Los
Angeles County
Biographies
JOHN STEVEN McGROARTY
John Steven McGroarty, perhaps the
best known of California authors and known internationally for his writings,
particularly as the author of the world-famous Mission Play, is a native of
Pennsylvania, born in Foster Township, Luzerne County, August
20, 1862. He settled in Los Angeles in
1901 and California has since been his home.
His father, Hugh Montgomery McGroarty, was a grandnephew of General
Richard Montgomery, one of Washington’s famous generals in the American
Revolution, leader of the ill-fated Quebec Expedition, who fell in the immortal
assault on that stronghold in 1778.
John S. McGroarty received his
education in parochial and public schools of his native state, finishing as a
student in the Hillman Academy, a noted institution of learning located in the
city of Wilkes-Barre in the historic Wyoming Valley. Between his public-school days and his
student life in the Academy, he spent two years as a teacher, beginning when he
was only sixteen years of age. When he
had passed the state school examinations a special ruling had to be made in his
case because of his youth in order that he might receive a certificate to
teach. Upon completing his studies in
the Academy he entered journalism and rose to be managing editor of the
Wilkes-Barre Evening Leader. During his
journalistic career he took an active interest in politics and was elected
justice of the peace the year he attained his majority. He was the youngest man in the history of
Pennsylvania to hold that responsible office.
The same year, running on a ticket of the minority party of his
district, he was defeated for membership in the state legislature by one
vote. When he was twenty-five years of
age he was elected treasurer of his native county (Luzerne) and was also the
youngest man to hold that office in the history of the state.
In the year 1890 he successfully
passed the state law examinations and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar, at
which he practiced for three years. At
the invitation of the late Marcus Daly, the renowned copper king, Mr. McGroarty
went to Butte, Montana, where he was attached to the legal staff of the
Anaconda Mining Company until the time of Mr. Daly’s death. He then gave up the practice of law, which
was never to his liking, made an extensive tour of old Mexico and came to
California, where an opportunity was at once presented to him to return to his
first love, journalism. He became the
leading editorial writer on the staff of the Los Angeles Times, which position
he held actively for a period of more than fifteen years, after which time he
was assigned to the less strenuous duty of special writer on that great
newspaper. He continues his newspaper
work for the Times, conducting a special page of his own each Sunday and
frequently writing special articles and editorials.
Mr. McGroarty is the author of
“Poets and Poetry of Wyoming Valley,” published in 1885; “Just California,”
1903; “Wander Songs,” 1908; “The King’s Highway,” 1909; “California—Its History
and Romance,” 1911; “The Mission Play,” 1911; “La Golondrina,” (a drama of
California) 1923; “Osceola,” (drama) 1927; “Babylon,” (drama) 1927. A contemporary writer said: “Mr. McGroarty will probably be best remember
in the years to come by his Mission Play, which is even now the best known play
in the world, it having exceeded all records for the number of performances
given by any play of either ancient or modern times, in one place. Patriotic citizens of California have
recently erected a magnificent theater for the Mission Play at San Gabriel—a
theater which is said to be the most beautiful temple of the drama yet
builded. He has however, completed two
other plays and is at work on two more.
Doubtless all these plays will be given presentations in the new Mission
Playhouse at San Gabriel from time to time.
He has also written a very popular and widely read history of California
is the author of several books of poems and is a contributor to many of the
national and international magazines.”
The honorary degree of Doctor of
Literature was conferred upon Mr. McGroarty by the University of Southern
California in 1925. Three years later,
in 1928, he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University
of Santa Clara. He was knighted by the
Pope and by the King of Spain in 1930, and in 1933 was chosen Poet Laureate by
the State Legislature of California.
On the 19th of November,
1890, Mr. McGroarty was married to Ida Lubrecht, of
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His home is
at Tujunga, in the Verdugo Hills, about twenty miles
from Los Angeles. It is a popular rendezvous
not only for writers but for all the people who know and admire Mr. McGroarty’s work.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 389-391, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES