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

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

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.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

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

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Authors Galleys: The View from Rat Lake
1 2 Typed draft: Good Days are a Dime a Dozen May 2009
1 3 Original manuscript: No Shortage of Good Days
1 4 Sketches: Another Lousy Day in Paradise
1 5 Typed draft: The Trout That Ate Denver
1 6 Typed draft: Under the Volcano July 2006
2 1 Authors galleys: Even Brook Trout get the Blues
2 2 Typed draft: Even Brook Trout get the Blues
2 3 Sketches: Even brook Trout get the Blues
2 4 Typed draft: Trout Bum
2 5 Typed draft: Where the Trout are as Long as Your Leg
2 6 Typed draft: Where the Trout are as Long as Your Leg with Notes from Nick Lyons
2 7 Typed draft: Sex, Death, and Fly Fishing
3 1 Typed Draft: Dances with Trout
3 2 Original typed manuscript: Dances with Trout
3 3 Sketches: Dances with Trout
3 4 Typed draft: Fool's Paradise
3 5 Original manuscript: Fool's Paradise
4 1 Typed Draft: Fly-Fishing Small Streams
4 2 Typed manuscript: The People's Trout
4 3 Original manuscript: Still Life with Brook Trout
4 4 Master set: Flyfishing the High Country
4 5 Typed Draft: Flyfishing the High Country
4 6 Correspondence and marketing materials: Fishing Bamboo
5 1 Typed draft: Good Flies with suggested cover art April 5, 2000
5 2 Typed draft: At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman February 27, 2002
5 3 Typed draft: All Fishermen are Liars
5 4 Typed draft: untitled, 66,150 words
5 5 Drawings and correspondence related to Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders
6 1 Authors Galleys: Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders
6 2 Correspondence
Letters and printed emails with family, friend, fans, and publishers.
1998-2016
6 3 Correspondence
Letters and printed emails with family, friend, fans, and publishers.
1991-2004
6 4 Correspondence from Ed Engle
Includes poetry and several clipping of articles.
6 5 Poetry drafts and prints titled Ice by Jack Collum
7 1 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.
2014, April 2003
7 Handwritten Fishing Logs 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
Folder
8 1 Newspaper articles 1976
8 2 Newspaper articles 1979
8 3 Newspaper articles 1980
8 4 Newspaper articles 1981
8 5 Newspaper articles 1982
8 6 Newspaper articles 1983
8 7 Newspaper articles 1984
8 8 Newspaper articles 1985
8 9 Newspaper articles 1986
8 10 Newspaper articles 1987
8 11 Newspaper articles 1988
9 1 Newspaper articles 1989
9 2 Newspaper articles 1990
9 3 Newspaper articles 1991
9 4 Newspaper articles 1992
10 1 Newspaper articles 1993
10 2 Newspaper articles 1994
10 3 Newspaper articles 1995
10 4 Newspaper articles 1996
10 5 Newspaper articles 1997
11 1 Newspaper articles 1998
11 2 Newspaper articles 1999
11 3 Newspaper articles 2000
11 4 Newspaper articles 2001
11 5 Newspaper articles 2002
floppy-disk
12 unknown number [contents unknown]
13 number unknown [contents unknown]
Folder
14 1 Beaver Ponds July 1990
14 2 Pocket Water August-September 1990
14 3 Phantom Canyon October 1988
14 4 March 1990
14 5 Flowers
14 6 May 1988-May 1990
14 7 October 1988
14 8 March 1982-July 1989
14 9 Snowshoes/Flintlock October 1988-December 1990
14 10 Scotland June 1992
14 11 Scotland June 1992
14 12 Yellowstone August 1991
14 13 Hummers August 1989
14 14 April 1982-May 1989
14 15 Pocket Water August-September 1990
14 16 Scotland June 1992
14 17 July 1989
14 18 Small Streams August 1989
14 19 Alaska July 1992
14 20 J.G and Dan 1992
14 21 Alaska July 1992
14 22 Alaska July 1992
14 23 Scotland June 1992
15 1 Scotland June 1992
15 2 Caddis Patterns November 1986
15 3 Firehole June 1992
15 4 Hummers August 1989
15 5 November 1981-July 1988
15 6 While River/Trapper Lodge/Belly Boats July 1987
15 7 Bluegills/Trout/Hunt September 1989
15 8 Brookies/Middle Fork September 1990
15 9 Salmon Rods/Powder the dog September 1992
15 10 Trout/Green May 1988
15 11 Flies August 1990
15 12 Fish July 1982-July 1988
15 13 July 1990-August 1992
15 14 Pike June 1990
15 15 New Brunswick October 1992
15 16 Camel July 1990
15 17 Rabbit Hunting January 1997
15 18 Belly Boats June 1987
15 19 Belly Boat May 1986-July 1988
15 20 November 1992
15 21 Middle Fork/Mushrooms August 1991
15 22 July 1982-September 1992
16 1 July 1982-September 1992
16 2 Ice fish February 1990-February 1991
16 3 Ice fish December 1990
16 4 Middle Fork September 1985-September 1990
16 5 Carp/Morels May 1992
16 6 June 1987
16 7 Grits May 1982-August 1990
16 8 Bitterroot – West Slope Cuts June 1987
16 9 Pocket Water, August 1990
16 10 Texas April 1992
16 11 Frying Pan July 1986
16 12 June 1987
16 13 June 1987
16 14 Squirrel January 1987
16 15 Mayfly Photo Essay April 1980-September 1985
16 16 Nelson's/DePuy's June 1992
16 17 July 1981-June 1991
16 18 Mushrooms/Brookies, Bass Pond/Pan August 1991
16 19 Cheesman February 1991
16 20 Winter Hunting March 1990
16 21 Pan August 1991
16 22 Squirrels – Roaring Fork March 1986
16 23 February 1988
16 24 Trout/Pan May 1988
17 1 Trout/Pan May 1988
17 2 Pan/Trout (Peerless) August 1991
17 3 Frying Pan May 1988
17 4 Middle Fork September 1990
17 5 August 1988
17 6 November 1981-February 1991
17 7 October 1992
17 8 August 1978-August 1990

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

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