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John Gierach Papers, 1976-2014

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gierach, John , 1946-
Title
John Gierach Papers
Dates
1976-2014 (inclusive)
Quantity
6 linear feet
Collection Number
2612
Summary
John Gierach was a writer who focused on fishing. His papers consists of writings, correspondence, and photographic slides, all focused on trout fishing in the West.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
Collection materials are in English
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Biographical Note

John Gierach was born in 1946 in Glenwood Illinois. He earned his BA in philosophy with an English minor from Findlay College. After graduating John settled in Lyons, Colorado. He began writing because he needed money.

His work was published in local, regional, and national newspapers, including Fly, Rod and Reel, Gray's, and Field and Stream. He was the author of several books; titles include Sex, Death, and Flyfishing, Trout Bum, and All Fishermen are Liars. Gierach was also a poet and an avid angler who fished across North America. His friend A.K. Best was included in many of his articles.

He died of a heart attack on October 3, 2024.

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Content Description

The John Gierach Papers consists of authors galleys, manuscript drafts, poetry, slide cases, newspaper articles, fishing logs, and general correspondence. Of interest is the correspondence with Gierach's longtime friend Ed Engle. His friend A.K. Best was included in many of his articles.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Galleys, drafts, poetry, slides, articles, logs, and correspondence created or collected by John Gierach were donated to Montana State University May 2016.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2019 April 1

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Authors Galleys: The View from Rat Lake
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Typed draft: Good Days are a Dime a Dozen
    Dates: May 2009
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Original manuscript: No Shortage of Good Days
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Sketches: Another Lousy Day in Paradise
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Typed draft: The Trout That Ate Denver
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Typed draft: Under the Volcano
    Dates: July 2006
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Authors galleys: Even Brook Trout get the Blues
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1
  • Description: Typed draft: Even Brook Trout get the Blues
    Container: Box 2, Folder 2
  • Description: Sketches: Even brook Trout get the Blues
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
  • Description: Typed draft: Trout Bum
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4
  • Description: Typed draft: Where the Trout are as Long as Your Leg
    Container: Box 2, Folder 5
  • Description: Typed draft: Where the Trout are as Long as Your Leg with Notes from Nick Lyons
    Container: Box 2, Folder 6
  • Description: Typed draft: Sex, Death, and Fly Fishing
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
  • Description: Typed Draft: Dances with Trout
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
  • Description: Original typed manuscript: Dances with Trout
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
  • Description: Sketches: Dances with Trout
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
  • Description: Typed draft: Fool's Paradise
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
  • Description: Original manuscript: Fool's Paradise
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
  • Description: Typed Draft: Fly-Fishing Small Streams
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
  • Description: Typed manuscript: The People's Trout
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
  • Description: Original manuscript: Still Life with Brook Trout
    Container: Box 4, Folder 3
  • Description: Master set: Flyfishing the High Country
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
  • Description: Typed Draft: Flyfishing the High Country
    Container: Box 4, Folder 5
  • Description: Correspondence and marketing materials: Fishing Bamboo
    Container: Box 4, Folder 6
  • Description: Typed draft: Good Flies with suggested cover art
    Dates: April 5, 2000
    Container: Box 5, Folder 1
  • Description: Typed draft: At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman
    Dates: February 27, 2002
    Container: Box 5, Folder 2
  • Description: Typed draft: All Fishermen are Liars
    Container: Box 5, Folder 3
  • Description: Typed draft: untitled, 66,150 words
    Container: Box 5, Folder 4
  • Description: Drawings and correspondence related to Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders
    Container: Box 5, Folder 5
  • Description: Authors Galleys: Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders
    Container: Box 6, Folder 1
  • Description: Correspondence

    Letters and printed emails with family, friend, fans, and publishers.

    Dates: 1998-2016
    Container: Box 6, Folder 2
  • Description: Correspondence

    Letters and printed emails with family, friend, fans, and publishers.

    Dates: 1991-2004
    Container: Box 6, Folder 3
  • Description: Correspondence from Ed Engle

    Includes poetry and several clipping of articles.

    Container: Box 6, Folder 4
  • Description: Poetry drafts and prints titled Ice by Jack Collum
    Container: Box 6, Folder 5
  • Description: Program, column, photos, poetry

    Fly Fishing Hall of Fame 2014 program; Typed Fly Fishing Column, April 2003; undated photos of unnamed man casting fly rod; John Gierach's Ode; Poetry collections: The Great Horned Owl and Migrations.

