Ivan Doig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivan Clark Doig
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Teton range, Wyoming - Closeup of Ivan Doig at base of mountains (Photo by Carol Doig)
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| Born | June 27, 1939 White Sulphur Springs, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | April 9, 2015 (aged 75) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Education | Northwestern University University of Washington (PhD) |
| Spouse | Carol Muller Doig |
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Ivan Doig (June 27, 1939 – April 9, 2015) was an American author. He was famous for his sixteen books, both fiction and non-fiction. Most of his stories were set in his home state of Montana. His books celebrated the beautiful landscapes and the people of the American West after World War II.
Doig's stories took readers to many places. These included the Rocky Mountain Front, Alaska's coast, and the Puget Sound area. He wrote about families who moved to new places, dedicated teachers, miners, and people building towns. He also explored the ups and downs of friendship and love. His tales often took place in a wild land with sudden floods, droughts, blizzards, and forest fires.
Ivan Doig believed that ordinary people had important stories to tell. His 1977 memoir, This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind, was a finalist for a major award called the National Book Award. In 2007, he won the Wallace Stegner Award. His 2006 novel, The Whistling Season, became a New York Times best-seller. He also received a lifetime achievement award from the Western Literature Association. A documentary film called Ivan Doig: Landscapes of a Western Mind explores his life and work.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ivan Doig was born in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. His father, Charles "Charlie" Doig, was a ranch hand. His mother, Bernita Ringer Doig, passed away on his sixth birthday. After that, he was raised by his father and his grandmother, Elizabeth "Bessie" Ringer.
Ivan moved often with his father and grandmother as they took different jobs on ranches. They even herded sheep near the Rocky Mountain Front. As a child, Ivan loved to read comics, sports pages, and popular magazines like Life.
He graduated from Valier High School in Valier, Montana. He was the second-best student in his class of 21. He earned a scholarship to Northwestern University. There, he got his first degree in 1961 and a master's degree in journalism in 1962. Later, he earned a Ph.D. in American history from the University of Washington.
Important teachers helped him become a writer. These included his high school English teacher, Frances Tidyman, and his journalism teachers at Northwestern. After college, he served in the Air Force Reserve for a short time. Ivan Doig lived in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Carol Doig, until he passed away in 2015.
Writing Career and Themes
Before becoming a famous novelist, Ivan Doig worked as a journalist. He wrote for newspapers and magazines. He also worked for the United States Forest Service.
The landscapes and people of the American West were very important in Doig's stories. Many of his books are set in the Montana area where he grew up. A main theme in his writing is family life in the past. He often mixed his own memories with local history.
His first three Montana novels are English Creek, Dancing at the Rascal Fair, and Ride with Me, Mariah Montana. These books are known as the "McCaskill trilogy." They cover the first 100 years of Montana's history, from 1889 to 1989.
Personal Life
Ivan Doig met his wife, Carol Muller, at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. They were both students there. They got married on April 17, 1965. They did not have any children. Carol helped Ivan with his writing and editing. She was also a long-time professor of journalism.
Later Years and Legacy
Ivan Doig faced health challenges in his later years. He was diagnosed with a condition that led to multiple myeloma, a type of cancer. He kept detailed journals about his health journey. Ivan Doig passed away from multiple myeloma on April 9, 2015.
After his death, his wife, Carol Doig, gave all of his notes, photos, and writing records to the Montana State University Library. This collection is called the Ivan Doig Archive. It includes his manuscripts, notebooks, diaries, and photographs. The library is making the entire collection available online for everyone to see. This helps people learn more about Ivan Doig's life and his amazing stories.
Works
Novels
- The Sea Runners (1982)
- English Creek (1984)
- Dancing at the Rascal Fair (1987)
- Ride with Me, Mariah Montana (1990)
- Bucking the Sun (1996)
- Mountain Time (1999)
- Prairie Nocturne (2003)
- The Whistling Season (2006)
- The Eleventh Man (2008)
- Work Song (2010)
- The Bartender's Tale (2012)
- Sweet Thunder (2013)
- Last Bus to Wisdom (2015)
Nonfiction Books
- News: A Consumer's Guide (1972) - a textbook written with Carol Doig
- This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind (1978) - a memoir about his life with his father and grandmother
- Winter Brothers: A Season at the Edge of America (1980) - essays inspired by the journals of James G. Swan
- Heart Earth (1993) - memoirs based on his mother's letters
Awards and Honors
- Finalist, National Book Award, This House of Sky (1979)
- Christopher Award, This House of Sky (1979)
- Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award for Literary Excellence (won multiple times)
- Doctor of Letters, Montana State University (1984)
- National Endowment for the Arts fellowship (1985)
- Western Heritage Award, Best Western Novel, English Creek (1985)
- Western Literature Association's Distinguished Achievement Award (1989)
- Evans Biography Award Heart Earth (1993)
- Center for the American West's Wallace Stegner Award (2007)
- Willamette Writers' Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
