from 1910 Blue and Gold Yearbook Marguerite Ogden (Steele) (September 10, 1888 - December 2, 1918) was a lawyer and the oldest daughter of Judge Frank B. Ogden.

Ogden was born in September, 1888, in Oakland, to Frank B. Ogden and Laura MacDonald (Ogden). She graduated from Oakland High School in 1906.

She was an undergraduate at UC Berkeley from about 1907 to 1910, where she met her future husband, Francis Steele. Both worked on the student newspaper, The Occident. 1,2 After her graduation in 1910, Ogden served as assistant dean of women and department secretary. 11

She then studied law, received her J.D. degree in 1913, and passed the bar to practice law in federal courts. 8 Her thesis for her Juris Doctor was titled "An Examination of Recently Judicated Questions in the Law of Persons". 5 She was the first woman to practice law in the Alameda County courts. 9

Ogden and Steele married on June 30, 1918, at the First Presbyterian Church. Their marriage was a "social event of considerable importance".

Tragically, Ogden died on December 2, 1918, one of the many victims of influenza. This was just a few months after her father died, and 5 months after she married Francis.

Ogden served on the Oakland board of education. 4,6,12The California Monthly says an Oakland school was named for her after her death 3; the Oakland Tribune also says it was to be done, 10 but at the time the board declined to name new schools after "local personages." 13

Marguerite is buried in plot 2 at Mountain View Cemetery in the Ogden family grave.

Links and References

CC SA-BY Our Oakland

  1. Occident Will Be Issued Today San Francisco Call February 4, 1910
  2. Will Soon Issue College Monthly San Francisco Call August 18, 1909
  3. The California Monthy volume 11
  4. Annual Report - Oakland Board of Education - 1917-1918
  5. An Examination of Recently Judicated Questions in the Law of Persons by Marguerite Ogden
  6. Mrs. Marguerite Ogden Steele Dies, A Victim of Influenza Oakland Tribune December 3, 1918
  7. Tribute Paid To Mrs. Steele at Funeral Oakland Tribune December 7, 1918
  8. Admit Women to Federal Practice Sacramento Union November 8, 1913
  9. Fair Portia Pleads For Women Seeking Probation In Court San Francisco Call October 28, 1913
  10. New Schools To Be Named For Martyrs Oakland Tribune December 13, 1918
  11. Popular Alumna Joins Faculty San Francisco Call August 19, 1910
  12. Clay and Miss Ogden Receive High Count Oakland Tribune April 18, 1917
  13. Oakland School to Be Named After Ethel Moore San Francisco Examiner October 12, 1920
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