    Dates: 2014; April 2003
    Container: Box 7, Folder 1
  • Description: Handwritten Fishing Logs
    Dates: March 15, 1996-May 23, 1997; May 28, 1997-September 4, 1997; September 9, 1997-May 8, 1998; May 17-September 10, 1998; September 14, 1998-August 15, 1999; August 6, 1999-March 6, 2000; March 28, 2000-July 31, 2001; August 7, 2001-July 26, 2002; August 5, 2002-June 11, 2003; June 22, 2003-September 25, 2004; October 3, 2004-October 22, 2005
    Container: Box 7
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1976
    Container: Box 8, Folder 1
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1979
    Container: Box 8, Folder 2
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1980
    Container: Box 8, Folder 3
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1981
    Container: Box 8, Folder 4
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1982
    Container: Box 8, Folder 5
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1983
    Container: Box 8, Folder 6
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1984
    Container: Box 8, Folder 7
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1985
    Container: Box 8, Folder 8
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1986
    Container: Box 8, Folder 9
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1987
    Container: Box 8, Folder 10
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1988
    Container: Box 8, Folder 11
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1989
    Container: Box 9, Folder 1
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1990
    Container: Box 9, Folder 2
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1991
    Container: Box 9, Folder 3
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1992
    Container: Box 9, Folder 4
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1993
    Container: Box 10, Folder 1
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1994
    Container: Box 10, Folder 2
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1995
    Container: Box 10, Folder 3
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1996
    Container: Box 10, Folder 4
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1997
    Container: Box 10, Folder 5
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1998
    Container: Box 11, Folder 1
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 1999
    Container: Box 11, Folder 2
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 2000
    Container: Box 11, Folder 3
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 2001
    Container: Box 11, Folder 4
  • Description: Newspaper articles
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box 11, Folder 5
  • Description: [contents unknown]
    Container: Box 12, Floppy disk unknown number
  • Description: [contents unknown]
    Container: Box 13, Floppy disk number unknown
  • Description: Beaver Ponds
    Dates: July 1990
    Container: Box 14, Folder 1, Photographic slides 1-35
  • Description: Pocket Water
    Dates: August-September 1990
    Container: Box 14, Folder 2, Photographic slides 36-50
  • Description: Phantom Canyon
    Dates: October 1988
    Container: Box 14, Folder 3, Photographic slides 51-65
  • Dates: March 1990
    Container: Box 14, Folder 4, Photographic slides 66-79
  • Description: Flowers
    Container: Box 14, Folder 5, Photographic slides 80-106
  • Dates: May 1988-May 1990
    Container: Box 14, Folder 6, Photographic slides 107-130
  • Dates: October 1988
    Container: Box 14, Folder 7, Photographic slides 131-146
  • Dates: March 1982-July 1989
    Container: Box 14, Folder 8, Photographic slides 147-173
  • Description: Snowshoes/Flintlock
    Dates: October 1988-December 1990
    Container: Box 14, Folder 9, Photographic slides 174-194
  • Description: Scotland
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 10, Photographic slides 195-216
  • Description: Scotland
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 11, Photographic slides 217-235
  • Description: Yellowstone
    Dates: August 1991
    Container: Box 14, Folder 12, Photographic slides 236-243
  • Description: Hummers
    Dates: August 1989
    Container: Box 14, Folder 13, Photographic slides 244-246
  • Dates: April 1982-May 1989
    Container: Box 14, Folder 14, Photographic slides 247-258
  • Description: Pocket Water
    Dates: August-September 1990
    Container: Box 14, Folder 15, Photographic slides 259-271
  • Description: Scotland
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 16, Photographic slides 272-292
  • Dates: July 1989
    Container: Box 14, Folder 17, Photographic slides 293-311
  • Description: Small Streams
    Dates: August 1989
    Container: Box 14, Folder 18, Photographic slides 312-332
  • Description: Alaska
    Dates: July 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 19, Photographic slides 333-348
  • Description: J.G and Dan
    Dates: 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 20, Photographic slides 349-377
  • Description: Alaska
    Dates: July 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 21, Photographic slides 378-418
  • Description: Alaska
    Dates: July 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 22, Photographic slides 419-451
  • Description: Scotland
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 14, Folder 23, Photographic slides 452-460
  • Description: Scotland
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 1, Photographic slides 461-468
  • Description: Caddis Patterns
    Dates: November 1986
    Container: Box 15, Folder 2, Photographic slides 469-501
  • Description: Firehole
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 3, Photographic slides 502-516
  • Description: Hummers
    Dates: August 1989
    Container: Box 15, Folder 4, Photographic slides 517-522
  • Dates: November 1981-July 1988
