The Marguerite Cothorn papers date from 1928 to 1995 and measure 2.75 linear inches. The papers are arranged in three series: Biographical information, Papers and reports, and Photographs. The collection will be of special interest to persons studying the role and activities of African-American professional women in Iowa, particularly in the field of social work.

The Biographical information series (1928-1991) contains copies of newspaper clippings and letters related to Cothorn's professional career and the awards she received. The letters recommending Cothorn to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame provide extensive biographical and professional information. The majority of the material in this series was initially contained in a looseleaf notebook which was disbound during processing. Also included are materials on the Double D Award, an award given by Drake University to young women who excelled in athletics. This subseries includes newspaper articles about the history of the award, Cothorn's participation in sports, and the actual event of her receiving the award.

The Papers and reports series (1956-1978) consists of one paper and three reports. The paper she wrote in 1956 while working at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa, is entitled "Adaptation of Role Playing as a Basic Method in Interdisciplinary Teaching."

One report, "Homes of Oakridge: Survey of Human Resources," (1977) is the result of a study requested by Nate Ruben, the Des Moines director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Cothorn served as the consultant and authored the report

The second report is one that Cothorn wrote in 1960, as chair of the Recreation and Leisure Time committee, for Recommendations of the Iowa Commission for Senior Citizens. The committee, composed of twenty-four citizens from throughout the state, centered its attention primarily on the recreation needs of senior citizens and on available resources in Iowa. The committee report is one of fourteen submitted for this publication.

The third report, entitled, "West Des Moines: Human Services Programs" (1978) was a consultant's review evaluating the human service programs in that community.

The Photographs series (1986, 1994) consists of photographs of Cothorn's induction into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame (including one with Governor Terry Brandstad) in 1986 and portraits of Cothorn from both 1990 and 1994.