Gordon MacQuarrie
Encyclopedia
Gordon MacQuarrie was an American writer and journalist. Born in Superior, Wisconsin
, he is best known for his short stories involving hunting and fishing, and for his semi-fictional organization known as The Old Duck Hunters' Association, Inc.(ODHA, Inc.) He died unexpectedly in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
of a heart attack.
The Old Duck Hunters stories were originally published in various outdoor related periodicals of the early 20th Century. They were posthumously gathered into book form in three anthologies entitled: Stories of the Old Duck Hunters & Other Drivel, More Stories of the Old Duck Hunters, and Last Stories of the Old Duck Hunters. The first of these was originally published in 1967 by Stackpole Publishing, New York. Currently, all three volumes are available from Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, Wisconsin
, both in printed and audio (abridged) form. Three subsequent volumes have also been released by Willow Creek Press.
Following his August, 1924 graduation from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a bachelor's degree in Journalism, MacQuarrie joined the Superior Evening Telegram as a cub reporter. In 1925 he became City Editor of the Telegram and was promoted to Managing Editor in 1927. He held that position until April, 1936 when he accepted a position with the Milwaukee Journal and moved to Milwaukee with wife, Helen Marjorie (Peck) MacQuarrie (1901-1952), and their only child, daughter Sally (1929-1994.) In September, 1954, MacQuarrie married fellow Journal reporter Ellen Gibson.
MacQuarrie invented the Old Duck Hunters Association as a literary vehicle and used his real-life father-in-law, Allan Peck, as the model for the President of the association. The stories were often upbeat and humorous with MacQuarrie frequently serving as the butt of the joke. MacQuarrie is credited with becoming the first full-time, professional outdoor writer in America when he became the outdoor editor of the Milwaukee Journal on April 19, 1936. Also in 1936, MacQuarrie developed a relationship with influential conservationist, Aldo Leopold
. Their friendship lasted until Leopold's death in 1948; however, MacQuarrie remained a staunch supporter of Leopold's Land Ethic
, and wrote frequently about Leopold's work until his own death in 1956.
In June, 2003 a biography of MacQuarrie was released by the Wisconsin State Historical Society, entitled Gordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck Hunter, ISBN 0-87020-343-6, written by Keith Crowley.
Superior, Wisconsin
Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...
, he is best known for his short stories involving hunting and fishing, and for his semi-fictional organization known as The Old Duck Hunters' Association, Inc.(ODHA, Inc.) He died unexpectedly in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
of a heart attack.
The Old Duck Hunters stories were originally published in various outdoor related periodicals of the early 20th Century. They were posthumously gathered into book form in three anthologies entitled: Stories of the Old Duck Hunters & Other Drivel, More Stories of the Old Duck Hunters, and Last Stories of the Old Duck Hunters. The first of these was originally published in 1967 by Stackpole Publishing, New York. Currently, all three volumes are available from Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, Wisconsin
Minocqua, Wisconsin
Minocqua is a town in north-western Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,385 at the 2010 census. The census-designated place of Minocqua is located in the town. The unincorporated community of Rantz is also located in the town. Minocqua is commonly referred to as "The...
, both in printed and audio (abridged) form. Three subsequent volumes have also been released by Willow Creek Press.
Following his August, 1924 graduation from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a bachelor's degree in Journalism, MacQuarrie joined the Superior Evening Telegram as a cub reporter. In 1925 he became City Editor of the Telegram and was promoted to Managing Editor in 1927. He held that position until April, 1936 when he accepted a position with the Milwaukee Journal and moved to Milwaukee with wife, Helen Marjorie (Peck) MacQuarrie (1901-1952), and their only child, daughter Sally (1929-1994.) In September, 1954, MacQuarrie married fellow Journal reporter Ellen Gibson.
MacQuarrie invented the Old Duck Hunters Association as a literary vehicle and used his real-life father-in-law, Allan Peck, as the model for the President of the association. The stories were often upbeat and humorous with MacQuarrie frequently serving as the butt of the joke. MacQuarrie is credited with becoming the first full-time, professional outdoor writer in America when he became the outdoor editor of the Milwaukee Journal on April 19, 1936. Also in 1936, MacQuarrie developed a relationship with influential conservationist, Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold was an American author, scientist, ecologist, forester, and environmentalist. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac , which has sold over two million copies...
. Their friendship lasted until Leopold's death in 1948; however, MacQuarrie remained a staunch supporter of Leopold's Land Ethic
Land ethic
A Land Ethic is a philosophy that guides your actions when you utilize or make changes to the land. This specific term was first coined by Aldo Leopold in his book A Sand County Almanac . Within this work, he wrote that there is a need for a "new ethic", an "ethic dealing with man's relation to...
, and wrote frequently about Leopold's work until his own death in 1956.
In June, 2003 a biography of MacQuarrie was released by the Wisconsin State Historical Society, entitled Gordon MacQuarrie: The Story of an Old Duck Hunter, ISBN 0-87020-343-6, written by Keith Crowley.
Published books
- Stories of the Old Duck Hunters & Other Drivel, ISBN 0-932558-25-9
- More Stories of the Old Duck Hunters, ISBN 0-932558-18-6
- Last Stories of the Old Duck Hunters, ISBN 0-932558-24-0
- MacQuarrie Miscellany, ISBN 0-932558-38-0
- Fly Fishing with MacQuarrie ISBN 1572230258
- The Gordon MacQuarrie Sporting Treasury, ISBN 1-57223-032-0