    Container: Box 15, Folder 5, Photographic slides 523-557
  • Description: While River/Trapper Lodge/Belly Boats
    Dates: July 1987
    Container: Box 15, Folder 6, Photographic slides 558-579
  • Description: Bluegills/Trout/Hunt
    Dates: September 1989
    Container: Box 15, Folder 7, Photographic slides 580-605
  • Description: Brookies/Middle Fork
    Dates: September 1990
    Container: Box 15, Folder 8, Photographic slides 606-620
  • Description: Salmon Rods/Powder the dog
    Dates: September 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 9, Photographic slides 621-635
  • Description: Trout/Green
    Dates: May 1988
    Container: Box 15, Folder 10, Photographic slides 636-656
  • Description: Flies
    Dates: August 1990
    Container: Box 15, Folder 11, Photographic slides 657-675
  • Description: Fish
    Dates: July 1982-July 1988
    Container: Box 15, Folder 12, Photographic slides 676-704
  • Dates: July 1990-August 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 13, Photographic slides 705-726
  • Description: Pike
    Dates: June 1990
    Container: Box 15, Folder 14, Photographic slides 727-763
  • Description: New Brunswick
    Dates: October 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 15, Photographic slides 764-779
  • Description: Camel
    Dates: July 1990
    Container: Box 15, Folder 16, Photographic slides 780-802
  • Description: Rabbit Hunting
    Dates: January 1997
    Container: Box 15, Folder 17, Photographic slides 803-815
  • Description: Belly Boats
    Dates: June 1987
    Container: Box 15, Folder 18, Photographic slides 816-833
  • Description: Belly Boat
    Dates: May 1986-July 1988
    Container: Box 15, Folder 19, Photographic slides 834-872
  • Dates: November 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 20, Photographic slides 873-885
  • Description: Middle Fork/Mushrooms
    Dates: August 1991
    Container: Box 15, Folder 21, Photographic slides 886-910
  • Dates: July 1982-September 1992
    Container: Box 15, Folder 22, Photographic slides 911-920
  • Dates: July 1982-September 1992
    Container: Box 16, Folder 1, Photographic slides 921-932
  • Description: Ice fish
    Dates: February 1990-February 1991
    Container: Box 16, Folder 2, Photographic slides 933-962
  • Description: Ice fish
    Dates: December 1990
    Container: Box 16, Folder 3, Photographic slides 963-994
  • Description: Middle Fork
    Dates: September 1985-September 1990
    Container: Box 16, Folder 4, Photographic slides 995-1030
  • Description: Carp/Morels
    Dates: May 1992
    Container: Box 16, Folder 5, Photographic slides 1031-1046
  • Dates: June 1987
    Container: Box 16, Folder 6, Photographic slides 1047-1068
  • Description: Grits
    Dates: May 1982-August 1990
    Container: Box 16, Folder 7, Photographic slides 1069-1093
  • Description: Bitterroot – West Slope Cuts
    Dates: June 1987
    Container: Box 16, Folder 8, Photographic slides 1094-1113
  • Description: Pocket Water,
    Dates: August 1990
    Container: Box 16, Folder 9, Photographic slides 1114-1121
  • Description: Texas
    Dates: April 1992
    Container: Box 16, Folder 10, Photographic slides 1122-1133
  • Description: Frying Pan
    Dates: July 1986
    Container: Box 16, Folder 11, Photographic slides 1134-1147
  • Dates: June 1987
    Container: Box 16, Folder 12, Photographic slides 1148-1166
  • Dates: June 1987
    Container: Box 16, Folder 13, Photographic slides 1167-1185
  • Description: Squirrel
    Dates: January 1987
    Container: Box 16, Folder 14, Photographic slides 1186-1209
  • Description: Mayfly Photo Essay
    Dates: April 1980-September 1985
    Container: Box 16, Folder 15, Photographic slides 1210-1230
  • Description: Nelson's/DePuy's
    Dates: June 1992
    Container: Box 16, Folder 16, Photographic slides 1231-1247
  • Dates: July 1981-June 1991
    Container: Box 16, Folder 17, Photographic slides 1248-1272
  • Description: Mushrooms/Brookies, Bass Pond/Pan
    Dates: August 1991
    Container: Box 16, Folder 18, Photographic slides 1273-1295
  • Description: Cheesman
    Dates: February 1991
    Container: Box 16, Folder 19, Photographic slides 1296-1305
  • Description: Winter Hunting
    Dates: March 1990
    Container: Box 16, Folder 20, Photographic slides 1306-1312
  • Description: Pan
    Dates: August 1991
    Container: Box 16, Folder 21, Photographic slides 1313-1336
  • Description: Squirrels – Roaring Fork
    Dates: March 1986
    Container: Box 16, Folder 22, Photographic slides 1337-1362
  • Dates: February 1988
    Container: Box 16, Folder 23, Photographic slides 1363-1371
  • Description: Trout/Pan
    Dates: May 1988
    Container: Box 16, Folder 24, Photographic slides 1372-1380
  • Description: Trout/Pan
    Dates: May 1988
    Container: Box 17, Folder 1, Photographic slides 1381-1383
  • Description: Pan/Trout (Peerless)
    Dates: August 1991
    Container: Box 17, Folder 2, Photographic slides 1384-1400
  • Description: Frying Pan
    Dates: May 1988
    Container: Box 17, Folder 3, Photographic slides 1401-1407
  • Description: Middle Fork
    Dates: September 1990
    Container: Box 17, Folder 4, Photographic slides 1408-1427
  • Dates: August 1988
    Container: Box 17, Folder 5, Photographic slides 1428-1446
  • Dates: November 1981-February 1991
    Container: Box 17, Folder 6, Photographic slides 1447-1483
  • Dates: October 1992
    Container: Box 17, Folder 7, Photographic slides 1484-1501
  • Dates: August 1978-August 1990
    Container: Box 17, Folder 8, Photographic slides 1502-1539

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors, American
  • Fishers--United States

Personal Names

  • Gierach, John , 1946---Archives

Heather Hultman, 2012; Jodi Allison-Bunnell
2024

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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