Bio: Margery Land May, Caddo Parish La Source: From Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928, Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown ********************************************************** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************ MARGERY LAND MAY. MARGERY LAND MAY, Mrs. James Martin Foster, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 14, 1897. She is the daughter of Florence Lister Land May and Augustus H. May. Living in New Orleans until she was five years of age, she subsequently went with her mother to California and later to New York City where she received her early education. Coming to Shreveport when she was fourteen years cf age, she made her home with her aunt and uncle. Mrs. Alfred Dillingham Land, graduated from the Shreveport High School, and subsequently attended Newcomb College in New Orleans and Columbia University, where she specialized in short story work. Margery Land May's literary career began when at the age of eighteen her first story was accepted by H. L. Mencken of The Smart Set. This initial success was soon followed by others. A most prolific writer, Mrs. May has bad published in the leading magazines of America and Great Britain over one hundred and thirty short stories. She has also written and published fifteen serials and novelettes and over three hundred sketches and articles. Two of her books "Such As Sit in Judgment" and "To Him That Knocketh" have been published in London. "Such As Sit in Judgment" was later produced as an allstar photoplay in which Patsy Ruth Miller and Lou Tel'egen had the leading roles. Aside from this photo-drama, Mrs. May has had four others produced. They are "The Beauty Market," "Destiny's Isle," "By Right 0f Purchase," and "Treasures on Earth." In these photoplays such leading players as Norma Talmadge and Katharine MacDonald starred. Mrs. May's stories and articles have appeared in such nationally known magazines as The American, Munseys, The Green Book, People's Home Journal, Metropolitan, The Woman Beautiful, Smith's, Morning Telegraph of New York, C. H. Young Publications, Warner Publications, Women's Weekly, The Ledger, Street and Smith Magazines, Town Topics, Club-Fellow, Land's, The New Eve, McClure's and many others. Mrs. May has also had actual experience in the motion picture field, being for a year a member of the staff of The Selznick Motion Picture Company, where she served as reader, adapter, continuity writer and title editor. On both sides of her family, Mrs. May descends from an illustrious and aristocratic line. Her great grandfather was Judge T. T. Land, who was Judge of The Supreme Court of Louisiana, and her grandfather. Judge Alfred D. Land, who succeeded to the same high office, being a Justice of the Supreme Court for twelve years. To this honored position he was elected after having served for several years as Judge of the First Judicial District of Shreveport, Louisiana. Her uncle, Judge John R. Land, is at present a member of that court. In June, 1924. Mrs. May was married to James Martin Foster. Mr. Foster is a member of the Shreveport, Louisiana, bar and was for eight years District Attorney of the First District of Louisiana and served four years in the Legislature of Louisiana. The name of the Foster home is "Curraglomiur," which has been in the family for nearly sixty yeas