Security Death Index recordshttps://www.fold3.com/record/12885976-marie-frobisher
2. https://www.myheritage.com/names/catherine_tancre Catherine Tancre
3. BERTHA BALLOU LETTERS https://www.ballouhistory.com/category/berthamarie-schubert-friend/
4. Evening Star. Society section. February 18, 1917 Image 61 [Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers]
5. Obituary for Norman Rathvon https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=norman-rathvon&pid=159822690
6. Wife Sues Husband, Accusing Neighbor. Evening Star, July 12, 1923, Page 9, Image 9. [Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers]
7. Web site: USS Jacob Jones Post 2 - the Genealogy Center presents Our Military Heritage.
8. The Washington Times. May 20, 1922, LATE FINANCIAL, Page 14, Image 14
9. The Elementary English Review, The Elementary English Review Vol. 4, No. 5, May 1927. p. 161.
10. ECLECTIBLES -Fine & Unusual Ephemera http://www.eclectibles.com/product-p/26015115.htm
11. Jo Ann Reisler, Ltd. Catalog 87, item 33. http://www.joannreisler.com/images/reisler_87.pdf
12. Children's books & illustrated books - Aleph-Bet Books catalog https://www.alephbet.com/pdf/cat98-web.pdf
13. Review. Wisconsin Library Bulletin, December 1934. Volume 30, p. 240.
14. Review in Antoinette Brazouski and Mary J. Klatt's book, Children's Books on Ancient Greek and Roman Mythology: An Annotated Bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. p. 314