The works of Marvin Eddy are scarce and well collected. He was born in Hannibal, Missouri, but settled in Louisville sometime in the late 19th century. The scarcity of works can be laid to a fire that destroyed his downtown Louisville studio. His studio was in the same building with Harvey Joiner. He studied with local artists Clarence Boyd and Hewett Green. He is listed as a member of the Louisville Art League in 1901.