Welcome to the

official web site of the


The James A. Michener Society was formed in the fall of 1998 and is composed of people who share a common interest in James Michener's life and work.  The following words, excerpted from a letter by the late John Kings, James Michener's long-time friend and literary assistant, describe the purpose of the James A. Michener Society...

The Purpose of the Society is to:
    * preserve the intellectual legacy of James A. Michener as a writer, teacher,
       historian, public servant, patriot and philanthropist;
    * ensure that future generations have full access to all his writings;
    * promote the exchange of ideas and information about his writings;
    * encourage fellowship among readers of his writings;
    * inform devotees and members of the Society about recent publications and
       critiques of his writings.

The Society accomplishes this through a number of activities.  An annual meeting of members is held at locations closely associated with the life of James Michener. In the past, they have been held at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, home of the James A. Michener Library and Archives; Austin, Texas, where Michener was associated with the Writing School and lived the last years of his life; Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Michener's childhood home and the location of the Michener Art Museum; and Easton, Maryland, where Michener lived while writing Chesapeake.   Society activities provide the occasion for sharing of memories and anecdotes that illuminate the Michener books and other writings in a special way.  Eventually, the Society expects to sponsor seminars, lectures and other events that will provide opportunities for fellowship among members and a forum for the discussion of James Michener's writings and the many facets of his life.

If this brief description of the Society and its activities has piqued your interest, you are invited to print out and complete the membership application and to submit it to the Treasurer of the Society (1536 - 12th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631-4734).

          Membership categories are:   
                 $12 for an Individual Membership for the calendar year 
                     $10 for a Gift Membership (1st year) from a member, for an individual or a couple
                $50 for an Institutional Membership (includes 10 copies of each Newsletter)
                $500 for a Lifetime Membership
  

James A. Michener Biography
Michener Autobiographical Interview (with audio)


Gallery of JAM photos

The Bibliographers: Roberts & Rhine...and Groseclose
Michener Collection at the University of Northern Colorado


  
Officers for 2016-17   

President   -   Edwin P. Gambs - Logan, IA 

Vice-President   -  Jay Trask - Greeley, CO

  Secretary  -    Marilyn Severson - Seattle, WA

      mseverso@spu.edu             

  Treasurer  -   Kay A. Ferrell - Greeley, CO 

 

Directors

Diana Benzing - Neola, IA 

Don Gallagher - Lititz, PA 

Karen Groseclose - Phoenix, AZ 

Jane McCarter - Leesburg, VA

Honorary Directors
Deborah Brothers - Austin, TX  
 Alan K. Simpson - Cody, WY   
Robert Vavra - El Cajon, CA

Newsletter all-time index (chronological) >>>
Newsletter all-time index (by author)>>>

   

Other Interesting Links:
James A. Michener Art Museum
The NASA Connection - "Why Man Explores"
Working with Michener: The Making of The Covenant  - Errol Lincoln Uys
JAM Photos & Comments - Roger Bansemer    
 and finally...,
...if James Michener has "hooked" you on Japanese woodblock prints...after reading his 1962 essay When Does Education Stop? , you might want to browse the rest of this "dangerously distracting" web site: Society Member David Bull - Tokyo Printmaker

                                                      

Matador             Medal of Freedom      Our Naval Hero       "Texian"

"Boy, I can tell a story. I can get a person, with moderate interest in what I am writing about, and if she or he will stay with me for the first one hundred pages, which are very difficult, and I make them difficult, he will be hooked.  He  will want  to know what's happening on the next story and the next story and the next. That I have. And that's a wonderful gift. That's storytelling. And I prize it. I try to keep it cleaned up.
I try to keep it on focus."      

                                                                                   (JAM...in response to an interviewer's question)

                                

                                                                                          


On May 12, 2008 a 59¢ definitive stamp was issued to honor James Michener as part of
the Distinguished Americans series...printed in small panes of 20. This stamp was issued 
 due in large part to the efforts of Society member and past president of the American 
Philatelic Society Mercer Bristow. (Your letters of support helped, too!)
   

Also of interest was the issuance in 2007 of a multicolored set of four
commemorative  postage stamps by the island Republic of Vanuatu where
Michener was stationed as a U.S. Navy lieutenant during WWII.     
 
 

The 2017 Annual Meeting will be held in Seattle, WA, Sept. 14-17 


    

           Here's to you , new member!      


Web site created 10/22/05...Dick Boera
     Updated Jan.2017