Duncan
McRa
(1863- )
West Virginia
Duncan McRa was a lawyer, poet, and essayist. Mary
Meek Atkeson in her survey of West Virginia writer's provides the
following biographical sketch:
Duncan McRa was born in Halleck, Monongalia County, July 14,
1863, and was reared on a farm near that place. He received his
education in country schools, the State Normal Schools, and in
West Virginia University. After leaving school he taught for seven
years, devoting his leisure time to the study of literature and
to writing for the newspapers. Later he studied law and was admitted
to practice in 1891. He served in the committee rooms of the Republican
State Committee, in the campaigns of 1899 and 1900, was Clerk
of the State Senate, 1897 and 1901, and Chief Clerk to the Secretary
of State, 1901-5. At present [1913] he is engaged in writing for
the press.
Besides the books . . . Mr. McRa has written much verse and prose
for the magazines and newspapers. He has now in preparation a
volume of poems, and a volume of sketches, "Early Recollections;
or the Old and The New." Mr. McRa's address is Charleston,
W.Va.
[Mary Meek Atkeson, West Virginia
Writers 1669-1913, at 245 (Master's Thesis, West Virginia University,
1913)]
James Morton Callahan, The History of West Virginia,
Old and New 237 (Chicago: American Historical Society, 1923)
(vol. 3), provides the following brief biographical sketch:
Duncan McRa, born July 14, 1863, is now a resident of Charleston,
and has devoted most of his life to journalism. He was educated
for the law, practiced for some years in Preston County, and is
the acknowledged historian of that county. He is a graduate of
the State University, was a teacher, is the author of several
books, is former secretary of the State Republican Committee and
for four years was chief clerk in the secretary of state's office
during the administration of Governor Dawson.
Duncan McRa's published collection of poetry, Twiggs
(Charleston, West Virginia, 1899) is something of a rarity. The OCLC
database for library holdings does not list a single library in the
United States holding a copy of the book.
Poetry
Duncan McRa, Twiggs (Charleston, West Virginia,
1899)
Writings
___________, Prospectus of Preston County, West
Virginia: A Hand Book of Information on the County for the Home
and Health Seeker and the Capitalist (Kingwood, West Virginia:
Journal Printing House, 1891)
___________, The Quaint Family of Three (Charleston,
West Virginia: Tribune Company Print, 1902)
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