[3] She had a brief career as a theatrical actress under the name Marguerite Hayden,[4] including a 1903 touring production of The Earl of Pawtucket and roles in A Romance of Athlone and Terence.

In her foreword, she explains that she was "prompted by the desire to correct the prevalent impression that the Catholic Church is officially opposed to Woman Suffrage.

At the suggestion of the chairman of the National Boot and Shoe Manufacturers Association's Styles Committee, Rorke published her first "Chart of Color Harmonies" in 1925.

[8]:168–169 Rorke employed "style spies" like Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent Bettina Bedwell, who kept her updated on Paris fashion trends for 11 years.

Rorke and her team at TCCA incorporated the reports Bedwell sent into their own color forecasts, using the allure of Paris fashion to build the association's credibility.